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Non-profit

Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project

Website:

www.worc.org/ep/
Location:

BILLINGS, MT
Tax ID:

84-1123481
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2017):

Revenue: $2,879,256
Expenses: $2,478,989
Assets: $2,024,818

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The Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project (WORCEP) is a left-leaning charitable nonprofit organization closely affiliated with the left-environmentalist lobbying group Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC).

The Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project serves to fund WORC and eight affiliated left-leaning activist organizations in western US states. The two “program service accomplishments” listed by WORCEP were contributions to WORC and the WORC constituent groups. 1

The eight subsidiary organizations are Dakota Rural Action, Dakota Resource Council, Idaho Organization of Resource Councils, Northern Plains Resource Council, Oregon Rural Action, Powder River Action Resource Council, Western Colorado Congress (formerly Western Colorado Alliance for Community Action), and Forward Montana. 2 Under “Squad”, Anna Lucas is listed as the Political Director of Political Director, Western Organization of Resource Councils.3

The Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project’s 501(c)(3) designation allows donors to make tax-deductible donations to WORCEP, which are then transferred directly to the affiliated Western Organization of Resource Councils and the eight subsidiary groups which, as political activist and lobbying 501(c)(4) organizations, are not able to receive tax-deductible donations. 1

Funding

The Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project is funded by left-leaning institutions including the Chorus Foundation,4 Tides Foundation,5 Charles Stewart Mott Foundation,6 William and Flora Hewlett Foundation,7 Farm Aid,8 Nathan Cummings Foundation,9 NEO Philanthropy, 10 Educational Foundation of America,11 McCune Charitable Foundation,12 Beldon Fund,13 and The Tiffany and Co. Foundation. 14

The Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project raised $2,801,745 in 2017 and $2,921,700 in 2016. Almost all WORCEP’s budget was donated to its politically active allied organization, the Western Organization of Resource Councils, and its subsidiaries. 1

Activities

The Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project states on its 2017 tax return that its donations to the Western Organization of Resource Councils are for WORC’s “charitable and educational activities.” 15

Other than funding the Western Organization of Resource Councils and its subsidiaries, the Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project lists no other program services activities on its 2017 Internal Revenue Service tax return. 1

People

Mitch Wolgamott

Mitch Wolgamott is chair of the Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project board16 and also on the board of the Western Organization of Resource Councils. 17

Linda Leeuwrik

Linda Leeuwrik is a board member of the Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project 16 and also on the board of the Western Organization of Resource Councils. 17 She is an elected member of Pocatello, Idaho City Council who unsuccessfully ran in 2016 for the Bannock County, Idaho county commission as the Democratic Party nominee. 18 19 20

Stacy Page

Stacy Page is vice-chair of the Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project board16 and also is on the board of the Western Organization of Resource Councils. 17 Page has contributed to the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and several Democratic Party candidates. 21

Page is also active with efforts to ban businesses from supporting candidates for public office in Wyoming. 22

Linda Weiss

Linda Weiss is a board member of the Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project16 and also is on the board of the Western Organization of Resource Councils. 17 Weiss has written in opposition to extension of the Keystone Pipeline. 23

John Smillie

John Smillie is the executive director for the Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project and is also the executive director of the Western Organization of Resource Councils. 24 16

References

  1. Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Part III Lines 4a and 4b. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/841123481_201712_990_2018103115856518.pdf
  2. “Board of Directors.” Forward Montana. Accessed January 3, 2020. https://forwardmontana.org/our-team/board-of-directors/.
  3. Western Organization of Resource Councils. Worc.org. “Home”. “Who We Are”. “Member Groups”. Accessed December 30, 2019. http://www.worc.org/who-we-are/member-groups/
  4. Chorus Foundation. Chorusfoundation.org. “What We Fund”. “Grants”. “Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project”. Accessed January 1, 2020. https://chorusfoundation.org/what-we-fund/western-organization-of-resource-councils-education-project-worc/
  5. Tides Foundation. Tides.org. “Our Global Impact”. “Grantees.”.” “Western Organization of Resource Councils – Education Project”. Accessed January 1, 2020. https://www.tides.org/project/grantee/western-organization-of-resource-councils-education-project/
  6. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Mott.org. “What We Do”. “Grants Database”. “Search”. “Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project”. Accessed January 1, 2020. https://www.mott.org/grants/western-organization-of-resource-councils-education-project-general-purposes-199900287/
  7. William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Hewlett.org. “Grants”. “Search”. “Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project”. Accessed January 1, 2020. https://hewlett.org/grants/western-organization-of-resource-councils-education-project-for-support-of-the-energy-education-program/
  8. Glidden, Matt. “Farm Aid Partners Making Change in Our Food System”. Farm Aid. Farmaid.org. “Stories”. “Blog” April 16, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020. https://www.farmaid.org/blog/farm-aid-partners-making-change-in-our-food-system/
  9. Red Lodge Clearinghouse. Rlch.org. Nathan Cummings Foundation”Search this site”. “Nathan Cummings Foundation”. “Recent Grants”. Accessed January 1, 2020. http://rlch.org/funding/nathan-cummings-foundation
  10. Fenwick, Alexandra. “State Infrastructure Fund – Post Election Funding”. Neo. Neophilanthropy.org. January 20, 2017. Accessed January 1, 2020. https://neophilanthropy.org/state-infrastructure-fund-post-election-funding/
  11. The Educational Foundation of America. Theefa.org. “Resources”. “Grants Database”. “2015 Grants”. “Environment Program”. Accessed January 1, 2020. https://theefa.org/past-grants-1/2017/3/24/2015-environment-committee-grants
  12. McCune Charitable Foundation. Nmmccune.org. “Grant Recipients”. “2017 Grantees”. “Stewardship of Natural Resources”. Accessed January 1, 2020. https://nmmccune.org/2017_grantees
  13. Beldon Fund. Beldon.org. “About Beldon”. “Beldon 2004 Annual Report”. “2004 Grants List”. Page 21. Accessed January 1, 2020. http://www.beldon.org/2004ar.pdf
  14. The Tiffany and Company Foundation. Tiffanyandcofoundation.org. “Grants”. “View Grants By Year”. “2011”. Accessed January 1, 2020. http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/grants/2011.aspx
  15. Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Part III Line 1 https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/841123481_201712_990_2018103115856518.pdf
  16. Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Part VII.  https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/841123481_201712_990_2018103115856518.pdf
  17. Western Organization of Resource Councils. WORC.org. “Who we are”. “WORC Board Of Directors”. Accessed January 1, 2020. http://www.worc.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors/
  18. City of Pocatello. Pocatello.us. “Home”. “Staff Directory”. Accessed December 30, 2019. https://www.pocatello.us/directory.aspx?EID=67
  19. Coffin, Deanne. “Former ISU Professor Announces Their Run for City Council”. KPVI News. July 16, 2017. Accessed December 30, 2019. https://www.kpvi.com/news/local_news/former-isu-professor-announces-their-run-for-city-council/article_692dbc46-6a95-11e7-a2b5-77fb06a38013.html
  20. Bannock County. Bannockcounty.us. “Government”. “Clerk”. “Election Information”. “2016 Election Results”. “2016 Presidential General Election Summary Results”. Accessed December 30, 2019. https://www.bannockcounty.us/election/2016general/2016GenPrec.html
  21. Center for Responsive Politics. Opensecrets.org. “Donor Lookup”. “Stacy Page”.  Accessed December 30, 2019.  https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=Stacy+Page
  22. Staff Reports. “Wyoming Promise volunteers continue efforts”.  March 18, 2019. Accessed December 30, 2019. https://thesheridanpress.com/103995/wyoming-promise-volunteers-continue-efforts/
  23. “Linda Weiss: Pipeline promises to be bad deal for America”. “Opinion”. Grand Forks Herald. October 13, 2013. Accessed December 30, 2019. https://www.grandforksherald.com/opinion/2200464-linda-weiss-pipeline-promises-be-bad-deal-america
  24. Western Organization of Resource Councils. WORC.org. “Who we are”. “Staff”. http://www.worc.org/who-we-are/staff/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 2015

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,879,256 $2,478,989 $2,024,818 $463,249 N $2,801,745 $71,444 $6,067 $0 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $3,004,549 $2,969,597 $1,510,000 $0 N $2,921,700 $75,868 $6,981 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $3,160,240 $2,786,868 $1,484,454 $9,406 N $3,117,323 $45,652 $-2,735 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $3,503,146 $3,150,825 $1,104,678 $3,000 N $3,443,669 $56,912 $2,565 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $2,175,347 $2,309,250 $753,932 $4,577 N $2,130,381 $38,739 $6,227 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $2,879,688 $2,357,465 $883,257 $0 N $2,839,440 $33,405 $6,843 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,259,083 $1,408,363 $159,182 $0 N $1,239,054 $17,768 $2,261 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Western Organization of Resource Councils Education Project

    220 S 27TH STREET
    BILLINGS, MT 59101-4106