Vital Ground Foundation
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Vital Ground Foundation does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
Vital Ground does not meet this Standard because:
- The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least Every 2 Years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.
Vital Ground does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.
Standard 12 (Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses)
Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.
Vital Ground does not meet this Standard because, in the organization's 2024 audited financial statements, the detailed functional breakdown of expenses:
- Only included one program service category. It did not include a detailed breakdown of expenses for each of its major program activities (land and education).
Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.
Vital Ground does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2026 budget information, it indicated that the budget:
- Did not identify total projected program service expenses nor provide a breakdown of major program service expenses.
Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.
Vital Ground does not meet this Standard because the 2024 annual report did not include:
- A roster of the organization's board of directors.
- Total program expenses and a breakdown of major program service expenses.
- Total fundraising expenses.
- Total administrative expenses.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 3, 15, 19
Vital Ground Foundation meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to protect and restore North America’s grizzly bear populations for future generations by conserving wildlife habitat, and by supporting programs that reduce conflicts between bears and humans."
Year, State Incorporated:
1990, UT
Vital Ground Foundation (Vital Ground) reports that it is based in Missoula, Montana, and works throughout the northern Rocky Mountains and Inland Northwest to connect public land strongholds with protected private lands to create large landscape conservation for the benefit of grizzly bears, other wildlife, and people. As a land trust, the organization completes land purchases and partners with private landowners on conservation agreements for their properties. Vital Ground also partners with community organizations and agencies to prevent conflicts between bears and people. Projects aim to keep wild places wild, working lands working, and open spaces open. Vital Ground's One Landscape Initiative works to connect private lands with the wild strongholds of the Northern Rockies to allow movement and genetic exchange between grizzly populations at risk of isolation. In 2024, the organization states that it protected 48,000 acres of livestock range using range riders, distributed 69 bear proof containers, constructed 33 electric fences to secure orchards and livestock, and distributed grants to 16 communities in 15 high priority landscapes.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, Vital Ground Foundation's program expenses were:
| Land | $1,074,017 |
| Education | $800,160 |
| Total Program Expenses | $1,874,177 |
Chief Executive
Ryan Lutey, JD, Executive Director
Compensation*
$204,728
Chair of the Board
Ken Hick, PhD
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired, Investment and Finance Consulting
Board Size
15
Paid Staff Size
12
*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals, Workplace Giving
Fundraising costs were 6% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $4,486,519, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Vital Ground Foundation's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Source of Funds
| Contributions | $2,588,030 |
| Grants | $1,750,143 |
| Interest income on accounts and CDs | $494,793 |
| Realized and unrealized gains on investments, net | $269,921 |
| In-kind contributions | $125,264 |
| Other income | $44,240 |
| Special events, net | $23,082 |
| Merchandise sales, net | $2,463 |
| Total Income | $5,297,936 |
Programs: 78% Fundraising: 12% Administrative: 10%
| Total Income | $5,297,936 |
| Total expenses: | $2,409,514 |
| Program expenses | $1,874,177 |
| Fundraising expenses | $290,022 |
| Administrative expenses | $245,315 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $2,888,422 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $21,382,598 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $24,271,020 |
| Total Liabilities | $109,249 |
| Total Assets | $24,380,269 |
Note: According to Vital Ground's 2024 audited financial statements, the organization received $125,264 in contributed goods and services including land and easements ($80,000), advertising ($38,264), goods donated for auction ($6,000), and other professional services ($1,000).
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
RELATED CONTENT
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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Did Not Disclose
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance