Nonprofit · EIN 54-0846925
RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY
Tax-exempt · PITTSBURGH, PA 15205
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $10,982,779 | $9,646,330 | $1,336,449 | $15,033,233 | $2,258,450 | $12,774,783 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $7,223,449 | $7,420,068 | -$196,619 | $13,405,299 | $2,275,032 | $11,130,267 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $6,824,713 | $7,124,140 | -$299,427 | $13,405,561 | $2,291,164 | $11,114,397 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $10,275,864
- of which government grants
- $3,202,309
- Membership dues
- $726,254
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $438,146
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $173,161
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $151,094
- Other revenue
- $268,769
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $694,952
- Other salaries and wages
- $3,513,769
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $4,208,721
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $32,806
- Occupancy
- $465,861
- Travel
- $269,560
- Depreciation
- $53,193
- Program services (functional)
- $8,599,127
- Management and general (functional)
- $728,093
- Fundraising (functional)
- $319,110
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $13,405,299
- Total assets, end of year
- $15,033,233
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $2,258,450
- Net assets, end of year
- $12,774,783
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $701,420
- Publicly traded securities
- $5,468,027
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $9,763,709
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $3,011,074
- Gross unrelated business income
- $15,860
- Gross receipts
- $12,951,676
- Employees
- 59
- Volunteers
- 1,800
- Year formed
- 1961
- State of legal domicile
- VA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BENJAMIN C JONES | PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer | 50 | $250,000 | $31,517 |
| KIMBERLY D SWISHER | FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION D Officer | 40 | $105,000 | $22,439 |
| GORDON T WAY III | SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 45 | $115,267 | $9,481 |
| BENJAMIN B LARSON | FOREST CONSERVATION DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 45 | $107,406 | $12,390 |
| KARL MALCOLM | VP OF CONSERVATION Officer | 45 | $59,533 | $5,601 |
| MARK HATFIELD | CHIEF CONSERVATION AND OPERATIONS OFFICER Officer | 45 | $57,746 | $5,037 |
| JULIE SANDSTROM | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| SETH E DIZARD ESQ | VICE CHAIR & SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN W SMITH | PAST CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSEPH LEHMANN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID KURITZKY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID MOORE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRUCE A BENNETT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE RICH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ED SHUFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
7 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH M BYERS JR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| NELSON FREEMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| ROBERT UNKOVIC | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| ROY SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| BEN BRETTINGEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| TRACY LEE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| W STEPHEN MARITZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 19 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BENJAMIN C JONES | PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer | 50 | $235,324 | $32,716 |
| KATHERINE K MCKALIP | VP-COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $121,574 | $24,357 |
| KIMBERLY D SWISHER | FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION D Officer | 40 | $97,327 | $21,484 |
| JULIE SANDSTROM | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| SETH E DIZARD ESQ | VICE CHAIR & SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN W SMITH | PAST CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSEPH LEHMANN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID KURITZKY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID MOORE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRUCE A BENNETT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE RICH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ED SHUFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSEPH M BYERS JR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| NELSON FREEMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT UNKOVIC | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROY SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN BRETTINGEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TRACY LEE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| W STEPHEN MARITZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 18 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BENJAMIN C JONES | PRESIDENT AND CEO Officer | 50 | $227,454 | $29,123 |
| KIMBERLY D SWISHER | FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION D Officer | 40 | $89,801 | $20,183 |
| JULIE SANDSTROM | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| SETH E DIZARD ESQ | VICE CHAIR & SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN W SMITH | PAST CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSEPH LEHMANN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID KURITZKY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID MOORE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRUCE A BENNETT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE RICH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ED SHUFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSEPH M BYERS JR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| NELSON FREEMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT UNKOVIC | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ROY SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRY WILSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| TRACY LEE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| W STEPHEN MARITZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 100 HIGH TOWER BLVD STE 101, PITTSBURGH, PA 15205-1155
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- BENJAMIN JONES, 101 HIGH TOWER BOULEVARD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15205
- Signed the 990
- BENJAMIN JONES, PRESIDENT AND CEO
- Phone
- (412) 264-4044
- Website
- WWW.RUFFEDGROUSESOCIETY.ORG
- Return prepared by
- LOUIS PLUNG & COMPANY LLP
Mission
1. ESTABLISHED IN 1961, THE RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY UNITES CONSERVATIONISTS TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND FOREST HEALTH AND PROMOTE A CONSERVATION ETHIC, ALL GROUNDED IN THE TENETS OF SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
Program accomplishments
- CHAPTER OPERATIONS: RGS CHAPTERS UNDERSTAND AND FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT, FOREST HEALTH AND PROMOTE CONSERVATION ETHICS. WITH THE HELP OF RGS ENGAGEMENT STAFF, CHAPTERS ORGANIZE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, HABITAT DAYS, YOUTH OUTINGS, SOCIAL EVENTS, UPLAND HUNTS, AND MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS.Expenses $2,236,534
- HABITAT PROJECTS: RGS WORKS WITH VARIOUS LANDOWNERS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ENHANCE FOREST HABITAT FOR RUFFED GROUSE AND ALL FOREST WILDLIFE USING SCIENCE-SUPPORTED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, AND GUIDED BY FOREST CONSERVATION DIRECTORS AND OTHER CONSERVATION DELIVERY STAFF EMPLOYED TO CARRY OUT THE ORGANIZATION'S HABITAT MISSION.Expenses $5,218,484
- MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: RGS COMMUNICATES AND EDUCATES MEMBERS ON HABITAT, FOREST MANAGEMENT AND UPLAND HUNTING THROUGH THE RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY MAGAZINE, WEBSITE (WWW.RUFFEDGROUSESOCIETY.ORG), EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION.Expenses $1,066,505
- GENERAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: THE RGS RECRUITMENT PROGRAMS RECRUIT, RETAIN AND REACTIVATE CONSERVATIONISTS TO ENSURE CURRENT AND FUTURE FOREST STEWARDSHIP WORK THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO CREATING, PROTECTING AND RESTORING FOREST HEALTH AND FOREST DIVERSITY FOR RUFFED GROUSE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, AND ALL FOREST WILDLIFE.Expenses $77,604
- RESEARCH; RGS PROVIDES FUNDING TO DEVELOP SOUND SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT FOSTER DIVERSE, HEALTHY FORESTS FOR RUFFED GROUSE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK AND ALL FOREST WILDLIFE.
- ADVOCACY: RGS ADVOCATES FOR THE APPLICATION OF SOUND SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT, AND RECRUITMENT, REACTIVATION, AND RETENTION OF HUNTER CONSERVATIONISTS.
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 54-0846925
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Group exemption
- Exempt since
- 1989
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C300)
- Group exemption
- 3255 (116 member organizations)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $15,033,233
- Income (IRS master file)
- $12,951,676
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $10,982,779 | $9,646,330 | $15,033,233 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $7,223,449 | $7,420,068 | $13,405,299 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $6,824,713 | $7,124,140 | $13,405,561 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $5,553,723 | $5,813,406 | $13,455,327 | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 54-0846925).
Questions about RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY
- What is the EIN of RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY is 54-0846925.
- Is RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1989.
- Are donations to RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Group exemption).
- Which annual return does RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names BENJAMIN JONES.
- Who are the officers and directors of RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 22 people; 6 received compensation from the organization, the highest $250,000 (BENJAMIN C JONES, PRESIDENT AND CEO).
- How much revenue does RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $10,982,779, expenses of $9,646,330 and total assets of $15,033,233 at year end.
Organizations in its group exemption (116)
- RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY EIN 25-1667889 · PITTSBURGH, PA · last filed 990 for 2024
- RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY EIN 52-1754359 · WISC RAPIDS, WI · last filed 990-N for 2007
Other nonprofits in PITTSBURGH
- WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY EIN 25-1053485 · last filed 990 for 2025
- PHIPPS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS INC EIN 25-1492587 · last filed 990 for 2025
- PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL INC EIN 23-7286159 · last filed 990 for 2025
- RIVERLIFE EIN 31-1674160 · last filed 990 for 2025
- FRIENDS OF THE PITTSBURGH URBAN FOREST EIN 25-1778057 · last filed 990 for 2025
- NATURAL LANDS TRUST U-DECL EIN 23-6226151 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ALLEGHENY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT EIN 25-1200594 · last filed 990 for 2024
- BUILDING PERFORMANCE FOUNDATION INC EIN 27-2422233 · last filed 990 for 2024