Greater Yellowstone Coalition
“To ensure the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and its wildlife remain wild and connected.”
10 comments to the agencies, 84 cents of every dollar to the work.
The origin
How they started
Founded in 1983 by 35 conservation groups, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition works to keep the 20-million-acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho intact. Its signature move is buying out mining threats on Yellowstone’s doorstep: in 2023 it raised $6.25 million to purchase mineral rights to 1,598 acres on Crevice Mountain, just north of the park. It also helped pass the 2019 Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, which withdrew more than 30,000 acres from future mining.
Every year they sign one sentence and file it with the federal government: “Greater Yellowstone Coalition works with all people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, now and for future generations.” as filed.
Where the money went, FY2025
The work, and what it cost
Land & wildlife conservation greater Yellowstone’s public
$4.0M, 62% of spendingAnd private lands stitchtogether a stunning tapestry of habitat for the regions celebrated wildlife.
Including $517,361 granted onward, the largest share ($246,492) to Usda Forest Service.
Read it as they filed it
LAND & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION GREATER YELLOWSTONE'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS STITCHTOGETHER A STUNNING TAPESTRY OF HABITAT FOR THE REGIONS CELEBRATED WILDLIFE. GYCCONSERVES THE MOST CRITICAL PARTS OF THIS LANDSCAPE THROUGH ON-THE-GROUND PROJECTSAND BUILDING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR POLICIES THAT PROTECT KEY LANDS. CURRENT PRIORITIESINCLUDE PROTECTING LANDS FROM A PROPOSED GOLD MINE, SECURING NEW PROTECTIONS FORWILDLIFE MIGRATION ROUTES, AND SAFEGUARDING CORE GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT. GYC ALSO PLAYS A LEAD ROLE IN PROTECTING THE REGIONS ICONIC WILDLIFE, WITH A FOCUS ON GRIZZLY BEARS,BISON, AND MIGRATING UNGULATES LIKE ELK, MULE DEER, AND PRONGHORN. GYC SECURES FUNDING FOR NEW WILDLIFE HIGHWAY CROSSINGS, PREVENTS CONFLICTS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE, ADVOCATES FOR SCIENCE-BASED WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, AND RESTORES BISON TO THEIR ANCESTRAL HOMELANDS ON TRIBAL AND SELECT PUBLIC LANDS.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Climate change & water protection as the impacts of climate
$729K, 11% of spendingClimate change & water protection as the impacts of climate change accelerate across the region, the cold clean water that brings life to greater Yellowstone are under threat.
Read it as they filed it
CLIMATE CHANGE & WATER PROTECTION AS THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACCELERATE ACROSS THE REGION, THE COLD CLEAN WATER THAT BRINGS LIFE TO GREATER YELLOWSTONE ARE UNDER THREAT. TO BUILD REGIONAL RESILIENCY AND PROTECT WILDLIFE AND HABITAT FROM THEMOUNTING CHALLENGES OF A RAPIDLY CHANGING CLIMATE, GYC FOCUSES ON ADVANCING POLICIESAND PROJECTS THAT PROTECT AND RESTORE KEY WATERWAYS AROUND THE GREATER YELLOWSTONEECOSYSTEM. CURRENT PRIORITIES INCLUDING PROTECTING 100 MILES OF RIVERS IN MONTANATHROUGH FEDERAL LEGISLATION, AND PARTNERING WITH SCIENTISTS, GOVERNMENT, TRIBES, ANDLANDOWNERS ACROSS THE REGION TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND POLICIES THAT BUILD RESILIENCY TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS, WITH A FOCUS ON RIVERS.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Tribal conservation priorities & partnerships GYC
$663K, 10% of spendingTribal conservation priorities & partnerships GYC recognizes the westernconservation movement has historically excluded and ignored diverse voices andperspectives, especially those of indigenous people.
Read it as they filed it
TRIBAL CONSERVATION PRIORITIES & PARTNERSHIPS GYC RECOGNIZES THE WESTERNCONSERVATION MOVEMENT HAS HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED AND IGNORED DIVERSE VOICES ANDPERSPECTIVES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. GYC SEEKS TO CHANGE THISPARADIGM BY WORKING WITHIN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND TRIBAL-CENTERED PROGRAMS TOHONOR INDIGENOUS CONSERVATION PRIORITIES, ADVANCE TRIBAL RIGHTS, AND RETURNINDIGENOUS ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO THE LANDSCAPE. THIS INCLUDESREVITALIZING THE BIG WIND RIVER, BUILDING CAPACITY WITHIN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES BYINVESTING IN INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP, AND EXPANDING THE CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICALRESTORATION OF BUFFALO. GYCS INDIGENOUS STAFF MEMBERS LEAD THIS WORK FROM THEORGANIZATIONS OFFICE ON THE WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION IN WYOMING.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Follow the dollar
84 cents of every dollar goes to the work
A good sign, not a scorecard: what matters is the extremes, and this is nowhere near one.
$5,345,450 programs, $809,824 management, $237,316 fundraising. Form 990, FY2025.
The backers
Backed on the record by Pew Charitable Trusts, Wilburforce Foundation, William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, Kendeda Fund and Wilderness Society, latest filing FY25.
The people
Who does the work
Honesty note: leadership comes from each year’s federal filing, so it can run a year behind. If it’s out of date, tell us. Work at GYC? Claim this page.
Those 17 volunteers are people who decided this ground was theirs to defend. If GYC is fighting for your place too, the matchmaker will find your way in.
Find your way inThe filings
14 years of filings
Total revenue by fiscal year, as filed. Point at or tap the line for any year.
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2011 | $2,511,314 |
| 2012 | $2,948,141 |
| 2013 | $2,537,107 |
| 2014 | $3,156,269 |
| 2015 | $2,984,990 |
| 2016 | $3,177,591 |
| 2017 | $4,851,784 |
| 2018 | $5,238,195 |
| 2019 | $3,176,800 |
| 2020 | $4,403,947 |
| 2021 | $4,409,204 |
| 2022 | $6,907,411 |
| 2023 | $13,368,134 |
| 2025 | $7,031,420 |
From $2.5M in 2011 to $7.0M in FY25, across 14 public filings (none on record for 2024). 2023, at $13.4M, stands well above the other years on file.
In court
Fights alongside Earthjustice (1 shared case), Natural Resources Defense Council (1 shared case) and Sierra Club (1 shared case). Same case, same side, on the federal docket. Their dockets on CourtListener.
On the Hill
GYC has hired federal lobbyists: 1 filing in 2019. The filings, at the Senate.
Most filed on travel, natural resources and the environment.
The record
On the record with the agencies
10 comments on federal decisions since 2023, each filed under the group’s own name on regulations.gov. The latest on decisions we track:
Year by year
The record, in order
- 1983Greater Yellowstone Coalition is formed.the return, formation year
- 2009Jayne v. Rey: plaintiff, closed.the docket
- 2021First appears in Kendeda Fund’s grants.the funder’s return
- 2022First appears in the grants of Wilburforce Foundation and William & Flora Hewlett Foundation.the funders’ returns
- 2023First appears in the grants of Pew Charitable Trusts and Wilderness Society.the funders’ returns
- 20241 comment to the Fish and Wildlife Service, under the group’s own name.regulations.gov
- 20257 comments, all to the Fish and Wildlife Service, under the group’s own name.regulations.gov
- 20262 comments, one to the Fish and Wildlife Service and one to the Bureau of Land Management, under the group’s own name.regulations.gov
Green, a funder’s return. Hollow, a filing. Every row is a record we hold: 1 federal case with the group on the docket, 10 comments filed under its own name, 5 funders whose returns name it. Nothing here is written from memory.
Their ground
GYC is not on our editors’ record for a threatened place yet. See every threatened place on one map, and who stands for each.
The Montana congressional delegation averages 7 of 100 on public lands. See the full scorecard
The Wyoming congressional delegation averages 3 of 100 on public lands. See the full scorecard
The Idaho congressional delegation averages 4 of 100 on public lands. See the full scorecard
Ways in
How to help
Straight to their own donation page. Your dollar never passes through us.
Give on their site ↗Show upVolunteer with themFind their volunteer door on their own site.
Find it on their site ↗FollowWatch the mapEvery threatened place in the country, tracked, with who stands for each.
Threatened Lands MapStand with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition
The mission is theirs. The backing is yours.