VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC
Protecting Habitat, Preventing Conflicts
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
As many as 100,000 grizzly bears historically roamed the western half of North America. From the Great Plains to the California coast and from Alaska to deep into Mexico – up to 50,000 of those bears may have inhabited the “Lower 48” states. But by the 1970s, humans had nearly eradicated brown bears in the Lower 48, paring their population here to just more than 600 animals that were confined to less than 2 percent of their historical range. Endangered Species Act protection and decades of intensive management by state, federal and tribal entities in combination with concerted efforts of myriad nonprofit organizations have helped bolster grizzlies in the Lower 48 to about 2,000 bears. Those animals now roam about 4 percent of their historic range, largely centered around six federally-defined recovery areas, and recent studies and documented sightings show that there is still room for bears to inhabit a much larger landscape.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Conservation Strategy
In 2018, Vital Ground worked with over 50 grizzly bear biologists and managers to identify and prioritize the private lands most important for habitat protection and conflict prevention. We identified over 188,000 acres critical for habitat protection through land acquisition or conservation easements. Biologists also prioritized 21 landscapes needing activities to reduce conflicts between bears and people. Our conservation efforts in the coming years will be aimed at protecting and connecting these critical landscapes for bears and other threatened wildlife communities.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Land Trust Alliance 2003
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Vital Ground works 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.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Working with private land owners,we:
1) protect critical landscapes that grizzlies need to survive, not only for bears but for all other species that share their world;
2) work to reduce conflicts between bears and humans;
3) target projects that sustain habitat connections and conserve the highest priority landscapes; and
4) ground our projects in current science and strong partnerships.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
With a seasoned and knowledgeable staff, and working with volunteers and partners, we collaborate, assess, and complete long term projects to protect and restore natural areas and corridors where grizzlies and other wildlife can move freely and safely. Vital Ground is an accredited land trust and uses private land conservation tools to permanently protect key habitat.
In 2018, Vital Ground worked with over 50 grizzly bear biologists and managers to identify and prioritize the private lands most important for habitat protection and conflict prevention. We identified over 188,000 acres critical for habitat protection through land acquisition or conservation easements. Biologists also prioritized 21 landscapes needing activities to reduce conflicts between bears and people. Our conservation efforts in the coming years will be aimed at protecting and connecting these critical landscapes for bears and other threatened wildlife communities.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since its founding in 1990, Vital Ground has contributed to the permanent protection and conservation of more that 620,000 acres of wildlife habitat. Vital Ground has collaborated with bear biologist to identify the most ecologically-important private lands for protection. We have worked with landowners and partners to protect these landscapes from development with conservation easements and acquisitions. We have partnered with local communities and landowners to prevent and reduce conflicts between bears and people.
We are currently fundraising for projects on the Rocky Mountain Front (Glen Willow ranch), Selkirk ecosystem in northern Idaho (Bismark Meadows acquisition), a wildlife corridor between the Cabinet and Purcell mountains in northwest Montana (Wild River project), and connectivity under Interstate 90 and into the Bitterroot ecosystem (Bell Ninemile project). We are working with 13 partners on conflict prevention activities in bear habitat.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION INC
Board of directorsas of 06/19/2023
Kelly Johnson
Johnson Family Foundation
Term: 2020 - 2024
Kelly A. Johnson
No Affiliation
Tom H. Fey
No Affiliation
Douglas H. Chadwick
Author
Stuart D. Strahl
Chicago Zoological Society and Brookfield Zoo
Lynne Seus
Wasatch Rocky Mountain Wildlife
Wally Becky
No Affiliation
Sou Barrett
No Affiliation
Russell Fox
No Affiliation
John Hechtel
International Bear Association
Maureen Mayer
No Affiliation
Andrea Nasi
No Affiliation
Theresa Young
No Affiliation
Scott Birmingham
Birmingham Family Foundation
Matt Dusek
Josephine Lowe
Artist
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data