Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
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(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 862,084 | 612,334 | 853,897 | 1,109,235 | 1,305,488 | 4,743,038 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | 0 | |||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | 0 | |||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 862,084 | 612,334 | 853,897 | 1,109,235 | 1,305,488 | 4,743,038 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f) .. | 530,772 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 4,212,266 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 862,084 | 612,334 | 853,897 | 1,109,235 | 1,305,488 | 4,743,038 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 11,942 | 13,361 | 16,423 | 15,316 | 14,853 | 71,895 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | 0 | |||||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 4,814,933 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included on line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2021 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2021 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2021 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2021 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2021 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2021: | ||||
| a From 2016....... | ||||
| b From 2017....... | ||||
| c From 2018....... | ||||
| d From 2019....... | ||||
| e From 2020....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2021 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2016 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2021 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2021 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2021, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2021. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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7 Excess distributions carryover to 2022. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2021..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Software ID: | 21013475 |
| Software Version: | 2021v4.0 |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b: Form 990 Review Process | ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE PROVIDED A COPY OF THE 990 PRIOR TO SUBMISSION |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c: Explanation of Monitoring and Enforcement of Conflicts | THE ORGANIZATION HAS A WRITTEN CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. THE PROCEDURE FOR ADDRESSING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IS PROVIDED IN THE POLICY AND ADHERED TO BY THE BOARD. INSIDERS SIGN THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a: Compensation Review & Approval Process - CEO, Top Management | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY IS DETERMINED ANNUALLY BY THE FULL BOARD USING STATE AND REGIONAL COMPARISON DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDED BY THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 19: Other Organization Documents Publicly Available | THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS 990, 1023, GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. |
| Form 990, Part XII, Line 2: Change of Oversight or Selection Process | THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD TO PERFORM THE OVERSIGHT FUNCTION FOR THE SELECTION AND THE WORK PERFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. |
| PART III, Line 4a | In 2021, Bitter Root Land Trust continued building a lasting conservation legacy in the Bitterroot Valley by partnering with local families and our community to conserve important farm and ranchland, wildlife and fisheries habitat, scenic open space, and public recreational opportunities. These conservation victories protected over 830 acres from Illinois Bench to Conner and preserve a diverse suite of community and natural benefits, including prime agricultural soils, spawning grounds for native trout, winter habitat for elk and mule deer, and public access to the Bitterroot River. Bitter Root Land Trust staff secured and spent over $1.7 million from public and private sources to purchase conservation easements on three of these important properties, which payments were made directly to the landowners during closing and do not appear as revenue or expenses of BRLT on this 990. Further, BRLT continued to work closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Services Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to implement a $4.9 million grant designed to diversify agricultural conservation, support beginning farmers and ranchers, and increase the pace of farm and ranch conservation efforts in the Bitterroot. These RCPP funds will be used to purchase conservation easements from willing landowners through 2025, with the first projects set to close in 2023. Additionally, Bitter Root Land Trust staff expanded our cooperative land stewardship grants program that enhances natural resources on conservation easement lands and neighboring properties. As we do every year, staff monitored all 49 of our conservation easements in 2021. Bitter Root Land Trust again invested in conservation education programs to raise community awareness - among adults and students - of the importance of the Bitterroot Valleys water, wildlife, and working agricultural lands.Program Service Area 1: Conservation Project Work, Fishing and Recreational Access Projects:I.In late 2021, Bitter Root Land Trust partnered with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Bitterroot National Forest to begin recreation infrastructure projects at C. Ben White Memorial Fishing Access Site and Trailhead located near Conner, MT. Through this partnership, work began in October 2021 on a one-mile trail through state held land to access the Bitterroot National Forest. II.Bitter Root Land Trust continued to coordinate volunteer days at Skalkaho Bend park to pull weeds at the park, improve signage for native plantings, and to water the native plantings that had taken place the year before. Completed Conservation Projects: I.In March 2021, Bitter Root Land Trust completed the South Burnt Fork Ranch conservation easement, a 301-acre working lands project located in the Burnt Fork. Its completion tied together 2,100 acres of contiguous private land conservation in the Burnt fork. Funding for the South Burnt Fork Ranch conservation easement was provided by the NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program.II. In October of 2021, Bitter Root Land Trust completed the 150 acre Yoder Angus Ranch conservation easement with the Yoder family in Stevensville, MT. Located in the Illinois Bench neighborhood of Stevensville, the ranch is valuable agricultural grounds and is home to a cow-calf operation, as well as to a variety of wildlife including elk, fox, geese, and hawks. Funding for Yoder Angus Ranch easement came from the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program and the Agricultural Land Easement Program of the Farm Bill.III.In December of 2021, Bitter Root Land Trust worked with lifelong Bitterroot Valley farmers and ranchers, Bob and Laurie Sutherlin to to conserve the 377-acre Sutherlin Farms located on the Eastside Highway between Corvallis and Stevensville, MT. Sutherlin Farms rests on some of the richest soil in all of Ravalli County, with 99% of the farm being deemed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as agriculturally important soil. Funding for this project came from the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program and the Agricultural Land Easement Program of the Farm Bill.In addition to completing these critical conservation projects, Bitter Root Land Trust staff continued to work with local and federal partners to further agricultural conservation programs in the Bitterroot Valley that encourage high-value farmland conservation, agricultural diversification, and generational succession. Working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bitter Root Land Trust applied for farm bill funding to purchase new conservation easements slated for completion in 2022/2023. Staff saw an increased interest from landowners looking to pursue conservation options and met with dozens of interested landowners. Those meetings yielded additional conservation projects that will proceed in 2022 and beyond. As a result of this partnership between Bitter Root Land Trust, local landowners, the NRCS, and the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program many of these landowners will choose to conserve their family lands. Program Service Area 2: Conservation Easement Monitoring, Stewardship, and Land Management/Enhancement I.Conservation Easement Monitoring and Enforcement: Bitter Root Land Trust remained committed to upholding Land Trust Commission Accreditation Standards in 2021. Bitter Root Land Trust staff monitored all 48 of our existing conservation easements and our fee land holdings in 2021, ensuring that terms have not been violated and that conservation objectives remain intact. We further invested time developing and maintaining relationships with existing easement holders to ensure that the conservation objectives agreed to by landowners and the land trust are being upheld. II.Cooperative Weed Management Area Program: Throughout the year, the Stewardship Coordinator administered the final year of cooperative noxious weed abatement grants for dozens of local landowners on over 10,000 acres in several key areas of the Bitterroot Valley. Bitter Root Land Trust increased landowner participation in the program in both the Burnt Fork and Corvallis areas, while expanding service to additional areas of the valley. The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation partnered to support this program. In late 2018, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation renewed its grant commitment to this program for through 2020. 2021 marked the final year of funding for the cooperative noxious weed abatement grants through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as they have discontinued the funding. The Bitter Root Land Trust staff has continued to look for other opportunities for value-added land management grants to continue providing ongoing support to Bitter Root Land Trusts conservation easement donors and their neighbors.Program Service Area 3: Conservation Education, Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, 2021 continued to be a difficult year to complete meaningful, on-the-ground conservation education through our traditional channels and means. The Bitter Root Land Trust staff was unable to plan events to engage the community for conservation education efforts. The staff instead participated in the local Hamilton Farmers Market and provided conservation education at community events across the Bitterroot Valley, including Hamilton Downtown Associations Daly Days, Stevensvilles Creamery Picnic, Darbys Last Friday, and a pint night to celebrate the launch of a Keep it Bitterroot beer partnership with Bitter Root Brewing. Bitter Root Land Trust also partnered with Big Creek Coffee for a Keep it Bitterroot coffee. As an added education opportunity, the Land Trust partnered with the Hamilton Downtown Association to hang banners throughout downtown to help gain awareness for the work of the land trust to preserve the water, wildlife, and working lands of the Bitterroot Valley. The Annual Barn Dance which showcases local agriculture, conservation, and community connections, was cancelled due to Covid-19. |
| Part X, Line 10(a) | The $271,712 is comprised of one riverfront parcel of land owned by BRLT for public recreational access and fisheries/habitat conservation on the East Fork and main stem of the Bitterroot River. The 12-acre East Fork Sula Fishing Access Site will be developed in future years for public fishing, walking, and wildlife viewing. This asset is held directly for our programmatic conservation and recreational purposes. |
| Software ID: | 21013475 |
| Software Version: | 2021v4.0 |