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    5. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
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    Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

    ActiveAnimal-RelatedMakes PRIs
    MISSOULA, MTWebsite4065234500

    About Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

    RMEF is dedicated to ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.

    Focus Areas

    Habitat stewardshipWildlife managementResearchLand conservationPublic access for hunting and recreationHunting heritage programsConservation education and outreach

    Who They Fund

    native wildlife populations / game specieshunting and sporting communitiesland trusts, conservation organizations, and rural landowners

    Funding Style

    land acquisition / protection (capital support)

    About Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

    Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Inc. gives at a scale that places land protection and habitat work at the center of its recent activity. Its largest recent grant was $1,693,707 to the Utah Department of Natural Resources for land protection, and another seven-figure award went to the USDA Forest Service in Portland, Oregon for habitat stewardship. Those awards sit alongside a broad set of grants to state wildlife agencies, conservation groups, and research partners focused on elk habitat, wildlife management, land conservation, public access, and hunting heritage. The foundation’s recent grants show a mix of capital support and project-based conservation funding. State agencies appear often, including the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Montana Department of Fish Wildlife & Parks, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Idaho Department of Fish & Game, and Wyoming Game & Fish Department. It also supports universities and conservation organizations, such as the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, the Nature Conservancy, and the University of Montana. The recurring emphasis across these grants is conservation work tied to wildlife, habitat, and hunting traditions, with projects spread across multiple states.

    What Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Funds

    Land protection is a clear part of the foundation’s work. It gave $582,300 to the Pennsylvania Game Commission for land protection in 2025 and $400,000 to the Nevada Department of Wildlife for land protection in 2023. Habitat stewardship and enhancement also appear repeatedly. The foundation awarded $316,047 to Montana Department of Fish Wildlife & Parks for habitat stewardship in 2025 and $153,434 to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for habitat enhancement in 2023. Wildlife management is another active area. Recent grants include $250,000 to the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit for wildlife management in 2024 and $222,500 to the Idaho Department of Fish & Game for wildlife management in 2025. Hunting heritage is supported through grants such as $150,000 to the University of Montana in 2023 and $125,000 to the Illinois Conservation Foundation in 2024.

    How Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Gives

    Typical grant sizes cluster around a mid-range operating level, with a p25 of $9,613, a median of $20,000, and a p75 of $49,999. The recent list also includes larger project grants into the hundreds of thousands and above. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Inc. is a regular funder and accepts unsolicited applications through its RMEF Grant Program. Its recent recipients appear more than once across years, including the USDA Forest Service, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Game Commission, and Illinois Conservation Foundation, which suggests repeat support for some partners and projects.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $8.4M

    Total Assets

    $151.5M

    Total Revenue

    $100.1M

    Total Expenses

    $90.1M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.

    25th Percentile

    $10K

    Median

    $20K

    75th Percentile

    $50K

    Geographic Reach

    National32 states funded

    About 11% of grants go to recipients in OR.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

    Leadership

    SHANE CRONK

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    EIN: 81-0421425
    3 filings on record
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    project-based habitat restoration
    long-term stewardship and management support
    support for cultural/traditional conservation (hunting heritage)

    Topics

    land protection and conservation easementshabitat stewardship and managementhabitat enhancement and restoration for wildlifewildlife population management (including game species)preservation of hunting heritage and sporting traditions

    Where Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Makes Grants

    Grantmaking is national and all recent recipients in the data are in the United States. Oregon is the top state by grant count, with Portland appearing multiple times through USDA Forest Service awards. Other frequent locations include Salt Lake City, Harrisburg, and Springfield, with grantees also in Carson City, Helena, and Jackson. The foundation gives 11% of grants to recipients in Montana, where Missoula is also its headquarters city.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

    How does Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Inc. make grants?

    It runs the RMEF Grant Program, which provides financial and logistical support for conservation projects aligned with habitat stewardship, wildlife management and research, land conservation and access, and hunting heritage. The foundation accepts unsolicited applications through that program.

    What is the typical grant size?

    Its grant sizes are centered in a relatively modest band: the 25th percentile is $9,613, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $49,999. Recent grants also include much larger project awards in the hundreds of thousands and above.

    What kinds of organizations receive support?

    Recent recipients include state wildlife agencies, federal agencies, conservation groups, research units, universities, and land trusts. Examples in the data include the USDA Forest Service, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Nature Conservancy, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and the University of Montana.

    Does the foundation support more than one type of conservation work?

    Yes. The data shows grants for land protection, habitat stewardship, habitat enhancement, wildlife management, and hunting heritage. Those categories appear across the recent grant list and match the foundation’s listed priorities.

    Are grants limited to one state or one region?

    No. The grant list is national, and the recipient country distribution shows all 281 recent grants went to U.S. recipients. Oregon has the highest grant count among states, while Montana accounts for 11% of grants.

    Accepts unsolicited proposals
    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    UTAH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESSALT LAKE CITY, UT$1,693,7072025LAND PROTECTION
    USDA FOREST SERVICEPORTLAND, OR$1,100,0222025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSIONHARRISBURG, PA$582,3002025LAND PROTECTION
    TENNESSEE WILDLIFE RESOURCES AGENCYMORRISTOWN, TN$358,6552025LAND PROTECTION
    MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF FISH WILDLIFE & PARKSHELENA, MT$316,0472025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFEGRAND JUNCTION, CO$281,7192025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCYASHEVILLE, NC$250,0002025LAND PROTECTION
    PHEASANTS FOREVERJANESVILLE, WI$232,8932025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCESFRANKFURT, KY$224,6262025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAMEIDAHO FALLS, ID$222,5002025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    WYOMING GAME & FISH DEPARTMENTJACKSON, WY$175,8572025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF GAME FISH AND PARKSRAPID CITY, SD$145,9352025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFEELLENSBURG, WA$134,7402025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESGREEN BAY, WI$125,0302025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    ILLINOIS CONSERVATION FOUNDATIONSPRINGFIELD, IL$125,0002025HUNTING HERITAGE
    SALT RIVER PROJECT AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT AND POWER DISTRICTPHOENIX, AZ$124,7002025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFEELY, NV$116,2762025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    DOIBLMSPRINGFIELD, OR$111,2432025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENTPHOENIX, AZ$111,1112025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH & WILDLIFE AGENCIESBOISE, ID$100,0002025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTECABOT, VT$100,0002025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATIONEDGEFIELD, SC$92,2322025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    OREGON WILDLIFE FOUNDATIONPORTLAND, OR$80,0002025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    ONE MONTANABOZEMAN, MT$75,0002025HUNTING HERITAGE
    UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICECHALLIS, ID$72,1862025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN'S FOUNDATIONWASHINGTON, DC$64,5002025HUNTING HERITAGE
    OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFEPENDLETON, OR$61,0542025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    UNIVERSITY OF WYOMINGLARAMIE, WY$53,2332025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    TACOMA SPORTSMEN'S CLUBPUYALLUP, WA$50,0002025HUNTING HERITAGE
    BUFFALO BILL MEMORIAL ASSOCIATIONCODY, WY$47,7182025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    SWVA SPORTSMEN INCVANSANT, VA$45,0132025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESMORGANTOWN, WV$45,0002025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    LIGHTNING BOLT CATTLE COMPANYJOSEPH, OR$45,0002025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    CONSERVATION LEADERS FOR TOMORROWDUNDEE, IL$42,5002025HUNTING HERITAGE
    CLEARWATER BASIN COLLABORATIVELEWISTON, ID$40,5602025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    FIRST HUNT FOUNDATION INCKAMIAH, ID$40,0002025HUNTING HERITAGE
    PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH CENTERBOZEMAN, MT$40,0002025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    SISKIYOU COUNTY FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONYREKA, CA$39,9962025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    NATURE CONSERVANCYOVANDO, MT$33,4432025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESKARLSTAD, MN$30,3362025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    WARRIORS & QUIET WATERS FOUNDATIONBOZEMAN, MT$28,4162025HUNTING HERITAGE
    REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIABERKELEY, CA$26,0492025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    SKAMANIA COUNTY TREASURERSTEVENSON, WA$24,9732025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS FOUNDATIONHUNGRY HORSE, MT$22,8082025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    CALIFORNIA MILITARY DEPARTMENTCAMP ROBERTS, CA$21,3842025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    PENNINGTON COUNTYRAPID CITY, SD$20,0002025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    BUTTE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTARCO, ID$19,0172025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATIONMISSOULA, MT$18,8542025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP
    ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILDDENVER, CO$18,7312025WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
    EFM INVESTMENTS AND ADVISORYPORTLAND, OR$18,6502025HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    UTAH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

    $1,693,707
    SALT LAKE CITY, UT2025

    LAND PROTECTION

    USDA FOREST SERVICE

    $1,100,022
    PORTLAND, OR2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION

    $582,300
    HARRISBURG, PA2025

    LAND PROTECTION

    TENNESSEE WILDLIFE RESOURCES AGENCY

    $358,655
    MORRISTOWN, TN2025

    LAND PROTECTION

    MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF FISH WILDLIFE & PARKS

    $316,047
    HELENA, MT2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE

    $281,719
    GRAND JUNCTION, CO2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY

    $250,000
    ASHEVILLE, NC2025

    LAND PROTECTION

    PHEASANTS FOREVER

    $232,893
    JANESVILLE, WI2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES

    $224,626
    FRANKFURT, KY2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME

    $222,500
    IDAHO FALLS, ID2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    WYOMING GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT

    $175,857
    JACKSON, WY2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF GAME FISH AND PARKS

    $145,935
    RAPID CITY, SD2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

    $134,740
    ELLENSBURG, WA2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

    $125,030
    GREEN BAY, WI2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    ILLINOIS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

    $125,000
    SPRINGFIELD, IL2025

    HUNTING HERITAGE

    SALT RIVER PROJECT AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT AND POWER DISTRICT

    $124,700
    PHOENIX, AZ2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE

    $116,276
    ELY, NV2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    DOIBLM

    $111,243
    SPRINGFIELD, OR2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT

    $111,111
    PHOENIX, AZ2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH & WILDLIFE AGENCIES

    $100,000
    BOISE, ID2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

    $100,000
    CABOT, VT2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

    $92,232
    EDGEFIELD, SC2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    OREGON WILDLIFE FOUNDATION

    $80,000
    PORTLAND, OR2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    ONE MONTANA

    $75,000
    BOZEMAN, MT2025

    HUNTING HERITAGE

    UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

    $72,186
    CHALLIS, ID2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN'S FOUNDATION

    $64,500
    WASHINGTON, DC2025

    HUNTING HERITAGE

    OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

    $61,054
    PENDLETON, OR2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

    $53,233
    LARAMIE, WY2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    TACOMA SPORTSMEN'S CLUB

    $50,000
    PUYALLUP, WA2025

    HUNTING HERITAGE

    BUFFALO BILL MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION

    $47,718
    CODY, WY2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    SWVA SPORTSMEN INC

    $45,013
    VANSANT, VA2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

    $45,000
    MORGANTOWN, WV2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    LIGHTNING BOLT CATTLE COMPANY

    $45,000
    JOSEPH, OR2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    CONSERVATION LEADERS FOR TOMORROW

    $42,500
    DUNDEE, IL2025

    HUNTING HERITAGE

    CLEARWATER BASIN COLLABORATIVE

    $40,560
    LEWISTON, ID2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    FIRST HUNT FOUNDATION INC

    $40,000
    KAMIAH, ID2025

    HUNTING HERITAGE

    PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH CENTER

    $40,000
    BOZEMAN, MT2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    SISKIYOU COUNTY FISH AND GAME COMMISSION

    $39,996
    YREKA, CA2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    NATURE CONSERVANCY

    $33,443
    OVANDO, MT2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

    $30,336
    KARLSTAD, MN2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    WARRIORS & QUIET WATERS FOUNDATION

    $28,416
    BOZEMAN, MT2025

    HUNTING HERITAGE

    REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

    $26,049
    BERKELEY, CA2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    SKAMANIA COUNTY TREASURER

    $24,973
    STEVENSON, WA2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    BOB MARSHALL WILDERNESS FOUNDATION

    $22,808
    HUNGRY HORSE, MT2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    CALIFORNIA MILITARY DEPARTMENT

    $21,384
    CAMP ROBERTS, CA2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    PENNINGTON COUNTY

    $20,000
    RAPID CITY, SD2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    BUTTE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

    $19,017
    ARCO, ID2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION

    $18,854
    MISSOULA, MT2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD

    $18,731
    DENVER, CO2025

    WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

    EFM INVESTMENTS AND ADVISORY

    $18,650
    PORTLAND, OR2025

    HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

    Open Grant Opportunities

    Current and upcoming funding from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.

    Opening soonNext cycleAward: Varies

    RMEF Grant Program

    habitat stewardshipwildlife managementresearch+7 more

    Who can apply: Applicants must be organizations recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 entity, federal, state, local, or tribal government entities, sportsmen’s organizations, or educational institutions. All applicants must have an IRS-issued EIN. RMEF does not offer grants to individuals. Projects must align with RMEF priorities and goals and are governed by grant guidelines and criteria.

    Deadline: Next grant cycle opens in July 2026; no closing date provided on the page.

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    Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.