Yellowstone Forever

Analysis

Yellowstone Forever is a registered charity in United States, based in Bozeman, MT. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in January 2016, 10 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending February 2024, Yellowstone Forever reported income of $21.3m and spending of $14.5m, leaving 32% of income unspent that year. Across the 6 years on record, from February 2019 to February 2024, income grew from $15.2m to $21.3m (+40%), an average of +7.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to February 2022, when income rose by 130%. Over the whole period it spent 76% of the income it received.

Among 10,430 United States charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Yellowstone Forever sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile, and in the 98th percentile within MT. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Global Environment & Technology Foundation ($21.2m), Advanced Energy Institute ($21.3m) and Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park ($20.9m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending February 2024, revenue came from contributions and grants 73% and program service revenue 6.4% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $444k (3.1% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $4.1m. It paid $1.4m in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $45.7m against liabilities of $1.9m, net assets of $43.8m. It reported 132 employees.