2401 Montana Avenue, Suite 200, Billings, MT 59101
Phone 406-248-1154 | Fax 406-248-2110 | Email info@nprcmt.org
Along with its subsidiary groups, the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) has mastered the art of creating the perception that it’s in the majority, when the fact is it’s a tiny minority. Take the beef checkoff. WORC likes to say that “a majority” of beef producers back its foundation-funded campaign to derail the checkoff, which helps pay for important research, and for the marketing of beef sold in the U.S. Denying that its position is on the lunatic fringe, WORC continues to call the checkoff “undemocratic,” “unconstitutional,” “wrong,” and even “criminal” -- all the while insisting that real Western ranchers are behind them.
Spouting that kind of rhetoric works fairly well until you have to testify under oath. According to a 2002 press release from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, which represents mainstream cattle ranchers, “John Smillie, program director for WORC, testified [in federal court] that WORC members consisted of seven grassroots community groups, none of which were formed specifically to represent beef producers. He testified that WORC also did not poll its membership to determine if a majority would support legal action challenging the constitutionality of the beef checkoff. Independent research conducted by Aspen Media and Market Research in July 2001 found that 72 percent of producers said they support the beef checkoff program." (Emphasis added)
Not that WORC needs to worry much about what its "members" have to say. According to WORC’s tax returns, it doesn’t have any. WORC manages to avoid mentioning this in its web site, press releases, and radio broadcasts, but the organization received $0 -- ZERO dollars -- from memberships in at least the last three years.
Finances for tax year ending 12/31/2004 |
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| Income | $1,155,755.00 | |
| Expenditures | $853,179.00 | |
| End-Of-Year Net Worth | $1,046,536.00 | |
| Tax Status | 501(c)3 | |
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Selected Grants |
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| Catholic Campaign for Human Development | |
| Grant | $25,000.00 in 2001 |
| Source | Donor's Website |
| Details | Safe to Harvest, Safe to Eat |
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| Catholic Campaign for Human Development | |
| Grant | $20,000.00 in 2002 |
| Source | Donor's Website |
| Details | Safe to Harvest, Safe to Eat -- Community organizing, leadership development, and public education to promote food safety and foster economic stability for family-owned agriculture. |
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| Charles Stewart Mott Foundation | |
| Grant | $100,000.00 in 2000 |
| Source | Donor's Website |
| Details | To sustain the public will to protect family-scale agriculture and Montana’s natural resources. |
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| Farm Aid | |
| Grant | $10,000.00 in 2000 |
| Source | Donor's Website |
| Details | To support Family Farm and Safe Food Protection Project creating awareness on agricultural concentration and food safety |
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| Rockefeller Family Fund | |
| Grant | $20,000.00 in 2002 |
| Source | IRS Form 990 or 990-PF |
| Details | To defray legal expenses associated with pending appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court [ed. Note: this refers to the case attacking the constitutionality of the Beef Checkoff program] |
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Top Funders and Grantees |
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| Funding From Foundations & Corporations | Total Donated | Time Frame | |
| Brainerd Foundation | $667,500.00 | 1996 – 2003 | |
| Northwest Area Foundation | $407,500.00 | 1989 – 1995 | |
| William & Flora Hewlett Foundation | $400,000.00 | 2001 – 2003 | |
| Charles Stewart Mott Foundation | $300,000.00 | 1999 – 2001 | |
| Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation | $271,000.00 | 1992 – 2003 | |
| Blue Moon Fund | $265,000.00 | 1990 – 1998 | |
| Turner Foundation | $255,000.00 | 1993 – 2001 | |
| Beldon Fund | $180,000.00 | 1990 – 2001 | |
| Belvedere Fund | $120,000.00 | 2000 – 2001 | |
| Rockefeller Family Fund | $110,000.00 | 2001 – 2003 | |
| General Service Foundation | $105,000.00 | 1994 – 1998 | |
| Bullitt Foundation | $105,000.00 | 1993 – 1996 | |
| Needmor Fund | $105,000.00 | 1995 – 2000 | |
| Public Welfare Foundation | $85,000.00 | 1989 – 1993 | |
| Farm Aid | $74,000.00 | 1995 – 2003 | |
| Catholic Campaign for Human Development | $70,000.00 | 2000 – 2002 | |
| Cinnabar Foundation | $67,000.00 | 1996 – 2003 | |
| Deer Creek Foundation | $60,000.00 | 2000 – 2003 | |
| Norwell Fund | $58,990.00 | 1998 – 2003 | |
| Educational Foundation of America | $50,000.00 | 1996 – 1996 | |
| show complete financials » | |||
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| Funding From Other Activist Groups | Total Donated | Time Frame | |
| Tides Foundation & Tides Center
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$153,000.00 | 1992 – 2001 | |
| Western Organization of Resource Councils
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$98,964.00 | 1998 – 2003 | |
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Foundations listed on ActivistCash.com may provide funding to a wider variety of nonprofit groups than those profiled here. This website focuses on activist groups that concentrate on food- and beverage-related issues.
