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Nonprofit · EIN 84-1079882

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY

Also known as BIRD CONSERVANCY OF THE ROCKIES

Tax-exempt · BRIGHTON, CO 80603

Financials

$9.3M$8M2023$10.1M$9.2M2024$11.1M$9.4M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$11,103,618$9,386,397$1,717,221$7,733,234$836,383$6,896,851
December 31, 2024990$10,142,496$9,237,937$904,559$5,738,110$663,415$5,074,695
December 31, 2023990$9,321,074$8,004,178$1,316,896$4,952,148$793,960$4,158,188
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$9,837,893
of which government grants
$6,770,357
Program service revenue
$1,262,597
Investment income
$27,446
Net gain from sales of assets
-$28,094
Net income from fundraising events
-$26,920
Net income from sales of inventory
$1,544
Other revenue
-$24,318

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$478,649
Other salaries and wages
$5,077,031
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$6,743,273
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Occupancy
$156,124
Travel
$650,391
Depreciation
$56,962
Program services (functional)
$8,044,297
Management and general (functional)
$1,090,694
Fundraising (functional)
$251,406

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$5,738,110
Total assets, end of year
$7,733,234
Total liabilities, end of year
$836,383
Net assets, end of year
$6,896,851
Land, buildings and equipment
$389,841
Publicly traded securities
$1,257,652
Net assets without donor restrictions
$4,805,172
Net assets with donor restrictions
$2,091,679
Gross receipts
$12,302,120
Employees
168
Volunteers
177
Year formed
1988
State of legal domicile
CO

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.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
TAMMY VERCAUTERENEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$163,497$5,503
ELINDA DENNISCHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Officer
40$156,168$598
THOMAS RYDERCHIEF CONSERVATION SCIENTIST
Officer
40$138,885$12,471
STEPHEN HOWLANDINFORMATICS PROGRAM MANAGER
Highest-paid employee
40$112,173$12,386
EILEEN DEY BSCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
GARTH SPELLMAN PHDCO-CHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
JEANINE CORVETTOTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
TONIE HANSENSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
ED WARNER MS PHDDIRECTOR (THRU AUG)
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
D JEAN TATE PHDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
ALEJANDRO CARRILLODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
NATHAN PIEPLOW M ED DDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
JOHN SANDERSON PHDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
KATHRYN HEET JDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
SHANELLE THEVARAJAHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
3 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
ROSA MARIA VIDALDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0
DAVID KOFFLERDIRECTOR (AS OF FEB)
Trustee or director
1.5$0
SHEA JAMEELDIRECTOR (AS OF FEB)
Trustee or director
1.5$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 18 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
TAMMY VERCAUTERENCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer
40$159,185$6,116
THOMAS RYDERCHIEF CONSERVATION SCIENTIST
Officer
40$131,538$12,504
ELINDA DENNISCHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Officer
40$134,370$630
EILEEN DEY BSCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
GARTH SPELLMAN PHDCO-CHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
JEANINE CORVETTOTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
ED WARNER MS PHDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
TONIE HANSENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
CHRISTINE COOLIDGEDIRECTOR (JAN - NOV)
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
D JEAN TATE PHDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
ALEJANDRO CARRILLODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
NATHAN PIEPLOW M ED DDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
JOHN SANDERSON PHDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
GEOFFERY GEUPEL BSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
KATHRYN HEET JDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
SHANELLE THEVARAJAHDIRECTOR (AUG - DEC)
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
ERIC LANEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
ROSA MARIA VIDALDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 18 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
TAMMY VERCAUTERENCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Officer
40$152,955$5,953
ELINDA DENNISCHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Officer
40$135,960$640
THOMAS RYDERCHIEF CONSERVATION SCIENTIST
Officer
40$119,385$11,589
ERIC LANECHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
EILEEN DEY BSVICE-CHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
GARTH SPELLMAN PHDFINANCE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1.5$0$0
CHRISTINE COOLIDGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
GEOFFERY GEUPEL BSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
D JEAN TATE PHDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
ED WARNER MS PHDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
TONIE HANSENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
DAVID OTIS PHDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
NATHAN PIEPLOW MED DDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
JOHN SANDERSON PHDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
LARRY MODESITTMBACQECTPDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
ALEJANDRO CARRILLODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
ROSA MARIA VIDALDIRECTOR (AUG- DEC)
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
JEANINE CORVETTODIRECTOR (DEC)
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
14500 LARK BUNTING LN, BRIGHTON, CO 80603-8311
In care of
% ROCK
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
TAMMY VERCAUTEREN, 14500 LARK BUNTING LANE, BRIGHTON, CO 80603
Signed the 990
TAMMY VERCAUTEREN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone
(303) 659-4348
Return prepared by
EIDE BAILLY LLP

Mission

OUR MISSION IS TO CONSERVE BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS THROUGH AN INTEGRATED APPROACH OF SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND LAND STEWARDSHIP. WE ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE BIRDS ARE FOREVER ABUNDANT, CONTRIBUTING TO HEALTHY LANDSCAPES AND INSPIRING HUMAN CURIOSITY AND LOVE OF NATURE. OUR MISSION IS TO CONSERVE BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS THROUGH AN INTEGRATED APPROACH OF SCIENCE, EDUCATION AND LAND STEWARDSHIP. WE ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE BIRDS ARE FOREVER ABUNDANT, CONTRIBUTING TO HEALTHY LANDSCAPES AND INSPIRING HUMAN CURIOSITY AND LOVE OF NATURE. OUR WORK RADIATES FROM THE ROCKIES TO THE GREAT PLAINS, MEXICO AND BEYOND. OUR EFFORTS ARE ADVANCED BY SOUND SCIENCE, ACHIEVED THROUGH EMPOWERING PEOPLE, REALIZED THROUGH STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS. TOGETHER, WE ARE IMPROVING NATIVE BIRD POPULATIONS, THE LAND AND THE LIVES OF PEOPLE.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • SCIENCE - BIRD CONSERVANCY OF THE ROCKIES MONITORS, EVALUATES AND RESEARCHES BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS GENERATING DATA THAT GUIDES SCIENCE-BASED CONSERVATION EFFORTS ACROSS THE FULL ANNUAL CYCLE OF BIRDS' LIVES. OUR WORK EXTENDS FROM THE BREEDING GROUNDS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA TO WINTERING GROUNDS IN MEXICO AND BEYOND. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SCIENTISTS EXPAND OUR REACH AND INCREASE OUR IMPACT. WE WORK WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, UNIVERSITIES, NGOS, LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND LANDOWNERS TO BUILD CAPACITY, KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEMS IMPORTANT TO MIGRATORY AND RESIDENT BIRDS AND PEOPLE. JOIN US IN THE DISCOVERY.
    Expenses $4,673,927 · revenue $1,189,130
  • STEWARDSHIP - OUR NETWORK OF STRATEGICALLY-PLACED PRIVATE LANDS WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH LANDOWNERS, LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND MANAGERS TO ENACT VOLUNTARY, PRO-ACTIVE CONSERVATION ACTION. WE BUILD A GRASSROOTS LAND STEWARDSHIP ETHIC THAT LINKS BIRDS, HABITAT AND LAND HEALTH. TOGETHER, WE'RE CREATING LONG-TERM CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS FOR PEOPLE, BIRDS AND THE LAND. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE CAN ENGAGE LANDOWNERS AND COMMUNITIES IN CONSERVATION EFFORTS, INTEGRATING THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, ECONOMIC DRIVERS AND HABITAT NEEDS OF BIRD POPULATIONS. HELP US IMPART A STEWARDSHIP ETHIC.
    Expenses $2,008,636 · revenue $900
  • EDUCATION - BIRDS, NATURE AND SCIENCE ARE POWERFUL SOURCES OF INSPIRATION. BIRD CONSERVANCY FOCUSES ON CONNECTING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. WE PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND LEARNING AND EXPOSURE TO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATHEMATICS (STEAM). WE SPARK THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABILITIES OF THE WHOLE PERSON TO EMPOWER AND ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUAL GROWTH AND CONFIDENCE, WELL-BEING, AND A PASSION FOR OUR NATURAL WORLD. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH FIELD AND CLASSROOM PROGRAMS, YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS, FIELD EXCURSIONS, TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND LANDOWNERS, AND PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS AND OTHERS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. INSPIRE IN NATURE.
    Expenses $1,056,633 · revenue $74,111
  • CGRI - BIRD CONSERVANCY OF THE ROCKIES CATALYZED THE CENTRAL GRASSLAND ROADMAP INITIATIVE INCLUDING HIRING THE FIRST-EVER CENTRAL GRASSLAND ROADMAP DIRECTOR TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION ACROSS THE REGION. THE INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO LIFT ALL VOICES INCLUDING TRIBAL NATIONS, US, MEXICO AND CANADA AS WELL AS 7-SECTORS: PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, INDUSTRY, FOUNDATIONS AND ACADEMIA AND CREATE A MOVEMENT TO SAVE OUR GRASSLANDS ACROSS THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS. WE ARE STRIVING TO ENSURE HEALTHY GRASSLANDS, HUMAN COMMUNITIES AND WILDLIFE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. OUR THREE PILLARS OF FOCUS INCLUDE: POLICY AND FUNDING, PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT, AND RESEARCH AND EVALUATION. TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE STORY AND TRAJECTORY OF OUR GRASSLANDS.
    Expenses $305,101

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
84-1079882
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1988
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Animal-related (D320)
Assets (IRS master file)
$7,733,234
Income (IRS master file)
$12,302,120

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$11,103,618$9,386,397$7,733,234IRS
990December 2024$10,142,496$9,237,937$5,738,110IRS
990December 2023$9,321,074$8,004,178$4,952,148XML
990December 2022$6,799,067$7,014,736$3,244,210IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2019–––IRS
990December 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 84-1079882).

Questions about ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY

What is the EIN of ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY is 84-1079882.
Is ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1988.
Are donations to ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY 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 ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY 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 ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY 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 ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names TAMMY VERCAUTEREN.
Who are the officers and directors of ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 18 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $163,497 (TAMMY VERCAUTEREN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
How much revenue does ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIRD OBSERVATORY have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $11,103,618, expenses of $9,386,397 and total assets of $7,733,234 at year end.

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