Thursday, August 31, 2017

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers chase the big bucks

By Dave Skinner

Montanans can’t miss the amazing blitz of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) TV ads attacking Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke over the national monuments review.

Montana TV reporter Mike Dennison has revealed that BHA made a whopping $1.4 million ad buy. When asked by Dennison where BHA got so much cash, group spokesman John Gale cryptically explained that BHA lists its donors in its annual report.

Sort of – individual donors up to $20,000 are listed, and at least one is interesting from a “hunter and angler” perspective: Ed Bangs, the federal wolf reintroduction guy. Also listed are 16 foundational supporters by name only, no amount.

...So, in 2017, we’re stuck with BHA’s outdated 2015 990 report showing BHA total revenue of $1.2 million. Grassroots? Only $154,035 of BHA’s income came from “membership dues” (claiming 13,000 members, that’s $11.84 each). Fully $1.1 million came from “all other” sources, with $646,335 (about 51 percent) coming from grantors who averaged donations of over $12,650 each year.

What about BHA’s “known” donors? Consider that 2016’s donor listing might not match 2015’s – and it doesn’t. One 2015 donor ($52,800) not around in 2016 is the Wyss Foundation, controlled by Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss. Greenwire reports Wyss gave BHA $300,000 in 2013, 41 percent of BHA’s funding that year.

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