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Mountain States Legal Foundation

Organization summary

Type of Nonprofit

Designated as a Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn't provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Category: Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy / Civil Liberties Advocacy (NTEE)

Donations to this organization are tax deductible.

Summary charts: organization finances over time

Revenue
$3.23M (2023)

Expenses
$4.33M (2023)

Total Assets
$8.25M (2023)

Total Liabilities
$945k (2023)

Source: Form 990 tax filings from 2011 to 2023

Tax Filings by Year

Form 990 is an information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly with the IRS. Nonprofit Explorer has IRS digitized Form 990 data for filings processed in 2012 and later. If this organization filed an amended return, it may not be reflected below. Duplicate download links may indicate a resubmission or amendment to this organization's original return. Form 990 data is from the IRS.

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2023

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$3,234,209
Expenses
$4,325,021
Net Income
-$1,090,812
Net Assets
$7,300,168
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,400,832
74.2%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $233,490
7.2%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $599,887
18.5%
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $456,165
10.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $37,636
0.9%
Other Salaries and Wages $1,456,992
33.7%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $8,245,317
Total Liabilities $945,149
Net Assets $7,300,168
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Cristen Wohlgemuth (President &) $215,436 $0 $15,446
William Trachman (General Coun) $194,246 $0 $14,900
Ivan London (Senior Attor) $116,554 $0 $9,086
Brian Abbas (Senior Attor) $110,929 $0 $7,387
Brad Allen (Director) $0 $0 $0
Roy Brown (Director) $0 $0 $0
Roy G Cohee (Director) $0 $0 $0
Roger M Cymbaluk (Director) $0 $0 $0
Emily Jones Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Nick Dranias Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Richard Fletcher Esq (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
John R Gibson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Ken Johnson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Edward R Scott Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
Hon Ernest Angelo Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
Bill Mcgrath (Director) $0 $0 $0
John E Rockwell Pe (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
Richard Pombo (Director) $0 $0 $0
Jan Rehberg (Director) $0 $0 $0
Don Shawcroft (Director) $0 $0 $0
Russ Hendricks (Vice Chairma) $0 $0 $0
Peter I Wold (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2022

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,030,878
Expenses
$3,999,768
Net Income
-$1,968,890
Net Assets
$8,390,980
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,356,608
> 100%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $165,598
8.2%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets -$491,328
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $461,100
11.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $39,244
1.0%
Other Salaries and Wages $1,488,633
37.2%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $9,435,349
Total Liabilities $1,044,369
Net Assets $8,390,980
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Cristen Wohlgemuth (President An) $224,663 $0 $6,826
William Trachman (General Coun) $217,872 $0 $11,739
Zhonette Brown (Special Coun) $193,558 $0 $11,689
Joseph Bingham (Senior Attor) $166,516 $0 $11,491
Roy G Cohee (Director) $0 $0 $0
Roger M Cymbaluk (Director) $0 $0 $0
Nick Dranias Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
John R Gibson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Ken Johnson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Edward R Scott Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
Ernest Angelo Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
William Mcgrath (Director) $0 $0 $0
Richard Pombo (Director) $0 $0 $0
Janice L Rehberg (Director) $0 $0 $0
Don Shawcroft (Director) $0 $0 $0
Richard R Fletcher Esq (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Russ Hendricks (Vice Chairma) $0 $0 $0
John E Rockwell Pe (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
Peter I Wold (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2021

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,557,512
Expenses
$3,455,465
Net Income
-$897,953
Net Assets
$10,687,073
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,419,458
94.6%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $104,696
4.1%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $33,358
1.3%
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $414,751
12.0%
Professional Fundraising Fees $49,700
1.4%
Other Salaries and Wages $1,404,175
40.6%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $11,167,503
Total Liabilities $480,430
Net Assets $10,687,073
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Cristen Wohlgemuth (President) $185,139 $0 $20,834
William Trachman (General Counsel) $147,665 $0 $30,763
Diane Cleek (Director Of Operations) $102,421 $0 $16,296
Roger M Cymbaluk (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Richard R Fletcher Esq (Vice Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Edward R Scott Jr (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
John E Rockwell Pe (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
Roy G Cohee (Director) $0 $0 $0
John R Gibson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Brent Husson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Ken Johnson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Knute H Lee Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
Dale Newton (Director) $0 $0 $0
Janice L Rehberg (Director) $0 $0 $0
Don Shawcroft (Director) $0 $0 $0
L Jerald Sheffels (Director) $0 $0 $0
Mark Trupp (Director) $0 $0 $0
Peter I Wold (Director) $0 $0 $0
Ernest Angelo Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
John J Blomstrom Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Roy Brown (Director) $0 $0 $0
Nick Dranias Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Russ Hendricks (Director) $0 $0 $0
Kent Holsinger Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Richard Pombo (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2020

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$1,865,482
Expenses
$3,067,653
Net Income
-$1,202,171
Net Assets
$10,333,838
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $1,720,275
92.2%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $71,947
3.9%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $73,260
3.9%
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $424,290
13.8%
Professional Fundraising Fees $153,279
5.0%
Other Salaries and Wages $1,132,565
36.9%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $10,682,974
Total Liabilities $349,136
Net Assets $10,333,838
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
Cristen Wohlgemuth (President) $193,691 $0 $20,072
Zhonette Brown (General Counsel) $190,333 $0 $20,194
Diane Cleek (Director Of Operations) $100,053 $0 $13,438
Roger M Cymbaluk (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Richard Royce Fletcher Esq (Vice Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Edward R Scott Jr (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
John E Rockwell Pe (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
Roy G Cohee (Director) $0 $0 $0
John R Gibson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Brent Husson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Ken Johnson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Knute H Lee Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
Dale Newton (Director) $0 $0 $0
Janice L Rehberg (Director) $0 $0 $0
Don Shawcroft (Director) $0 $0 $0
L Jerald Sheffels (Director) $0 $0 $0
Don L Sparks (Director) $0 $0 $0
Mark Trupp (Director) $0 $0 $0
Peter I Wold (Director) $0 $0 $0
Ernest Angelo Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
John J Blomstrom Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Roy Brown (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2019

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,062,828
Expenses
$2,956,066
Net Income
-$893,238
Net Assets
$10,635,109
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $1,766,807
85.6%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $296,021
14.4%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $691,027
23.4%
Professional Fundraising Fees $288,365
9.8%
Other Salaries and Wages $548,968
18.6%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $11,003,678
Total Liabilities $368,569
Net Assets $10,635,109
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
William Perry Pendley (Former President) $324,000 $0 $0
Cristen Wohlgemuth (Executive Vice President) $192,488 $0 $22,748
Zhonette Brown (General Counsel) $174,540 $0 $6,265
Roy G Cohee (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Roger M Cymbaluk (Vice Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Edward R Scott Jr (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Ernest Angelo Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
John J Blomstrom Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Richard Royce Fletcher Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
John R Gibson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Dee Heugly Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Brent Husson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Knute H Lee Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
Janice L Rehberg (Director) $0 $0 $0
John E Rockwell Pe (Secretary) $0 $0 $0
Don Shawcroft (Director) $0 $0 $0
L Jerald Sheffels (Director) $0 $0 $0
Don L Sparks (Director) $0 $0 $0
Mark Trupp (Director) $0 $0 $0
Peter I Wold (Director) $0 $0 $0
C Scott Brown (Director) $0 $0 $0
Roy Brown (Director) $0 $0 $0
Ken Johnson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Dale Newton (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2018

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,823,293
Expenses
$2,681,900
Net Income
$141,393
Net Assets
$10,506,422
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,712,673
96.1%
Program Services $4,130
0.1%
Investment Income $106,490
3.8%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $0
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $821,619
30.6%
Professional Fundraising Fees $308,154
11.5%
Other Salaries and Wages $431,230
16.1%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $10,905,019
Total Liabilities $398,597
Net Assets $10,506,422
Compensation
Key Employees and Officers Compensation Related Other
William Perry Pendley (Former President) $259,059 $0 $25,800
Steven Lechner (Former Vp And Chief Legal Officer) $254,066 $0 $4,863
Cristen Wohlgemuth (Executive Vice President) $197,220 $0 $21,171
Zhonette Brown (General Counsel) $29,167 $0 $0
Roy G Cohee (Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Roger M Cymbaluk (Vice Chairman) $0 $0 $0
Edward R Scott Jr (Treasurer) $0 $0 $0
Ernest Angelo Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
John J Blomstrom Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Stephen M Brophy (Director) $0 $0 $0
David F Crabtree Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
William C Eiland (Director) $0 $0 $0
Richard Royce Fletcher Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
John R Gibson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Samuel D Haas Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Dee Heugly Esq (Director) $0 $0 $0
Dallas P Horton Dvm (Director) $0 $0 $0
Brent Husson (Director) $0 $0 $0
Ronald M Krump (Director) $0 $0 $0
Knute H Lee Jr (Director) $0 $0 $0
David L Mcclure (Director) $0 $0 $0
David Allen New (Director) $0 $0 $0
Nick Noble (Director) $0 $0 $0
Sen Steve Pierce (Director) $0 $0 $0
Janice L Rehberg (Director) $0 $0 $0

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2017

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,576,770
Expenses
$2,497,281
Net Income
$79,489
Net Assets
$10,659,679
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,502,422
97.1%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $8,064
0.3%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $96
0.0%
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $66,188
2.6%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $685,398
27.4%
Professional Fundraising Fees $23,264
0.9%
Other Salaries and Wages $570,499
22.8%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $11,280,827
Total Liabilities $621,148
Net Assets $10,659,679

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2016

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$3,124,010
Expenses
$2,344,402
Net Income
$779,608
Net Assets
$9,509,168
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $3,117,080
99.8%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $7,083
0.2%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets -$153
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $565,418
24.1%
Professional Fundraising Fees $47,510
2.0%
Other Salaries and Wages $511,129
21.8%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $10,079,480
Total Liabilities $570,312
Net Assets $9,509,168

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2015

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,219,892
Expenses
$2,287,228
Net Income
-$67,336
Net Assets
$8,466,727
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,214,523
99.8%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $5,619
0.3%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets -$250
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $598,664
26.2%
Professional Fundraising Fees $26,001
1.1%
Other Salaries and Wages $476,999
20.9%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $9,029,609
Total Liabilities $562,882
Net Assets $8,466,727

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2014

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$3,597,088
Expenses
$2,254,769
Net Income
$1,342,319
Net Assets
$8,714,732
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $3,301,597
91.8%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $7,270
0.2%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets -$4,308
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $292,529
8.1%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $565,518
25.1%
Professional Fundraising Fees $23,025
1.0%
Other Salaries and Wages $457,212
20.3%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $9,178,234
Total Liabilities $463,502
Net Assets $8,714,732

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2013

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$3,100,257
Expenses
$2,308,176
Net Income
$792,081
Net Assets
$7,152,670
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $3,093,644
99.8%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $7,776
0.3%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets -$1,163
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $0
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $638,764
27.7%
Professional Fundraising Fees $15,849
0.7%
Other Salaries and Wages $474,645
20.6%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $7,585,517
Total Liabilities $432,847
Net Assets $7,152,670

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2012

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,840,713
Expenses
$2,175,843
Net Income
$664,870
Net Assets
$5,951,935
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,829,762
99.6%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $8,318
0.3%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets -$10
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $2,643
0.1%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $512,210
23.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $32,731
1.5%
Other Salaries and Wages $447,410
20.6%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $6,292,333
Total Liabilities $340,398
Net Assets $5,951,935

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2011

Extracted Financial Data

Extracted Financial Data from Form 990
Revenue
$2,613,596
Expenses
$2,220,215
Net Income
$393,381
Net Assets
$5,004,211
Notable Sources of Revenue Percent of Total Revenue
Contributions $2,585,105
98.9%
Program Services $0
Investment Income $11,974
0.5%
Bond Proceeds $0
Royalties $0
Rental Property Income $0
Net Fundraising $0
Sales of Assets $2
0.0%
Net Inventory Sales $0
Other Revenue $16,515
0.6%
Notable Expenses Percent of Total Expenses
Executive Compensation $476,866
21.5%
Professional Fundraising Fees $52,721
2.4%
Other Salaries and Wages $442,612
19.9%
Assets/Debt
Total Assets $5,350,081
Total Liabilities $345,870
Net Assets $5,004,211

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2010

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2009

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2008

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2007

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2006

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2005

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2004

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2003

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

Fiscal Year Ending Dec.
2001

No Extracted Financial Data

Extracted financial data is not available for the forms filed in this tax period, but Form 990 documents are available for download.

Document Links

About This Data

Nonprofit Explorer includes summary data for nonprofit tax returns and full Form 990 documents, in both PDF and digital formats.

The summary data contains information processed by the IRS during the 2012-2019 calendar years; this generally consists of filings for the 2011-2018 fiscal years, but may include older records. This data release includes only a subset of what can be found in the full Form 990s.

In addition to the raw summary data, we link to PDFs and digital copies of full Form 990 documents wherever possible. This consists of separate releases by the IRS of Form 990 documents processed by the agency, which we update regularly.

We also link to copies of audits nonprofit organizations that spent $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a single fiscal year since 2016. These audits are copied from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.

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Every organization that has been recognized as tax exempt by the IRS has to file Form 990 every year, unless they make less than $200,000 in revenue and have less than $500,000 in assets, in which case they have to file form 990-EZ. Organizations making less than $50,000 don’t have to file either form but do have to let the IRS they’re still in business via a Form 990N "e-Postcard."

Nonprofit Explorer has organizations claiming tax exemption in each of the 27 subsections of the 501(c) section of the tax code, and which have filed a Form 990, Form 990EZ or Form 990PF. Taxable trusts and private foundations that are required to file a form 990PF are also included. Small organizations filing a Form 990N "e-Postcard" are not included in this data.

Types of Nonprofits

There are 27 nonprofit designations based on the numbered subsections of section 501(c) of the tax code. See the list »

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For those interested in acquiring the original data from the source, here’s where our data comes from:

  • Raw filing data. Includes EINs and summary financials as structured data.
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