Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever reported $118.6 million in revenue and $116.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.20 went to program services, $3.92 to management and general costs and $9.88 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 82.6% of the total. Government grants made up 65.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $398,075 (President and CEO). 23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 75% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $116MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $119MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.2% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.9% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.9% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 82.6% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 65.4% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 4.0% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $398,075 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.34% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 23 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 17 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseWildlife Habitat Initiatives: During the 2025 fiscal year, Pheasants Forever, Inc. completed over 2,500 habitat projects impacting 88,600 acres. Since its inception in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $1.34 billion and completed 589,000 habitat projects. These projects include land acquisitions, shelterbelts, wetlands, food plots, nesting cover, tree planting, maintenance and include the purchase of habitat equipment. Following are current year highlights of the various projects completed by Pheasants Forever: Land Acquisitions-Land acquired by, or with the help of, Pheasants Forever is…
Public Awareness, Education and Outreach: The education and outreach component of Pheasants Forever provides year-round youth programs that offer a pathway of activities that cultivate and grow land stewards and hunting conservationists of all ages. The focus is on hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation. This initiative is carried on in part through the No Child Left Indoors(R) Initiative and other outreach activities. The organization's publications, The Pheasants Forever Journal of Upland Conservation (published four times a year) and The Quail Forever Journal of Quail Conservation…
Chapter, Volunteer and Member Services: Pheasants Forever's regional field representatives provide support, information, hands-on education to the public, and work on implementation of wildlife habitat development and restoration. PF's representatives also assist members and chapter volunteers to improve wildlife habitat in the most efficient and effective way. In addition, Pheasants Forever provides support for and informs and updates, the more than 165,000 members and nearly 750 chapters, as to the need for ongoing work in wildlife conservation and provides assistance to accomplish that goal
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President and CEO Director/trustee, officer, 50 hrs/week | $366,374 | $0 | $31,701 | $398,075 |
| Chief Financial Officer & Asst. Secretary Officer, 50 hrs/week | $307,380 | $0 | $22,921 | $330,301 |
| Chief Development Officer Officer, 50 hrs/week | $265,026 | $0 | $30,124 | $295,150 |
| Chief Conservation Officer Officer, 50 hrs/week | $228,141 | $0 | $21,038 | $249,179 |
| Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Officer, 50 hrs/week | $199,696 | $0 | $19,564 | $219,260 |
| Vice President of Government Affairs Highest compensated employee, 50 hrs/week | $203,897 | $0 | $9,610 | $213,507 |
| Director of IT Highest compensated employee, 50 hrs/week | $162,710 | $0 | $35,326 | $198,036 |
| Vice President of Conservation Programs Highest compensated employee, 50 hrs/week | $155,540 | $0 | $27,348 | $182,888 |
23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Pheasants Forever (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b17 · 16 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5769
- Volunteers Part I, line 64,000
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Quicksilver Contracting Habitat Contracting | $1,512,457 |
| Pinpoint 360 Printing Services | $1,173,933 |
| RSM US LLP Technology Consulting | $865,646 |
| Desert Sage Farms LLC Habitat Contracting | $486,131 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 32 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
48 private foundations reported grants to Pheasants Forever totaling $1.1M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Pheasants Forever's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Pheasants Forever, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Pheasants Forever spent in FY2025, $86.20 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- ARC of the OzarksSpringfield, MO · revenue $118M · programs 91.6% · FY2025
- International Children's FundNeenah, WI · revenue $119M · programs 99.8% · FY2025
- Oak Ridge Associated UniversitiesOak Ridge, TN · revenue $118M · programs 87.7% · FY2025
- Easter Seals MidwestSaint Louis, MO · revenue $119M · programs 86.1% · FY2025
- Compass HealthEverett, WA · revenue $117M · programs 88.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Pheasants Forever's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Pheasants Forever reported that 86.2% of its $116.4 million in expenses went to program services, 3.9% to management and general and 9.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Pheasants Forever pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Pheasants Forever reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $398,075, for the role of President and CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Pheasants Forever get its money?
Of $118.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 82.6% came from contributions and grants (including 65.4% from government grants) and 4.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Pheasants Forever a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 41-1429149 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202611319349300441 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501279349303305 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441319349302519 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311299349302781 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201339349302960 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202110699349300126 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 41-1429149: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.