The Vital Ground Foundation Inc

Learn about this cause: Is it Legit? Do I like the mission? What is the CEO's salary?

EIN: 870483446 ✦ Missoula, MT ✦ Designated as a 501(c)(3)

Overview

What is The Vital Ground Foundation Inc?

The Vital Ground Foundation Inc is a nonprofit organization based in Missoula, Montana, dedicated to safeguarding essential grizzly bear habitat on private lands. They achieve this through various means, including acquiring conservation easements, purchasing land in fee title, or granting funds to other organizations to help conserve and restore wildlife habitats. The foundation monitors the lands under its conservation easements and manages its owned properties to provide optimal habitat for grizzly bears and other wildlife. In 2022, the organization protected over 300 acres of threatened grizzly bear habitat in Montana, acquired a 148-acre property in Idaho, and continued promoting community-based programs to prevent conflicts between bears and people. With a team of nine employees, the Vital Ground Foundation is committed to the long-term survival of North America's grizzly bear populations and the native species that coexist with them.


Official website here: www.vitalground.org

Is The Vital Ground Foundation Inc legitimate?

The Vital Ground Foundation Inc is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. The Vital Ground Foundation Inc submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

Here are some key statistics you may want to consider:

Executive Compensation: $161,700
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $448,745

For more financial information, click here


Official website here: www.vitalground.org

What is the mission statement of The Vital Ground Foundation Inc?

The Vital Ground Foundation works towards the recovery and long-term survival of grizzly bears and the native species sharing their range. This is accomplished through the protection and restoration of wildlife habitat and landscape linkages, as well as supporting community-based programs that prevent conflicts between people and wildlife. The organization identifies crucial grizzly bear habitats on private land and collaborates with willing landowners to protect the land's conservation values. This is achieved by acquiring conservation easements or purchasing land in fee title, then managing it to benefit wildlife and the public. Vital Ground monitors the lands it holds conservation easements on to ensure compliance with the terms. It also has a responsibility to restore and manage the land it owns to provide quality habitat for grizzly bears and other wildlife. Additionally, the foundation strategically provides grants to agencies, governmental entities, and other nonprofit conservation organizations to assist their efforts in conserving and restoring important wildlife habitats and preventing conflicts between bears and people. In 2022, the foundation acquired two conservation easements in Montana totaling 313 acres and a property in fee-title in Idaho to protect wildlife habitat and conserve key grizzly bear habitat. It also continued promoting the goals of the U.S. Forest Service's Community Forest and Open Space Program through forest stewardship activities.


Official website here: www.vitalground.org

Who is the CEO of The Vital Ground Foundation Inc?

Ryan Lutey is the Chair of The Vital Ground Foundation Inc.


Official website here: www.vitalground.org

What is the revenue of The Vital Ground Foundation Inc?

The Vital Ground Foundation Inc's revenue in 2022 was $5,489,727.


Official website here: www.vitalground.org

Who are the executives of The Vital Ground Foundation Inc and what are their salaries?

The average compensation at The Vital Ground Foundation Inc during 2022 was $67,827. There are 9 employees and 18 volunteers at The Vital Ground Foundation Inc.

Here are 18 key members and their salaries:

    Ryan Lutey (Executive Director)
  • Compensation: $161,700
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $9,115

    • Kelly Johnson (Chair) [Trustee/Director]
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Scott Birmingham (Vice Chair) [Trustee/Director]
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Sou Barrett (Secretary) [Trustee/Director]
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Tim Polich (Treasurer) [Trustee/Director]
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Wally Becky (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Jack Capp (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Matthew Dusek (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Tom Fey (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Russell Fox (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • John Hechtel (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Maureen Mayer (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Jo Lowe (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Andrea Nasi (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Lynne Seus (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Stuart Strahl (Trustee)
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Doug Chadwick (Trustee (Former))
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0

    • Theresa Young (Trustee (Former))
  • Compensation: $0
  • Related: $0
  • Other: $0


  • Official website here: www.vitalground.org

    Where can I find the form 990 for The Vital Ground Foundation Inc?

    The The Vital Ground Foundation Inc’s most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here


    Official website here: www.vitalground.org

    Learn more at the official website: www.vitalground.org

    Mission Statement of The Vital Ground Foundation Inc

    The Vital Ground Foundation Inc is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of North America's grizzly bear populations by conserving wildlife habitat. With a mission to ensure the recovery and long-term survival of grizzly bears and the many native species that share their range, Vital Ground focuses on protecting and restoring critical bear habitats and landscape linkages.

    To accomplish this, Vital Ground identifies crucial grizzly bear habitat on private land and works with willing landowners to protect the land's conservation values. This is achieved through the acquisition of conservation easements on the land through donation or bargain purchase, or by purchasing land in fee title then managing it to benefit wildlife and the public. The organization has a perpetual responsibility to monitor the lands on which it holds conservation easements to ensure compliance with the terms of the conservation easements. In addition, Vital Ground restores and manages the land it owns to provide quality habitat for the benefit of grizzly bears and other wildlife.

    Beyond developing and managing its own projects, Vital Ground strategically provides grants to agencies, governmental entities, and other nonprofit conservation organizations to assist their efforts to conserve and restore important wildlife habitat and prevent conflicts between bears and people. In 2022, Vital Ground made significant strides in this mission, acquiring two conservation easements in Montana totaling 313 acres and monitoring twenty conservation easements held by the organization in Montana, Idaho, and on U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program conservation easements held by the Idaho Department of Lands. The organization also acquired one property in fee-title in Idaho and continued promoting the goals of the U.S. Forest Service's Community Forest and Open Space Program through forest stewardship activities. Vital Ground monitored and managed four fee-title conservation properties in Idaho and six fee-title conservation properties in Montana, and conducted habitat enhancement activities on properties held for the benefit of wildlife.

    Impact

    This information is meant to be a general summary of The Vital Ground Foundation Inc. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.




    Thursday, August 15, 2024

    The Vital Ground Foundation Inc's impact lies in its dedicated efforts to protect and restore North America's grizzly bear populations by conserving crucial wildlife habitat. Through land conservation initiatives, Vital Ground identifies and safeguards essential grizzly bear habitat on private lands, either through acquiring conservation easements or purchasing land for the benefit of wildlife and the public. In addition to managing its own projects, Vital Ground strategically provides grants to support conservation efforts and prevent conflicts between bears and people.

    In 2022, The Vital Ground Foundation Inc accomplished significant milestones, such as acquiring conservation easements and monitoring existing ones in Montana and Idaho. They also acquired property in fee-title in Idaho to protect wildlife habitat, managed conservation properties, and conducted habitat enhancement activities in Idaho and Montana. Overall, Vital Ground works tirelessly to ensure the recovery and long-term survival of grizzly bears and other native species by protecting and restoring wildlife habitat, fostering landscape linkages, and supporting community-based programs to address human-wildlife conflicts.





    Financials

    This financial information is from Propublica.

    Revenue
    Expenses
    Efficiency

    Other financial information:

    This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.

  • Investment Income: $107,275
  • Program Service Revenue: $0
  • Gross Receipts: $5,574,049

    • Assets and Liabilities:
  • Total Assets: $17,450,380
  • Total Liabilities: $837,465
  • Net Assets: $16,612,915
  • Organization Details

    Founding Year

    1990

    Principal Officer

    Ryan Lutey

    Main Address

    30 FORT MISSOULA ROAD, MISSOULA, MT, 598047202

    NTEE Category

    Code: D30 - Animals

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