Annual Report
2022–2023
NPS/JACOB W. FRANK
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2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT
Annual Report 2022–2023 Table of Contents Letters
Protect Yellowstone’s Ecosystem & Wildlife
Preserve Yellowstone’s Heritage, History, & Trails Enhance Visitor Experiences & Education Resiliency Fund Financials Donors
Support Yellowstone Leadership
Photo Credits
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2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT
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NPS/JACOB W. FRANK
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2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT
Letters From the President & CEO and Board Chair
From the Superintendent
On March 1, 2022, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone becoming a national park. As we look to the future, your support and dedication to protecting, preserving, and enhancing this place we all love is more important than ever.
In 2022, we commemorated the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone becoming the world’s first national park. Last year provided opportunities to reflect on 150 years of protecting the park, highlighted successes in the ecosystem, and opened dialogue on the lessons learned from yesterday, the challenges of today, and a vision for tomorrow.
Over the past year, your support has funded critical park projects, enhanced the visitor experience, and provided transformational educational opportunities for people of all ages. This includes funding for the Bison Conservation and Transfer Program, and the completion of the expanded bison transfer facility, which doubled the number of bison that are able to enter the program. Your contributions also made possible the establishment of the Bison Conservation Tribal Internship Program, a collaboration between Yellowstone National Park, the InterTribal Buffalo Council, and Yellowstone Forever. Your steadfast support funded numerous other projects including the restoration of native cutthroat trout populations, sustainability and renewable energy projects, and education initiatives offered by Yellowstone National Park and the Yellowstone Forever Institute. With Tribal consultation and in partnership with Yellowstone National Park, we were successful in launching the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center, now in its second season. When devastating flooding occurred in June 2022, Yellowstone Forever quickly launched the Resiliency Fund to provide immediate financial support for the park’s most pressing needs. Thanks to overwhelming donor support, Yellowstone Forever was able to aid the park during this tremendously challenging time. This Annual Report recognizes all that we have accomplished, together, over the past year. Thank you for your continued commitment to the future of the world’s first national park.
Lisa Diekmann President & CEO Yellowstone Forever
As part of the 150th commemoration, we piloted the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center at Old Faithful, in partnership with Yellowstone Forever and with Tribal consultation. The center is a space where Indigenous artists, scholars, and presenters from the 27 associated Tribes of Yellowstone National Park directly engage with visitors through formal and informal education. The Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center is now in its second season, and I am pleased this partnership will continue into the future. The 150th year also brought unprecedented challenges, when historic flooding in June 2022 temporarily closed the park, severely damaging roads and infrastructure. Thanks to the incredible efforts of our team and partners, we made tremendous progress in a very short amount of time, including opening the temporary North Entrance Road only four months after the flood. In direct response to the flood event, Yellowstone Forever also opened the Resiliency Fund. Thanks to generous support from donors, the fund was able to provide immediate funding for pressing needs during the park’s recovery. Last year highlighted Yellowstone National Park’s strength and resilience. Thank you for your continued support, and for working together in partnership on a sustainable future for Yellowstone.
Cam Sholly Superintendent Yellowstone National Park
Kevin Butt Board Chair Yellowstone Forever
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Did you know? Yellowstone is the only place in the lower 48 United States to have continuously free-ranging bison since prehistoric times.
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NPS/JACOB W. FRANK
Protect Yellowstone’s Ecosystem & Wildlife Bison Conservation and Transfer Program The majestic bison that make up the herds of Yellowstone National Park are a wonder having descended from the last wild bison herd in North America. The nearly 6,000 bison in the park represent the last truly wild and free-ranging population of plains bison in existence today. This is especially remarkable considering they were nearly extinct in the 1880s. Yellowstone is the only place in the lower 48 United States to have continuously free-ranging bison since prehistoric times. Yellowstone Forever supports this important work to ensure wild bison remain on the landscape. In 2021, Yellowstone Forever partnered with Yellowstone National Park, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and Tribal nations across North America to expand the Yellowstone Bison Conservation and Transfer Program to support the continued natural and cultural conservation of this iconic species. Through this program, Yellowstone bison that are identified as brucellosis-free through a quarantine process are transferred to establish new Tribal and conservation herds across North America. Bison are essential to the spiritual and economic livelihood of Native American people. Numerous Tribes have cultural connections to Yellowstone and the lands and resources of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
“Since 2019, 294 bison have been transferred to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.”
With the completion of the expanded bison transfer facility in 2022, the number of bison able to enter the program has doubled to approximately 200 animals, which will result in the transfer of about 100 bison each year to Tribes. Since 2019, 294 bison have been transferred to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Of those, about 170 bison were transferred to the InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC) and given to approximately 23 other member Tribes across 12 states. Yellowstone Forever also established the Bison Conservation Tribal Internship program. Coordinating with the park and the ITBC, Tribal interns work alongside National Park Service (NPS) bison program staff in caring for and testing bison within the park facility. They learn low-stress bison handling techniques, and work with NPS biologists to study the wild bison population in the park, gain real-world experience in conserving wild, healthy bison herds and monitoring for sustainable habitat. Tribal interns learn valuable skills and return to their Tribes with the knowledge to support and manage bison on their lands. Support from our donors makes this important internship program possible. The Bison Conservation and Transfer Program is a conservation success story with many partners coming together to tackle numerous complexities. This program supports the culture and economy of Tribes, contributes to the restoration of bison to their native range on public and Tribal lands, which helps preserve the unique Yellowstone bison genome and prevents the slaughter of hundreds of Yellowstone bison each year.
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Yellowstone Wolf Project To hear the howling of wolves in the wild is a special experience. Yellowstone National Park is one of the rare places where this magical sound can be heard from the park’s wild and free wolf packs. In the mid-1990s, 31 gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park after nearly 70 years of absence. Since then, the Yellowstone Wolf Project has played an essential role in monitoring the park’s wolf population and enhancing the public’s understanding of wild wolves in the park. Year-round field research of the 10 Yellowstone wolf packs with approximately 108 wolves helps park biologists gain data on a broad range of topics, including population dynamics, predator-prey interactions, social behavior, multi-carnivore competition, ecosystem impacts, and human-wolf relationships. Studies on wolf genetics, disease, and behavior make the Yellowstone Wolf Project one of the most in-depth studies on a social carnivore in the world. The Wolf Project team also invests a great deal of time to education and outreach, leveraging the talent of dedicated technicians, research associates, and graduate students—all of whom are supported by Yellowstone Forever. Collectively, the project enriches the stewardship and legacy of Yellowstone’s wolves and ecosystem. Since this program began 28 years ago, Yellowstone Forever has provided financial support for the Wolf Project’s annual budget with private funds from donors. Yellowstone Forever is committed to funding the ongoing and evolving needs of this important work.
Studies on wolf genetics, disease, and behavior make the Yellowstone Wolf Project one of the most indepth studies on a social carnivore in the world.
Yellowstone Cougar Project The Yellowstone cougar, also known as mountain lion, is a rarity to see in the wild. With the aid of remote cameras and Global Positioning System (GPS) collars, park biologists are gaining valuable insight into the habits of these elusive animals. Since 2014, Yellowstone Forever donors have provided primary support for this program. Each year, National Park Service biologists collect key data on predation, habitat use, genetics, movements, and population size estimates. Every winter, multiple cougars are captured and collared for ongoing monitoring. Remote camera survey sessions have yielded hundreds of high-definition videos of cougars that provide key data for population estimation and interactions with other species. This amazing footage is also shared with a broader audience for education on Yellowstone. Predation studies that dovetail with the Yellowstone Wolf Project winter studies continue to provide key data on kill rate, prey selection, and impacts on scavengers. Cougar Project staff provide outreach and education for universities, Yellowstone Forever-sponsored events, National Park Service and partner guide trainings, as well as various stakeholder groups.
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Native Fish Conservation Program Yellowstone’s native fish are important members of the ecosystem and provide a valuable food source for grizzly bears, river otters, mink, ospreys, bald eagles, and dozens of other bird species. Biologists with Yellowstone’s Native Fish Conservation Program work tirelessly to save the most ecologically important fish of the park—native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Yellowstone cutthroat trout are the most widespread native trout in the park and were the dominant fish species prior to Euro American settlement. In 1994, non-native predatory lake trout were discovered in Yellowstone Lake. Within a decade, it was estimated that lake trout depleted 90% of the four million native Yellowstone cutthroat trout that once thrived in Yellowstone Lake. To reverse the declining native fish populations and loss of ecosystem integrity, the Native Fish Conservation Program is committed to significantly reducing the number of lake trout in Yellowstone Lake through annual gillnetting and other cutting-edge suppression methods with the goal of restoring and increasing the native Yellowstone cutthroat trout population to its historic levels. Through sustained efforts, biologists are once again seeing Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the lake’s streams and tributaries. The Native Fish Conservation Program is also working to expand the range of native Arctic grayling and westslope cutthroat trout. Over the past two decades, Yellowstone National Park has restored 64.2 stream miles and 281 lake acres to native westslope cutthroat trout and/or Arctic grayling in park watersheds. For decades, Yellowstone Forever has funded the Native Fish Conservation Program and their efforts to successfully preserve the genetically pure Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations. This long-term monitoring and restoration work is only possible through the support of Yellowstone Forever donors.
“Within a decade, it was estimated that lake trout depleted 90% of the four million native Yellowstone cutthroat trout that once thrived in Yellowstone Lake.”
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YF/MATT LUDIN
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Preserve Yellowstone’s Heritage, History & Trails Sustainability “The future of Yellowstone rests on our collective commitment to sustainability— from decreasing light pollution to recycling. Every effort helps the park take steps toward sustainability and environmental stewardship.”
Yellowstone Forever supports Yellowstone National Park’s sustainability efforts, including retrofitting regular lightbulbs to LED lights throughout the park. With approximately 35,000 light bulbs in the park, this is no small task. Modern LED lights consume 85% less energy than their incandescent counterparts and 50% less than fluorescent lights installed only 10 years ago. Renewable energy is another focus of the park. Yellowstone Forever helped fund solar panels installed at corrals in the park. In-kind supplies from Yellowstone Forever corporate partners have also helped improve the efficiency of buildings by replacing doors to better withstand the elements and save energy. In partnership with Yellowstone Forever, Yellowstone National Park continues to maintain the Lamar Buffalo Ranch microgrid that produces approximately 7KW per hour from solar and hydro. Climate change studies are looking at ways to better predict weather patterns and potential catastrophic events such as the June 2022 historic flood. Yellowstone Forever also supported the Biennial Scientific Conference that brings scientists, government and non-governmental officials, and academia together to gather, share ideas, and envision solutions for the challenges facing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Ongoing sustainability efforts in Yellowstone National Park are paramount to preserving this special landscape. Thanks to donors and valuable corporate partnerships, Yellowstone Forever is helping the park create a sustainable future for generations to come.
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Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center In 2022, Yellowstone National Park commemorated 150 years as the world’s first national park. Yellowstone Forever and the National Park Service recognize that prior to being established as a national park, Yellowstone was the home of—and is still culturally significant to—many Tribal Nations. The Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center is a space where Indigenous artists, scholars, and presenters from the 27 associated Tribes of Yellowstone National Park directly engage with visitors through formal and informal education. The center is a partnership between the National Park Service and Yellowstone Forever, with Tribal consultation. During the pilot 2022 season, 30+ presenters from 13 associated Tribes directly engaged with Yellowstone visitors. Presentations included photography, beadwork, moccasin making, dancing, storytelling, quillwork, and more.
Ranger Horse and Mule Purchase Program & Corral Upkeep The remote areas of Yellowstone present unique challenges for backcountry work. Horses and mules (stock) are valued members of the team, helping Yellowstone’s rangers perform their duties. These animals provide vital transport of people, equipment, and supplies into remote areas of the park. These trusty animals are key to critical backcountry operations, from ranger patrols and trail work to research studies. During the summer and fall, they support ranger travel and the transportation of research equipment and tools for all aspects of Yellowstone’s backcountry operations such as clearing trails, repairing backcountry cabins and bridges, search and rescue efforts, and boundary patrol. Hardworking horses and mules retire each year and new animals must be purchased to fill their places. Yellowstone Forever’s annual support of this project provides the funds needed to purchase new animals for the stock-use program and to reduce the average “working life” of stock to minimize animal injuries. Additionally, the numerous corrals throughout the park needed to house these animals require regular upkeep, repair, and often replacement. Yellowstone Forever funding and volunteer work coordination is the primary source of support for this critical project.
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Enhance Visitor Experiences & Education Youth Conservation Corps The Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) offers young people—randomly selected from across the country—the opportunity to participate in projects that directly support the park’s mission. The teams of youth (15-18-years-olds) are paid to live, work, and recreate in one of the country’s wildest ecosystems. Through this work-based residential learning program, YCC members complete a wide array of projects such as backcountry trail restoration, visitor use surveys, and citizen science projects, to name just a few. The program is challenging, educational, and fun, and offers participants opportunities to expand their horizons while building valuable leadership skills. During the summer of 2022, 28 YCC crew members completed trail maintenance and beautification, installing five trailhead signs, 21 interpretive panels, and more than 50 boardwalk planks at Mammoth Hot Springs and the Museum of the National Park Ranger. The team also installed 104 bear-proof food storage boxes at three campgrounds. The YCC team surveyed 13 talus field sites as part of long-term climate change data collection on pikas and collected dragonfly larvae as part of a national water study. Yellowstone Forever’s support helps ensure YCC can continue to instill the value of the stewardship of Yellowstone and other wild places among the next generation, while providing much-needed labor for priority park projects. One summer in Yellowstone National Park can have a lasting influence, shaping attitudes, behaviors, and career paths as young people experience new and rewarding ways to care for the land.
Expedition Yellowstone Expedition Yellowstone (EY) is a curriculum-based residential education program for grades 4-8 that offers students an opportunity to learn and explore in one of the world’s finest outdoor classrooms. Not only do they participate in hands-on, multidisciplinary, cross-curricular learning aligned with national and state education standards, but they create personal connections to Yellowstone, allowing them to become better stewards over the course of 4-5 days in the park. Many of the student participants are from underserved populations and schools that cannot afford class trips to Yellowstone. EY programs are hosted at Lamar Buffalo Ranch in fall and spring and at the YCC campus at Mammoth in winter and spring. More than 2,000 students, teachers, and chaperones participated in 2022. Most of the students come from rural schools in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, but students from New York and Massachusetts have also participated. Each year the program hosts a handful of schools with high Native American enrollment, mostly from reservations in Montana and in Wyoming. The EY program actively recruits Tribal schools and works to build trusting relationships with educators in Indigenous communities, so students have opportunities to connect to their ancestral homelands. The EY program emphasizes learning through direct experience in the outdoors, and students participate with teachers and parent chaperones in hikes, field investigations, discussions, and journal writing. Yellowstone Forever donations support this long running program.
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Yellowstone Forever Institute Yellowstone provides an unparalleled opportunity for people to connect with natural places and serves as an incomparable natural classroom. Visitors to the park can expand their knowledge of this remarkable place by participating in any of Yellowstone Forever’s numerous educational programs. Through in-depth Field Seminars, Lodging & Learning programs (offered in partnership with Yellowstone National Park Lodges), Private Tours, Yellowstone Day Adventures, and customized programs, the Yellowstone Forever Institute helps people of all ages and backgrounds experience the wonder of Yellowstone. In October 2022, the Institute began collaborating on a strategic education plan alongside National Park Service partners. The purpose of this collaborative process is to develop a comprehensive vision to guide Yellowstone National Park and Yellowstone Forever’s future education efforts in the park as well as an overall strategy, goals, actions, and defined roles to inform, engage, and educate park constituents (visitors, stewards, and stakeholders) and further the missions of our organizations. Also in October 2022, Yellowstone Forever, in collaboration with the National Park Service, hosted a week-long Yellowstone Tribal Education & Engagement Gathering. Yellowstone Forever and National Park Service staff were joined by 17 Tribal cultural educators, from various Yellowstone associated Tribes. During their time together the group discussed and outlined how to best incorporate Indigenous education and provide Tribal engagement opportunities within Yellowstone National Park. These discussions will continue with a focus on curriculum development/improvement, identifying collaborative Tribal tourism opportunities within the park, identifying learning gaps and developing training opportunities for all Yellowstone staff, and provide more Tribal engagement opportunities in the park.
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“The Yellowstone Forever Institute helps people of all ages and backgrounds experience the wonder of Yellowstone.”
Yellowstone Resiliency Fund In June 2022, Yellowstone National Park was hit with catastrophic flooding that temporarily closed the park and isolated surrounding communities. Recovery efforts began right away, and Yellowstone Forever opened the Resiliency Fund to provide immediate financial support for the park’s most pressing needs. Thanks to overwhelming support from donors, Yellowstone Forever was able to aid the park in a time of great need, including: • NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SEASONAL RANGERS Rangers were on the frontlines after the flood communicating with visitors to help them navigate the dramatically altered travel routes into and through the park. • COUGAR RESEARCH PROJECT The powerful flood completely washed away many structures, including the Lower Blacktail cabin which was homebase for the Cougar Project team during their field work. Through the Resiliency Fund, the team was able to purchase a wall tent and stove as a temporary solution to the loss of this critical structure. • YELLOWSTONE TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT A series of events by an inter-Tribal group of Indigenous artists and scholars was planned to be held at Arch Park in Gardiner, Montana. Due to the flood event, the park needed to move these Tribal events from Arch Park to Madison Campground. Donor support funded the cost of the necessary location change.
• TWO NEW SHUTTLE VANS AND SNOWPLOW EQUIPMENT Shuttle vans were urgently needed to facilitate access for National Park Service employees between Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs while the new roadway was being built. These vans also offer sustainable transportation that will last into the future. Once the temporary road was completed, the park also needed snowplow equipment to keep it open and safe for travel for employees, visitors, and residents of Cooke City as it is the town’s only access road during the winter. • IN-PARK COUNSELING National Park Service staff have been coping with many disruptions and crisis situations starting with COVID and then the devasting flood. Thanks to the Resiliency Fund, the park is now able to provide in-park counseling for all park staff through the Teton Interagency Peer Support (TIPS)—a multiagency group of first responders who provide peer support and access to qualified trauma therapists. • CHILDCARE, SUMMER DAY CAMPS, AND PLAYGROUND AMENITIES Post flood, childcare was a critical need for working parents within the Yellowstone community. The Yellowstone Forever Institute pivoted quickly after the flooding and launched the Beyond Yellowstone Adventure Camp—a multi-week summer program geared toward local area school-aged children with a priority for those directly impacted by the flood. Thanks to generous support, this program was offered free of charge to all participants impacted.
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Financials Statement of Financial Position For the Year Ended February 28, 2023 REVENUES AND SUPPORT Educational product sales, net of discounts Less cost of goods sold
$ 4,593,110 (2,163,324)
Educational product sales, net
2,429,786
Contributions and gifts In-kind contributions Educational tuition and fees Investment (loss) earnings, net Other revenues
17,507,417 833,530 747,240 (70,846) 82,567
Total revenues and support
21,529,694
REVENUES & SUPPORT ANALYSIS
EXPENSES Program Services: National Park Service grants Educational product sales Educational programming
4,887,659 1,755,856 1,649,584
Total program service
8,293,099
Supporting Services: Philanthropic fund development Administration
3,389,971 2,651,012
Total supporting services
6,040,983
Total expenses
14,334,082
Net assets, beginning of year
30,063,023
Change in net assets
Net assets, end of year
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2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT
3%
Educational Tuition & Fees, net
19%
Educational Product Sales, net
77%
Contributions
7,195,612
$ 37,258,635
Annual Fund
$4,584,951
Corporate
$1,514,919
Foundation
$2,066,918
Individuals
$8,412,890
In-Kind
$797,879
Government
$593,897
Memberships
$158,859
Events & Other
$210,635
Statement of Financial Position As of February 28, 2023 ASSETS
PROGRAM SERVICE ANALYSIS
CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents Accounts & dividends receivable Pledges receivable, net Inventory Prepaid expenses
$ 23,900,797 84,182 1,482,037 627,040 111,032
Total current assets
26,205,088
NON-CURRENT ASSETS Investments Property and equipment, net Pledges receivable, net of current portion Operating lease right-of-use assets Total non-current assets Total assets
2,898,210 7,976,590 1,573,236 305,840 12,753,876 38,958,964
20%
Educational Programming
21%
Educational Product Sales
59%
Yellowstone National Park Grants
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Deferred revenue Grants payable Operating lease liabilities - current portion Total current liabilities
1,053,339 306,040 16,317 157,427 1,533,123
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Protect Yellowstone’s Ecosystem & Wildlife
$2,281,591
Preserve Yellowstone’s Heritage, History & Trails
$823,187
NET ASSETS
Enhance Visitor Experiences & Education
$212,485
Without donor restrictions: Undesignated Designated for Park Projects Designated for Capital Projects With donor restrictions
Resiliency Fund
Operating lease liabilities - non-current portion Total liabilities
Total net assets
Total liabilities and net assets
167,206 1,700,329
$1,570,396
16,838,012 1,000,000 1,182,005 18,238,618 37,258,635 $ 38,958,964
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We are grateful for all of our donors. Every effort has been made to ensure that this list of gifts received March 1, 2022 - February 28, 2023, is accurate and complete. Please contact us at 406.848.2400 or supporters@yellowstone.org if a name has been omitted or otherwise improperly reported so we can correct our records.
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2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT
Donors Individual Donors $1M+ Annie and Bob Graham Shalin Liu
$250K - $999,999 Janet and John Costello Kathleen Parrish and Doug Spencer Susan and Larry Patrick
$50K - $249,999 Anonymous Anne and Greg Avis Gretchen and Steve Burke Sarah and Greg Carmichael Anne Duncan Bev and Steven Elliott Valerie Gates Kay and Jim Guyette Debbie and Albon Head Carolyn and Scotty Heppel Cecily and Bannus Hudson Betty and Jim Karam Nancy and Ken Krejsa Barbara and Lou Lanwermeyer Jeffrey Lerner Ron Lerner Laura Orvidas and Barrett Adams Elizabeth and Carl Webb
$25K - $49K Christie and Clint Bybee Susan Davis and Keith Crandell Lynn and Bill Evans Sheree and Rick Gillaspie Lynn and Pat Gurrentz Penney and A.C. Hubbard Jeanne Claire and David Jones Rose and Robby Nelson Brenda and Jack Nixon Cathy and Bill Osborn Lyn and Bill Reed Kim Roeder and Larry Westbrook Dawn and Bruce Tecklenburg Sandy and Mark Tibbits
$5K - $24,999 Tamara Achauer and Terry Hodel Delores and John Adams Justin Alexander Candace Allen and Robert Woodward Catherine and Richard Andree Anonymous Sandy and Tim Armour Sue and Mike Arneson Ann and Allen Arnold Patricia and Fred Auch Eric Bagelmann Janet Baran and Mark LeVota Joellyn Barton Stella Bentley Jill Bowers Bertelli and Paul Bertelli Katherine Bishop Nick Bousliman Cindy and James Briggs Beth Byron-Reasoner and Andy Reasoner Shari Burns Joan Carotenuto Chris and John Cavanaugh Michele Chaffee and Adam Nordin Kamal and Angelique Charef Beverly and Don Clark Susan and James Clay Linda and Tim Cohane Patricia and John Connolly Cathy Costakis Deborah Crandell Kristi Cumming Cathy and Lloyd Dahlberg Susan and Andrew Dana Jack Daniels Susan and Jack Davis Gale and Shelby Davis Betsy de Leiris Judith Dean Kathleen and Dominic DeMarco Lori Demple Marguerite and Tom Detmer Joseph Dopilka Paula and David Fisher Victoria and Michael Fitzpatrick Lucy and Rick Fredrickson Marla and Robert Glover Diana and Stephen Goldberg Jenny Golding and George Bumann Tyler Head Kemp and Thomas Hill Leslie Hoffman Elizabeth Holloway and Mary Kay Caldwell DeMar and Hilton Hopson Cheryl and Richard Hudson Barbara and Kenneth Kaufman Cynthia and Douglas Kelly
Laurie and Clark Kemble Stephanie and Charlie Knowles Pam and Chuck Koob Zona Kreidle Karen Kuehneman Shelley Kuehneman Susan Gordon Lathrop Jackie and Jay Lauderdale Karen Leiker Julia Llewellyn Gail and Jay Lund Susan and Lee Mallory Darlene and Joe Marushack Melissa McDonagh Carol and Jack McGuire Rick McIntyre Carl Moerer Arikha Moses and Gregory Steinmetz Edward Murphy Kaye and Mark Nickell Glennis and Jim Nokes Elaine and Bill Obernesser Nancy Perot and Rod Jones David Pfeffer Taylor and Paige Preston Diana and Bruce Rauner Stacey Renker Melanie Reynolds and Bob Rowe Fran Morris Rosman and Richard Rosman Christine Russel Jay and Marilyn Sarles Janet and Walter Schuchmann Barry Shaw Erna Smeets and Bill Simkins Christine and Brian Smith Joann and Scott Snowden Carrie and Arthur Steinmetz Cat and Greg Stevens Anne Symchych Anne and Jim Taylor Debbie and Bill Tracy Nick Tropin Lisa Volgenau and Chris Fitzgerald Gillian and John Wagner Jill and Todd Watson Barbara Wunderlich John Youngblood
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Planned Giving The Old Faithful Society Yellowstone Forever received planned gifts from the following donors in fiscal year 2023. We are truly honored to be a part of their philanthropic legacy. Anonymous Gloria and Ellis Brunner Sandra Cox Steven Dolberg Frank Hensing Michael Howie Michael Kenyon Nancy Nicolai Margaret Ordway Kay and Cliff Snider
Foundation Gifts *In-Kind Donation **In-Kind and Cash Donation
$250K - $999,999 National Park Foundation Rees-Jones Foundation
$50K - $249,999 Beagle Charitable Foundation Dry Creek Foundation Four Ten Foundation George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Foundation G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation Living With Wolves, Ltd. Solot and Karp Family Foundation Solstice Charitable Foundation Tull Family Foundation Wheeler Foundation
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2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT
$25K - $49,999 Anonymous Conservation Nation Donovan Family Foundation Dr. Scholl Foundation Kaufman Family Foundation The Bechtel Trusts YOT Full Circle Foundation
$5K - $24,999 Anonymous Donor Advised Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation Benjamin Family Foundation Cornelia Cogswell Rossi Foundation, Inc. Eaglemere Foundation, Inc. Elhapa Foundation Elizabeth Ring Mather and William Gwinn Mather Fund Enterprise Holdings Foundation Fuller Foundation, Inc. Henry E. Niles Foundation
Jane Smith Turner Foundation John and Elizabeth Leonard Family Foundation Kathryn Nell Harrison Foundation Laura J. Niles Foundation, Inc. LTM Family Foundation Mary and Charles Sethness Charitable Foundation Nathan P. Jacobs Foundation National Film Preservation Foundation Offensend Family Foundation Robin and Sandy Stuart Foundation Shopneck Family Foundation S. Livingston Mather Charitable Trust Smith and Wilcox Blue Skies Foundation Spencer Family Foundation Stephen G. and Susan E. Denkers Family Foundation The Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation The Argus Fund The Crain Foundation The Merlin Foundation The Milias Foundation The Tow Foundation Towering Pines Foundation
Corporate Gifts Yellowstone Forever sincerely thanks the members of our corporate partner community who have invested in the future of Yellowstone National Park. In fiscar year 2023, the following corporations and businesses provided major support to Yellowstone Forever.
*In-Kind Donation **In-Kind and Cash Donation
$50K - $249,999 Ariel Investments Canon U.S.A., Inc.** Caswell-Massey Dummen Orange Encore Technologies Hermès of Paris Jacques Marie Mage MasterBrand Toyota Motor North America Wyoming Whiskey Xanterra Parks & Resorts
$1M+ Michelin North America, Inc.**
$250K - $999,999 ConocoPhillips Fortune Brands Innovations Google Inc.*
$25K - $49,999 Anonymous Chantecaille Beauté, Inc. Delaware North Companies Edrington Americas Miir Holdings, LLC Nature’s Fynd NorthWestern Energy
$5K - $24,999 Grand Teton Brewing Hotel Jackson Jonathan L. Foote & Associates, Inc. Legend Communications Master Lock Mountain Principle Properties, LLC Original Grain, Inc. Parks Project, LLC Therma-Tru Corporation Wells Fargo Foundation Yellowstone Park Service Stations
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Ways to Support Yellowstone Yellowstone Society
Matching Gifts
The Yellowstone Society is a distinguished group of stewards with a deep connection to Yellowstone. As a member of the Yellowstone Society, you are one of Yellowstone Forever’s most valued members. Your generous annual gift of $1,000 or more (or $84 a month) directly supports protecting, preserving, and enhancing Yellowstone National Park through education and philanthropy.
Make your gift go twice as far! Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions or volunteer hours made by their employees. Find out if your employer will match your gift by visiting: Yellowstone.org/matching-gifts
For more information visit: Yellowstone.org/society
Gifts of Securities Planned Gift Opportunities By making a planned gift you create a lasting investment that will help preserve Yellowstone National Park forever. Planned gift opportunities can range from bequests to donor advised funds and offer substantial tax advantages. For more information visit: Yellowstone.org/planned-giving
Yellowstone Guardians Provide steady monthly support to the park in the most sustainable way by becoming a Yellowstone Guardian. Setting up automatic payments through your digital wallet, credit card, or bank account is a breeze and helps reduce printing and mailing costs which ensures more of your gift goes directly to Yellowstone. For more information visit: Yellowstone.org/monthly-giving
Gifts of stock and other appreciated securities are an easy way to help Yellowstone while receiving a number of tax benefits. For more information call: 406.848.2400
Memorial and Honor Gifts Express your care and condolences or honor someone special with a tribute gift to Yellowstone. To make a gift please call 406.848.2400 or give online at Yellowstone.org and select the option to “dedicate my donation in memory or honor of someone.”
Corporate Partnerships Become a corporate partner and help us meet the park’s needs while solving pivotal issues that impact Yellowstone on a daily basis. For more information visit: Yellowstone.org/corporate-partnerships
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Donate by Phone Make a one-time or monthly donation by calling 406.848.2400 (Ext. 1).
Donate Online Make a one-time or monthly donation by visiting Yellowstone.org/donate.
Donate by Mail Yellowstone Forever PO Box 1857 Bozeman, MT 59771 A mail-in donation form is available for download on our website to include with your gift.
Institute Educational Programs Join the Yellowstone Forever Institute on a journey of discovery and engage with the park like you never have before! For more information visit: Yellowstone.org/experience
Park Stores Proceeds from purchases made at Yellowstone Forever educational Park Stores, including our online Park Store, directly support Yellowstone National Park. For more information visit: Shop.Yellowstone.org
Scan to donate from your phone!
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Did you know?
NPS/NEAL HERBERT
Yellowstone Forever has funded 1,162 bear-proof food storage boxes all around Yellowstone National Park’s campsites.
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2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT
Leadership While the fiscal year covered in this report is from March 1, 2022 – February 28, 2023, the Board of Directors, National Advisory Council, and staff lists are as of July 15, 2023.
Leadership Team Lisa Diekmann, President & CEO Wendie Carr, Chief Marketing Officer Amanda Hagerty, Director of Education Kristi Mills, Chief Financial Officer Nina Novikoff, Chief Human Resources Officer Lindsay Robb, Chief Operating Officer
Board of Directors Kevin Butt, Chair of the Board Doug Spencer, Vice Chair Tom Detmer, Treasurer Carolyn Heppel, Secretary Lisa Diekmann, President & CEO John Costello Annie Graham Nicholas Olds Laura Orvidas Arielle Patrick Larry Patrick Susan Roeder Jacqueline Rooney Bob Rowe Michael Solot Stephanie Tarbet Thomas Tull Elizabeth Webb
National Advisory Council Debra Head, NAC Leadership Facilitator Ken Krejsa, NAC Leadership Facilitator Paul Bertelli John Bottomley John Cavanaugh David Defazio Fred Dedrick Anne Duncan Scott Heppel David Jones Elizabeth Milias Arikha Moses Tom Murphy Rose Hochner Nelson Mark Nickell Alison Peacock Alex Perez Aida Phillips Patricia Rooney Chris Smith Doug Smith
2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT
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Photos
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NPS/Jacob W. Frank
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NPS/Jim Peaco, NPS/Jacob W. Frank, NPS/Dan Stahler, NPS/Diane Renkin
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NPS/Jay Fleming
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NPS/Jacob W. Frank
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YF/Alyssa McGeeley, YF/Matt Ludin
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NPS/Jacob W. Frank
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YF/Matt Ludin, YF/ Michael J. Wright, YF/Amanda Evans
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NPS/Jacob W. Frank
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YF/Matt Ludin
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NPS/Neal Herbert, YF/Matt Ludin, NPS/Jacob W. Frank
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YF/Neal Herbert
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NPS/Jacob W. Frank
2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT
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YF/MATT LUDIN
2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT
Yellowstone Forever is the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park. Our mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance Yellowstone National Park through education and philanthropy. YELLOWSTONE.ORG
406.848.2400
YF/ MATT LUDIN
Yellowstone Forever P.O. Box 1857 Bozeman, MT 59771