Open Foundations · Wyoming

Plank Stewardship Initiative

Sheridan, Wyoming · EIN 464491120. Its Form 990-PF says giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, which is how a private foundation files that it accepts unsolicited requests. It paid $279K across 17 grants in 2025, a median of $10K each.

All Wyoming foundations · All states

$279K
paid in 2025
17
grants paid
$10K
median grant
36%
to first-time recipients
$5.3M
assets on file

How to apply, as filed

Straight off Part XV of the return. Where the foundation left a line blank, this says so rather than guessing.

Send requests to
MILWARD SIMPSON
Address
3102 SPRUCE CT, CHEYENNE, WY, 82001
Phone
3074214956
Form the request should take
APPLICATIONS WILL BE EVALUATED FOR THEIR POTENTIAL TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABLE STEWARDSHIP IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS BY DEMONSTRATING THE ABILITY OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT AND/OR PROGRAM (S) TO FULFILL ONE OR MORE GRANT CRITERIA COMPONENTS BY ACHIEVING THE RESULTS DESCRIBED IN THE GRANT NARRATIVE AND BUDGET. WE ASK THAT INTERESTED NONPROFIT 501(C)3 ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND LOCAL, COUNTY AND STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUBMIT PROJECTS THAT MEET ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: 1.PROVIDE SUCCESSION PLANNING ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES FOR FARM AND RANCH FAMILIES IN ORDER TO ENHANCE FAMILY DECISION-MAKING FOR LONG TERM RANCH SUSTAINABILITY IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS 2. PROVIDE CRITICAL TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL FARM AND RANCH OPERATIONS, AND ENHANCE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. 3.PROVIDE TRAINING AND RESOURCES IN SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN LAND MANAGEMENT. THIS MAY INCLUDE BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO SOIL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF LOC
Submission deadline
ANNUALLY ON MARCH 31ST VIA EMAIL TO [email protected]
Restrictions on awards
OUR GRANTING EFFORTS ARE TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY OF RANGELANDS IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS. THE GRANTS MUST BE FOCUSED ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PSI MISSION-SPECIFIC CATEGORIES: 1) SUCCESSION PLANNING 2) ECONOMIC COMPETENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY 3) LAND STEWARDSHIP/SUSTAINABLE RANGE MANAGEMENT 4) SUPPORT FOR DIVERSE REPRESENTATION WITH EMPHASIS ON UNDER-REPRESENTED COMMUNITIES (OR DISADVANTAGED OR HISTORICALLY UNSUPPORTED GROUPS) IN RANCHING INCLUDING WOMEN AND YOUNG PRODUCERS

As filed on the Form 990-PF for tax year 2025, IRS filing object id 202631349349105253. Printed word for word, including the entries that only say to see a website or an attachment.

What it funds, in its own words

The words that come up most often across the purposes it wrote on its 2025 grants. These are the foundation's own words, not a category we assigned.

educationconservationsustainablenativeranchers

Biggest grants in 2025

The 15 largest of the 17 grants paid in 2025, with the purpose the foundation wrote for each.

#RecipientStateAmountPurpose as filed
1Women in Ranching IncMT$62,750RANCHING EDUCATION FOR WOMEN
2Montana Land RelianceMT$48,000LAND CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP
3University of WyomingWY$36,940MANAGING GRASSES INVADING ECOSYSTEMS
4Quivira CoalitionNM$25,600SUSTAINABLE AG TECH ASSISTANCE
5Clear Creek Conservation DistrictWY$22,500SEEDING FIRE LINES WITH NATIVE GRASS
6Petroleum County ConservationMT$22,500WATER CONSERVATION PROJECTS FOR AG
7Sheridan County Wy ConservationWY$21,542SUSTAINABLE AG ED FOR RANCHERS
8Montana Association of ConservationMT$11,350CONSERVATION EDUCATION FOR RANCHERS
9Sheridan Community Land TrustWY$10,000WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY FENCING EDUCATION
10Intertribal Agriculture CouncilMT$6,500AG ED FOR NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH
11Hopa MountainMT$4,000CULTIVATE NATIVE SEED CROPS
12Ranchers Stewardship AllianceMT$3,866ASSIST RANCHERS WITH ESTATE PLANNING
13Thunder Basin Grasslands PrairieWY$3,000SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE TECH SUPPORT
14Sheridan County Mt ConservationMT$2,800WATER CONSERVATION MONITORING AND ED
15Winnett Aces IncMT$2,500SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE EDUCATION

Giving by year, and who received it

Grants paid by year

Every year of this foundation's grants that Civly holds
Tax yearGrantsPaid
20221$32K
20237$161K
202416$287K
2025 (partial year)17$279K

Where the money went

Share of 2025 grant dollars by recipient state
Montana53%
Wyoming41%
New Mexico6%

Who decides

Officers, directors and trustees as filed, with the year of the return they appeared on.

Bea GordonDIRECTOR · 2025
Beth WhiteDIRECTOR · 2025
Charlie BettigoleVICE CHAIRMA · 2025
Dr Ben RashfordDIRECTOR · 2025
Katie MeiklejohnTREASURER · 2025
Khale Century-renoDIRECTOR · 2025
Kristie MaczkoDIRECTOR · 2025
Leah BurgessBOARD CHAIR · 2025
Mantha PhillipsDIRECTOR · 2025
Marty ZellerDIRECTOR · 2025
Milward SimpsonEXECUTIVE DI · 2025
Tressa LawrenceSECRETARY · 2025

Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. This foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.

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