VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC

Financials

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.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

27 FORT MISSOULA RD STE 2, MISSOULA, MT 59804-7200

In care of

% RYAN LUTEY

Principal officer (990 for 2025)

RYAN LUTEY, 30 FORT MISSOULA ROAD, MISSOULA, MT 598047211

Signed the 990

RYAN LUTEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Phone

(406) 549-8650

Website

WWW.VITALGROUND.ORG

Return prepared by

JUNKERMIERCLARKCAMPANELLASTEVENS PC

Mission

VITAL GROUND WORKS TO ENSURE THE RECOVERY AND LONG-TERM SURVIVAL OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND THE MANY NATIVE SPECIES THAT SHARE THEIR RANGE THROUGH THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF WILDLIFE HABITAT AND LANDSCAPE LINKAGES, AND BY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE.

Program accomplishments

• LAND CONSERVATION: VITAL GROUND IDENTIFIES CRUCIAL GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT ON PRIVATELY OWNED LAND AND WORKS WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT THE LAND'S CONSERVATION VALUES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY ACQUIRING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THROUGH DONATION OR BARGAIN PURCHASE, OR BY PURCHASING LAND IN FEE TITLE THEN MANAGING IT TO BENEFIT WILDLIFE AND THE PUBLIC. VITAL GROUND HAS A PERPETUAL RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THE LANDS ON WHICH IT HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. VITAL GROUND ALSO MANAGES AND WORKS TO RESTORE THE LAND IT OWNS TO PROVIDE QUALITY HABITAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND OTHER WILDLIFE. IN ADDITION TO 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.2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:CONSERVATION EASEMENTS - ACQUIRED FOUR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN MONTANA TOTALING 5,220 ACRES TO PROTECT HIGHLY THREATENED GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT WITHIN AND BETWEEN THE NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, CABINET-YAAK AND BITTERROOT GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY AREAS.- MONITORED 23 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY VITAL GROUND IN MONTANA, THREE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY VITAL GROUND IN IDAHO, AND FOUR U.S. FOREST SERVICE FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF LANDS IN IDAHO. LAND ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT- ACQUIRED ONE PROPERTY TOTALING 50 ACRES IN FEE-TITLE IN MONTANA TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND SCENIC VALUES, AND TO SPECIFICALLY CONSERVE KEY GRIZZLY BEAR LINKAGE HABITAT AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ECOSYSTEM.- ACQUIRED ONE PROPERTY TOTALING 200 ACRES IN FEE-TITLE IN IDAHO TO PROTECT WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND TO SPECIFICALLY CONSERVE KEY GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT IN THE SELKIRK ECOSYSTEM.- CONTINUED PROMOTING THE GOALS OF THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE'S COMMUNITY FOREST AND OPEN SPACE PROGRAM THROUGH FOREST STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES AT VITAL GROUND'S ALVORD LAKE COMMUNITY FOREST, CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS' COMMITTEE THAT GUIDES MANAGEMENT OF THE FOREST.- MONITORED AND MANAGED FIVE FEE-TITLE CONSERVATION PROPERTIES IN IDAHO AND SEVEN FEE-TITLE CONSERVATION PROPERTIES IN MONTANA.- CONDUCTED WILDLIFE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES ON PROPERTIES IN BONNER COUNTY, IDAHO, AND IN LINCOLN AND SANDERS COUNTIES, MONTANA.
  Expenses $5,535,054
• CONSERVATION EDUCATION: VITAL GROUND PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT GRIZZLY BEAR AND ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH ITS PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS, SPECIAL MAILINGS, WEBSITE, EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA, IN-PERSON AND ONLINE EVENTS, VIDEOS AND OTHER MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PARTICIPATES IN COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION OF GRIZZLY BEARS AND THEIR HABITAT, PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND HUMANS AND ENHANCE THE SURVIVAL OF GRIZZLY BEARS. 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:- PRODUCED ROUGHLY 12,000 COPIES OF VITAL NEWS, THE ORGANIZATION'S BIANNUAL 16-PAGE PRINT NEWSLETTER THAT REPORTS ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES AS WELL AS PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.- PRODUCED 12 MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTERS ("VITAL ENEWS") PLUS 1-2 OTHER EMAIL CAMPAIGNS PER MONTH, EACH DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 11,000 UNIQUE RECIPIENTS (430,239 TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS). THESE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTED ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES, EMERGING PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES, CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONSERVATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, FUNDING NEEDS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT VITAL GROUND'S MISSION.- PRODUCED OTHER ASSORTED PRINT POSTCARDS, BROCHURES AND PROMOTIONS THAT REPORTED ON GRIZZLY BEAR AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION ISSUES, EMERGING PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES, CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONSERVATION AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, FUNDING NEEDS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT VITAL GROUND'S MISSION.- MAINTAINED A WEBSITE (WWW.VITALGROUND.ORG), INCLUDING A BLOG TYPICALLY UPDATED 1-2 TIMES PER MONTH (18 TOTAL POSTS IN 2025), THAT PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT GRIZZLY BEARS AND ASSOCIATED WILDLIFE, NEWS AND SCIENCE UPDATES ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ISSUES, CURRENT GRIZZLY BEAR CONSERVATION PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES, AND VITAL GROUND CONSERVATION PROJECT AND PARTNER ACCOMPLISHMENTS. VITAL GROUND'S WEBSITE EXPERIENCED 99,881 USERS AND 121,552 SESSIONS DURING 2025.- PRODUCED DAILY FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM UPDATES PROMOTING WILDLIFE HABITAT PROTECTION, GRIZZLY BEAR NATURAL HISTORY AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION TOPICS TO AN AUDIENCE OF OVER 55,000 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK (UP 5 PERCENT IN 2025) AND 10,000 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM (UP 10 PERCENT IN 2025). PRODUCED THREE NEW VIDEOS AND GREW VITAL GROUND'S YOUTUBE AUDIENCE TO A TOTAL OF 28,400 SUBSCRIBERS.
  Expenses $799,400 · grants $4,699
• OTHER: IN ADDITION TO ITS HABITAT CONSERVATION AND CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION ALSO PARTNERS WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND TRIBAL AGENCIES, OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS PREVENTING CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE. THROUGH ITS 2025 CONSERVATION PARTNERS PROGRAM, VITAL GROUND AWARDED $75,000 IN SMALL GRANTS TO 17 COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES WORKING TO PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE IN 16 HIGH PRIORITY LANDSCAPES. THESE INVESTMENTS HELPED:- INSTALL 25 ELECTRIC FENCES AROUND A TRACK FIELD, FRUIT ORCHARDS, CALVING PASTURES, GOAT PASTURE, AND CHICKEN COOPS.- PROTECT 28,000 ACRES BY RETIRING A FEDERAL GRAZING ALLOTMENT- REACH 86,000 PEOPLE AT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EVENTS- MONITOR 7,000 ACRES THROUGH RANGE RIDING ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE STATE- SECURE WILDLIFE ATTRACTANTS IN FIVE PUBLIC CAMPGROUNDS - GLEAN 225 POUNDS OF FRUIT THAT COULD OTHERWISE ATTRACT BEARS INTO PROXIMITY OF HUMANS- DEPLOY 33 BEAR RESISTANT TRASH CANS - REMOVE 500 DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK CARCASSES FROM HIGH CONFLICT AREAS- PURCHASE TWO DRONES FOR STATE AGENCY USE IN MANAGING BEARS - REFURBISH TWO GRIZZLY BEAR TRACKING COLLARS- PURCHASE 5,000 PIECES OF EDUCATION AND OUTREACH MATERIAL TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE PUBLICPROACTIVE PREVENTION OF AVOIDABLE CONFLICTS BETWEEN BEARS AND PEOPLE IS CRITICAL TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE BROADER PUBLIC ACCEPTING THE PRESENCE OF GRIZZLIES AS THE SPECIES RECOVERS AND EXPANDS BACK INTO HABITAT WHERE IT HAS BEEN ABSENT - IN SOME CASES FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.
  Expenses $75,000 · grants $75,000

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.

IRS record

EIN

87-0483446

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

1992

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Assets (IRS master file)

$27,743,389

Income (IRS master file)

$10,627,287

Filing history

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 87-0483446).

Questions about VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC

What is the EIN of VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC?

The employer identification number (EIN) of VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC is 87-0483446.

Is VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1992.

Are donations to VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC 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 VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC 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 VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC 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 VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names RYAN LUTEY.

Who are the officers and directors of VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 18 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $206,850 (RYAN LUTEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).

How much revenue does VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $10,218,738, expenses of $7,203,720 and total assets of $27,743,389 at year end.

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