Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation reported $100.1 million in revenue and $90.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $74.46 went to program services, $5.12 to management and general costs and $20.42 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 64.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $639,108 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 70% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $90MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $100MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 74.5% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.1% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 20.4% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.29 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 64.1% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.7% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 24.6% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $639,108 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.71% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 23 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 19.0 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 14 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseLand protection and access: represents land acquisitions, conservation easements, land exchanges and donations, and hunter and public access related projects. Rmef identifies and prioritizes the most crucial elk winter and summer ranges, migration corridors, and calving areas using gis mapping, internal criteria and priorities, partnerships, and field-based professional knowledge. The highest priority habitat or access areas are protected through acquisition or easement. Acquisitions are then usually conveyed into public ownership. Conservation easements allow private landowners to protect…
Hunting heritage: represents grants and other costs to engage people in hunting and other outdoor pursuits through skills instruction, mentoring, conservation outreach and hunting related product
Habitat stewardship: represents projects to improve the essential forage, water, and cover components of wildlife habitat. Types of projects include restoring aspen communities, fighting the spread of noxious weeds, boosting land productivity with prescribed burning, and thinning of forests. Rmef funds water development projects as well as fencing projects to provide better distribution of wildlife and livestock
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 & CEO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $592,370 | $0 | $46,738 | $639,108 |
| CFO / TREASURER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $269,570 | $0 | $43,387 | $312,957 |
| CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $260,099 | $0 | $24,481 | $284,580 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $188,865 | $0 | $34,677 | $223,542 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL/SECRETARY Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $190,140 | $0 | $33,216 | $223,356 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR OF IT Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $187,414 | $0 | $26,428 | $213,842 |
| CHIEF CONSERVATION OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $176,930 | $0 | $21,235 | $198,165 |
| OF MISSION OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $141,516 | $0 | $36,901 | $178,417 |
23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.6M (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
2024 · 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–1b14 · 14 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 2Yes
- 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 5168
- Volunteers Part I, line 68,400
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RR DONNELLY Printing services | $2,907,980 |
| KODI HOLDINGS INC DBA LSC COMMUNICATIONS Printing services | $1,107,879 |
| FENSKE MEDIA Printing services | $772,206 |
| RLMG Design services | $649,798 |
| SARALUX LLC Software design & support | $363,299 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 18 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
44 private foundations reported grants to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation totaling $321K 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 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation spent in 2024, $74.46 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Animal Medical CenterNew York, NY · revenue $97M · programs 77.4% · 2024
- Shedd Aquarium SocietyChicago, IL · revenue $102M · programs 76.7% · 2024
- Denver Dumb Friends LeagueDenver, CO · revenue $93M · programs 81.1% · FY2025
- Trout UnlimitedArlington, VA · revenue $110M · programs 88.2% · FY2025
- Panthera CorporationNew York, NY · revenue $92M · programs 84.2% · 2025
Questions people ask
How much of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation reported that 74.5% of its $90.1 million in expenses went to program services, 5.1% to management and general and 20.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $639,108, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation get its money?
Of $100.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 64.1% came from contributions and grants (including 2.7% from government grants) and 24.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 81-0421425 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503189349315075 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403179349308580 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343119349302719 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223139349303887 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202131339349300043 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202043189349311154 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 81-0421425: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.