Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's mission is to conserve pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation advocacy.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.8M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $4.6M a year · 5% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.8M
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $30.8M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $109K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$17.4M
25% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 25% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$89.6M
+3% vs prior year
Spent
$85.3M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$53.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$89.6M
FY2023▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$67.6M
FY2021$80.5M
FY2022$87.0M
FY2023$89.6M
FY2024$132.7M
FY2025$118.6M
Expenses
$85.3M
FY2023▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$68.0M
FY2021$73.2M
FY2022$80.2M
FY2023$85.3M
FY2024$125.6M
FY2025$116.4M
Net assets
$53.4M
FY2023▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$36.2M
FY2021$43.4M
FY2022$48.5M
FY2023$53.4M
FY2024$61.3M
FY2025$64.4M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 1986.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $72.3M Management & general 4% · $3.2M Fundraising 11% · $9.8M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

27 people listed on the 990; $1.8M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
President and CEO
$387,911Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer & Asst. Secretary
$261,680Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Development Officer
$211,269Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Conservation Officer
$177,247Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
$163,436Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Conservation Programs
$134,156Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Development
$131,692Pt VII · Sec A
Controller
$130,379Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Howard K Vincent—$365,985$387,911$378,291$350,102$349,204
Marilyn Vetter$366,374$284,127————
James M Koerber$307,380$279,970$261,680$242,790$227,573$221,386
David Bue$265,026$235,360$211,269$191,354$177,191$171,771
David E Nomsen————$264,146$225,573
Richard Young———$262,067$191,226$181,198
Ron Leathers$228,141$198,572$177,247$153,375$108,895$105,336
Ariel Wiegard$203,897—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Conserves pheasants, quail, and other wildlife by improving habitats, expanding public access, advocating for conservation, and supporting a national network of volunteer chapters.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $71.6M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Wildlife Habitat Initiatives

During the 2023 fiscal year, Pheasants Forever, Inc. completed more than 5,000 habitat projects impacting 66,000 acres. Since its inception in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $1.1 billion and completed 582,000 habitat projects.

$61.3Mprogram expense
02

Public Awareness, Education and Outreach

The education and outreach component of Pheasants Forever provides year-round youth programs that offer a pathway of activities that cultivate and grow land stewards and hunting conservationists of all ages. The focus is on hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation.

$8.0Mprogram expense
03

Chapter, Volunteer and Member Services

Pheasants Forever's regional field representatives provide support, information, hands-on education to the public, and work on implementation of wildlife habitat development and restoration. PF's representatives also assist members and chapter volunteers to improve wildlife habitat in the most efficient and effective way.

$2.3Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$109K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$89.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$71.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$13.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4.3M
Money outPt IX
$85.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$72.3M
Managementcol C$3.2M
Fundraisingcol D$9.8M
Owns and owesPt X
$53.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$16.0M
Total assetsLn 16$70.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$17.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
27
listed · VII A
PaidVII A10
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$71.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$53.3M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1.8M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.3M
Other incomeLn 4–11$13.0M
Gains on assetsLn 7$383K
Total revenueLn 12$89.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$6.4M
SavingsLn 2$9.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$16.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$30.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.9M
Other assetsLn 15$2.9M
Total assetsLn 16$70.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$17.4M
Net assetsLn 32$53.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5769
VolunteersI 64,000
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$17.3M$16.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$27.9M$30.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.8M$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$64.5M$70.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$16.0M$17.4M
Net assetsLn 32$48.5M$53.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.3M$618K$347K$365K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$25.1M$20.6M$1.7M$2.8M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.2M$930K$113K$153K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.7M$1.4M$89K$173K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.9M$1.5M$134K$225K
Management feesLn 11a$618K$190K$314K$115K
Legal feesLn 11b$19K$0$17K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$0$0$0$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0$0$0$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$0$0$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$680K$0$0$680K
Office expensesLn 13$3.0M$1.7M$215K$1.0M
Information technologyLn 14$0$0$0$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$39K$11K$11K$17K
TravelLn 17$2.8M$2.0M$55K$767K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$211K$100K$59K$52K
InterestLn 20$52K$48K$5K$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$435K$289K$42K$104K
InsuranceLn 23$526K$442K$47K$37K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$44.2M$42.0M$47K$2.1M
All other expensesLn 24e$1.6M$427K$68K$1.1M
Total functional expensesLn 25$85.3M$72.3M$3.2M$9.8M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $118.6M$116.4M$2.2M$64.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $132.7M$125.6M$7.2M$61.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $89.6M$85.3M$4.3M$53.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $87.0M$80.2M$6.8M$48.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $80.5M$73.2M$7.2M$43.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $67.6M$68.0M−$361K$36.2M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $89,635,688 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $67,102,122$71,067,387
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $3,572,021$4,293,219
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,721,276$1,319,134
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $14,607,807$12,955,948
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $87,003,226$89,635,688
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $27,151,097$31,215,774
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $53,061,176$54,098,917
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $80,212,273$85,314,691
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $6,790,953$4,320,997
Part VI · Governance 16 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members16
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $89,635,688 across 16 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $5,166,897 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$8,100
VIII-1b Membership dues$5,667,702
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$53,337,319
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$12,054,266
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,846,626
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$71,067,387
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $4,293,219 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$4,293,219
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $935,855$935,855
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $586,811$586,811
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $159,896$159,896
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $383,279$383,279
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $5,896,644$5,896,644
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $0 · Unrelated business $1,145,700 · Excluded from tax $0$1,145,700
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $5,288,231 · Unrelated business $1,145,700 · Excluded from tax $12,134,370$89,635,688
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $85,314,691 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $0$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $0$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $617,572 · Management $347,184 · Fundraising $364,976$1,329,732
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $20,599,410 · Management $1,656,401 · Fundraising $2,841,277$25,097,088
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $930,288 · Management $113,247 · Fundraising $152,928$1,196,463
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,430,699 · Management $88,847 · Fundraising $172,774$1,692,320
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,541,551 · Management $133,733 · Fundraising $224,887$1,900,171
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $189,912 · Management $313,895 · Fundraising $114,576$618,383
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $17,249 · Fundraising $1,595$18,844
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $679,600$679,600
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,736,792 · Management $214,976 · Fundraising $1,027,054$2,978,822
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $10,614 · Management $10,879 · Fundraising $17,394$38,887
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,952,544 · Management $54,967 · Fundraising $767,246$2,774,757
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $99,940 · Management $58,773 · Fundraising $52,327$211,040
IX-20 InterestPrograms $47,587 · Management $4,610 · Fundraising $0$52,197
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $288,828 · Management $41,664 · Fundraising $104,344$434,836
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $441,608 · Management $47,139 · Fundraising $36,771$525,518
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $42,021,037 · Management $46,911 · Fundraising $2,114,421$44,182,369
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $427,149 · Management $67,617 · Fundraising $1,088,898$1,583,664
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $72,335,531 · Management $3,218,092 · Fundraising $9,761,068$85,314,691
Part X · Balance sheet $70,830,793 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $16,475,757$6,373,422
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $814,188$9,577,155
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,254,603$2,326,381
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $12,423,612$16,112,318
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $11,571$18,436
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $933,706$893,147
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,811,778$1,887,724
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $15,893,139$17,346,674
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $12,004,696$13,412,493
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,918,560$2,883,043
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $64,541,610$70,830,793
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $8,712,087$8,694,430
X-18 Grants payable$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,624,223$1,766,133
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilities$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $4,539,927$4,775,485
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $16,036,775$17,413,348
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $30,638,588$34,323,889
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $17,866,247$19,093,556
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $48,504,835$53,417,445
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $64,541,610$70,830,793
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $53,417,445 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$89,635,688
XI-2 Total expenses$85,314,691
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$4,320,997
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$48,504,835
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$591,613
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$53,417,445

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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