Private foundation · Littleton, CO

The Ricketts Conservation Foundation

View org profile →Find similar funders →Invitation only
Typical grant size
$20K $45K $151K
25th · median · 75th percentile
Unique recipients
9
Repeat grantees
2
funded 2+ years

Application procedures · from 2024 990-PF

Leadership · from 2024 990-PF

Walter G Wehtje
Director of Conservation
$76K
J Joe Ricketts
President, Secretary and Treasurer
Alfred Levitt
Secretary and General Counsel
John J Ricketts
President, Secretary, Tres

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part VII. Officers, directors, and trustees as reported by the foundation.

Payout rate · TY 2024
4.6%
grants paid ÷ assets · ~5% IRS minimum
'20
'21
'22
'23
'24
25
Total grants awarded
$2.3M
Total amount
$91K
Average grant
$301K
Largest grant

Giving by year

2024
$216K
5 grants
2023
$576K
6 grants
2022
$275K
3 grants
2021
$469K
5 grants
2020
$739K
6 grants

Top recipients

5 grants · WY · ✓ Exact match
$1.0M
2 grants · NY · ≈ likely match
$452K
1 grant · MT · ✓ Exact match
$163K
1 grant · DC · ✓ Exact match
$110K
1 grant · VA · ≈ likely match
$100K
University of Colorado - Denver
3 grants · CO
$100K
University of Montana
2 grants · CO
$92K
Rocky Mountain Bird Conservatory Dba Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
2 grants · CO
$81K
1 grant · WY · ✓ Exact match
$48K
Sublette County Conservation District
1 grant · WY
$25K

Recipient names are as reported on the 990-PF. ✓ Exact match = EIN matched to IRS records by exact name + state; ≈ likely match = EIN inferred from a closely similar name. The recipient EIN is never stated on the form — it is DoubleNine’s match.

Recent grants · most recent filings first

University of Montana
Fund research regardingnongame mammel and birdspecies.
CO · TY 2024
$56K
Friends of the Bridger-teton
Promote the preservationand conservation of BTNF.Promote the preservation
WY · TY 2024
$48K
University of Colorado - Denver
Continue funding and researchrelated Yellowstone Ecosystem.
CO · TY 2024
$45K
Wyoming Wetlands Society
Preserve and protectWY wetlands; in particulartrumper swan habitat.
WY · TY 2024
$42K
Sublette County Conservation District
Sponsor and supportinvisible fence program.
WY · TY 2024
$25K
Wyoming Wetlands Society
Preserve and protectWY wetlands; in particulartrumper swan habitat.
WY · TY 2023
$250K
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Efforts to stop theYellowstone Boundary Gold Mine and protect native species
MT · TY 2023
$163K
American Forests
Support use of forestsfor social equity andmanagement of climate change.
DC · TY 2023
$110K
University of Montana
Fund research regardingnongame mammel and birdspecies.
CO · TY 2023
$37K
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Dba Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Continued researchregarding bird population declinesand corrective actions.
CO · TY 2023
$15K
Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative
Sponsor 2023 Wildlifesymposium to promotewildlife conservation.
WY · TY 2023
$2K
Wyoming Wetlands Society
Preserve and protectWY wetlands; in particulartrumper swan habitat.
WY · TY 2022
$250K
University of Colorado
Promote research relatedto Clark's Nutcrackerin Yellowstone NP.
CO · TY 2022
$20K
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Dba Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Continued researchregarding bird population declinesand corrective actions.
CO · TY 2022
$5K
Wyoming Wetlands Society
Preserve, protect Wyoming wetlands.
WY · TY 2021
$250K
Cornell University
Understand and protect Clark's Nutcracker and its habitats and ecosystems.
NY · TY 2021
$151K
University of Colorado - Denver
Fund research related Clark's Nutcracker in Yellowstone National Park.
CO · TY 2021
$34K
Rocky Mountain Bird Conservatory Dba Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Research bird population declines; recommend and facilitate corrective actions.
CO · TY 2021
$33K
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Promote attendance and participation in Aspen Days
WY · TY 2021
$1K
Cornell University
Understand and protect Clark's Nutcracker and its habitats and ecosystems.
NY · TY 2020
$301K
Wyoming Wetlands Society
Preserve, protect Wyoming wetlands.
WY · TY 2020
$250K
Trout Unlimited
Sponsor River Bend Ranch Project.
VA · TY 2020
$100K
Rocky Mountain Bird Conservatory Dba Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Research bird population declines; recommend and facilitate corrective actions.
CO · TY 2020
$48K
University of Colorado - Denver
Fund research related Clark's Nutcracker in Yellowstone National Park.
CO · TY 2020
$20K
The Peregrine Fund
Sponsor Wildlife Symposium on birds-of-prey.
ID · TY 2020
$20K

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV. Up to 50 most recent grants shown.