THE VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC

EIN: 870483446 501(c)(3)

MISSOULA, MT

Total Revenue
$5,067,558
Total Expenses
$2,370,250
Total Assets
$24,380,269
Net Assets
$24,271,020
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1990
Legal Domicile
UT
Principal Officer
RYAN LUTEY
Phone
4065498650
Tax Period
2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

THE VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC, founded in 1990, is a community nonprofit that reported $5.1M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue fell 24% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring. The organization ran a surplus of $2.7M, a strong 53% operating margin.

Mission

PROTECT AND RESTORE NORTH AMERICA'S GRIZZLY BEAR POPULATIONS BY CONSERVING WILDLIFE HABITAT.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $4,424,173
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $573,600
Other Revenue $69,785
TOTAL REVENUE $5,067,558

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $70,400
Salaries & Benefits $1,056,411
Fundraising Expenses $290,022
Program Expenses $1,835,913
Other Expenses $1,243,439
TOTAL EXPENSES $2,370,250

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $5,067,558 $6,685,566 -0.2%
Expenses $2,370,250 $2,219,074 +0.1%
Net Income $2,697,308 $4,466,492 -0.4%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Financial Health Indicators

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Liquidity & Cash Position

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Governance

Voting Members
19
Independent Members
19
Employees
12
Volunteers
19

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
5
$204,728
Total Directors
19
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
KELLY JOHNSON CHAIR 20.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MATTHEW DUSEK VICE CHAIR 4.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
THERESA YOUNG SECRETARY 4.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
TIM POLICH TREASURER 9.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
DALE BECKER TRUSTEE 4.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DOUG CHADWICK TRUSTEE 6.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SCOTT BIRMINGHAM TRUSTEE 4.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TOM FEY TRUSTEE 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RUSSELL FOX TRUSTEE 4.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN HECHTEL TRUSTEE 4.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JO LOWE TRUSTEE 4.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MAUREEN MAYER TRUSTEE 4.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ANDREA NASI TRUSTEE 4.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LYNNE SEUS TRUSTEE 6.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
STUART STRAHL TRUSTEE 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MEGGEN WILSON TRUSTEE 3.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CHERI COOLEY-HICK TRUSTEE 4.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KEN HICK TRUSTEE 4.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DANIELLE FEIDLER TRUSTEE 4.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RYAN LUTEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00
Officer
$191,400 $13,328 $204,728
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 $5,067,558 $2,370,250 $24,380,269 $2,697,308
2023 $6,685,566 $2,219,074 $22,103,827 $4,466,492
2022 $5,489,727 $2,374,135 $17,450,380 $3,115,592
2021 $7,544,506 $3,486,395 $13,941,782 $4,058,111
2020 $2,654,450 $1,371,694 $9,746,782 $1,282,756
2019 $2,200,400 $1,952,246 $8,206,385 $248,154
2018 $2,788,920 $968,364 $7,826,580 $1,820,556
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