EIN 73-0606209

Noble Research Institute LLC

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
248
City
Ardmore
Year formed
1945
Most recent tax filings
2023-12-01
Description
Noble Research Institute LLC focuses on regenerative ranching, offering education, research, and services to improve soil health and profitability for farmers.
Also known as...
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Total revenues
$37,950,542
2023
Total expenses
$43,942,836
2023
Total assets
$141,744,664
2023
Num. employees
248
2023

Program areas at Noble Research Institute LLC

Grazing lands researchthe Institute's grazing land-focused Research encompasses differing environments (e.g., silvopasture, introduced pasture, native range), production systems, and geographies, but they collectively represent a common approach of practical, grazing land Research to observe, measure, study, and assess the ecosystem service responses to land management accordingly to the six soil health principles. This Research seeks to apply science to validate reported Research, offer new publishable insights into soil health and productivity, and address u.s. farmer and rancher challenges. (see schedule o)the Institute conducts this Research, in part, in conjunction with both land grant universities and non-land grant colleges of agriculture.a key Research emphasis concerns soil health-focused management in silvopasture envrionments. Research measurement and observation includes soil health, overall ecosystem services response and economic viability. The Institute is particularly focused on assessment in pecan orchard environments. This Research is funded through public and private sources.the Research entered its second year of monitoring changes in soil health in the pecan orchards at the Institute, which are under regenerative management with grazing livestock using adaptive multi-paddock grazing, use of cover crops, and limited-to-no input applications. The project encompasses producer orchards across Oklahoma (tulsa-area and south central) and Texas (north central, austin-area and south central) representing different management strategies to identify orchard practices that lead to improved levels of soil health, ecosystem resiliency, and increased economic measures per acre. Primary measurements will concern the impact of management strategies on commodity tree systems and products to account for (a) soil health, (b) orchard health, (c) fsma-associated recommended grazing restrictions, and (d) nut nutrient value.another component of this Research involves the collection, measurement and quantification of e. coli from the orchard floor in conjunction with Oklahoma state university, a land grant university.another key Research emphasis assesses the impact of grazing management on soil health and ecological indicators in grazing lands located in Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, Colorado, and Wyoming. Funded, in part, by public funding administered by the foundation for food and agriculture Research, the Institute leads a Research collaboration involving, and operating in conjunction with, the following land grant universities: Michigan state univeristy, Colorado state university, university of Wyoming, Texas a&m university, and Oregon state univesity. The Research identifies ecological metrics, influencing management and related socioeconomic factors, including farmer and rancher well-being. The Research team is intensively measuring water and mineral cycles, energy flow and community dynamics in contrasting grazing management strategies (adaptive vs prescriptive) in two of the Institute's ranches (native rangeland and bermudagrass based pasture) and the other university hubs (Michigan state university and university of Wyoming). Metrics include, but are not limited to, vegetation diversity, water infiltration, soil carbon and nitrogen stocks, co2 exchange, soil microbes, nutrient cycling processes. The project further involves similar data collection at about 60 volunteer farm and ranch sites concentrated in these same states. These measures will be monitored over at least five years. The project characterizes drivers and barriers to ranchers' adoption of regenerative agriculture principles. Project results will be long-term and comprehensive soil health monitoring of different grazing management strategies across university and working land sites with published results. The intent is to understand the relationships between soil health indicators and grazing management as well as to inform grazing management decisions with social, economic and ecological outcomes.another key Research emphasis involves the measurement and monitoring of Institute ranches under regenerative management as it relates to soil health, grazing land productivity, and economic viability. The project included taking baseline measurements at 144 sites across six ranches and 1,400 acres. The team continued its monitoring of soils, vegetation, water, and wildlife. Measurements are taken throughout the year, from waterfowl monitoring in the winter, small mammal survey, surface water quality, and soil and vegetation in the spring; water infiltration, earthworms, avian acoustic monitoring, and terrestrial mammal survey in the summer; and surface water quality, vegetation, pollinator survey, and the nationwide snapshot camera mammal survey in the fall.one component of this Research further involves the measurement and quantification of soil biological populations in conjunction with at least the university of Oklahoma, a non-land grant university college of agriculture.project outcomes will be published and broadly disseminated.regarding the Research described above involving Institute ranches, the Institute operates and regeneratively manages seven Oklahoma ranches totaling almost 14,000 acres. The ranches produce cattle, goats, and sheep and, on some, native and introduced pecans. In addition to serving as working ranches, these ranches demonstrate regenerative management for visiting farmers and ranchers, and, as extensively noted above, serve as living laboratories for observation, measurement, Research, and study.
Education, mentorship, and learner supportthe Institute designs, develops, and delivers tools, products, and services to owners, managers, and stewards of u.s. grazing lands to build knowledge, skills, and confidence in application of regenerative principles. The Institute seeks to impact u.s. grazing lands on a nationwide scale.large-scale adoption and regeneration of u.s. grazing lands through the work of intentional farmers and ranchers yields important ecological benefits to the national landscape. The Institute emphasizes and offers data that illustrates the impacts of regenerative land management, including: (see schedule o) -improved soil health and ecological function, -improved air quality, -improved water availability and quality, -increased biodiversity (soil, plant and animal), -enhanced wildlife and their habitats, and -sequestration and storage of atmospheric carbon. Beyond these important ecological transformations, a strong domestic ranching community contributes directly to availability of nutrient-dense animal protein for human nutrition and domestic food security, viable rural economies, and continues the rich western heritage of this nation.the Institute's producer-centric educational portfolio will address ranch operatons and management holistically, including land, livestock, business and finance, people and management, and community.this educational portfolio is in continuous development and will continue to grow to offer programming for differing skill levels and differing practice/skill development.this portfolio will guide learners through every step of their regenerative journey from an introduction to soil health to improving economic viability to herd development and grazing management to advanced land and operational stewardship. The Institute will deliver learning, mentorship and support through differing modalities, incuding in-person interaction, online (live and asynchronous) learning, peer networking and decision tools and resources. Criticially, the portfolio will be founded on science and the Institute's land-based Research, which ensures that such educational portfolio remains dynamic, pioneering and scientifically sound. The Institute's educational portfolio is being designed for the adult learner and emphasizes change management to better serve the producer and proactively address the change in mindset required to embrace a new approach to land management. The educational services will facilitate long-term transformation through peer-to-peer networking, virtual support, and complementary tools for knowledge application and learning reinforcement. Initial programs include courses such as land essentials and grazing essentials. A three-year curriculm development plan will offer a forward-looking roadmap of programming development for farmer, rancher and landowner engagement.in addition, the Institute will facilitate an initial learning peer network to inspire and motivate producers through building a sustained learning community. Initial in-person course delivery locations included multiple sites in both Texas and Oklahoma. Sites for delivery of in-person education will be expanded in 2024 to further include at least one or more educational delivery locations within Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, new mexico, and Montana.
Research - see statement 16
Consultation and education - see statement 16
Operational support - additional information about expenses as a percentage of funds spent for charitable purposes 13.92% are explained in statement 16
Various awards and subawards are received in conjunction with agricultural Research conducted at the Institute. While the majority of the awards/subawards are public Research funds subject to audit under "title 2 u.s. code of federal regulations (cfr) part 200, uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards", these awards/subawards further include public Research funds, provided through various state of Oklahoma programs, as well as private Research funds provided through organizations and industry.
Noble Research Institute (the "Institute") operated several scientific and agricultural related core facilities to provide Research and analytical support to Institute's Research labs and ranches. Occasionally, when excess capacity existed, the core facilities provided core services for external orgranizations. These external collaborations furthered the Institute's work. The rights to some of the Research products were sold during 2021. The Institute is no longer operating these core facilities.
The Institute operates seven ranches on which it carries out ranch operations, which serve the dual role of producer demonstrations, animal production as well as a backdrop for related Research. With regard to such demonstrations, the ranches validate management practices, enable assessment of introduced modifications and the application of emerging technologies, and enable full scale trials and evaluations of Research findings from the Institute as well as other organizations. These programs, in part, fulfill the Institute's charitable purpose and serve as a basis for the organization's tax exempt status. As an outcome of its ranch operations, certain marketable agricultural by-products, such as livestock, pecans, and other farm products, are produced. While some by-products are consumed or destroyed in normal operations, in some instances the Institute sells by-products through common agricultural market outlets. The firsthand knowledge acquired by conducting field-based operations t
The Institute provides administrative services for the samuel roberts Noble foundation, the Institute's sole member-manager, and receives direct reimbursement for the services as well as an overhead recovery reimbursement that enables the Institute to provide these services.

Who funds Noble Research Institute LLC

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
The Samuel Roberts Noble FoundationOperational Support$34,000,000
National Fish and Wildlife FoundationGrassland Restoration$147,170
E L and Thelma Gaylord FoundationGeneral Purpose$20,000

Personnel at Noble Research Institute LLC

NameTitleCompensation
Steve RhinesPresident and Chief Executive Officer
A Jill WallaceVice President and Chief Financial Officer$386,450
James A CalawayDirector of Communications$183,022
Jody BeardDirector of Information Technology
Joseph BeardDirector of Inform Tech.$136,796
...and 14 more key personnel

Financials for Noble Research Institute LLC

RevenuesFYE 12/2023
Total grants, contributions, etc.$36,280,085
Program services$640,705
Investment income and dividends$836,257
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$108,502
Net rental income$0
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$-1,510,820
Net income from fundraising events$-19,188
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$0
Miscellaneous revenues$1,615,001
Total revenues$37,950,542

Form 990s for Noble Research Institute LLC

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2023-122024-11-15990View PDF
2022-122023-11-13990View PDF
2021-122022-11-15990PFView PDF
2020-122022-10-28990PFView PDF
2019-122021-10-19990PFView PDF
...and 12 more Form 990s

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The Water Research Foundation (WRF)Denver, CO$23,363,893
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)Indonesia, $35,923,709
San Francisco Estuary InstituteRichmond, CA$13,822,849
Stroud Water Research CenterAvondale, PA$10,104,053
The Watershed Research and Training CenterHayfork, CA$11,969,472
Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation (LIAI)La Jolla, CA$75,554,472
The Water Institute of the GulfBaton Rouge, LA$17,100,160
Data update history
January 9, 2025
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2023
January 6, 2025
Updated personnel
Identified 4 new personnel
January 5, 2025
Received grants
Identified 2 new grant, including a grant for $34,000,000 from The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
January 3, 2025
Used new vendors
Identified 6 new vendors, including , , , , , and
October 21, 2024
Updated personnel
Identified 3 new personnel
Nonprofit Types
Research centersEnvironmental organizationsHeadquarter / parent organizationsCharities
Issues
Science and technologyEducationLand and water conservationEnvironmentPublic policy
Characteristics
Conducts researchFundraising eventsNational levelReceives government fundingTax deductible donationsAccepts online donations
General information
Address
2510 Sam Noble Pkwy
Ardmore, OK 73401
County
Carter County, OK
Website URL
noble.org/ 
Phone
(580) 223-5810
Facebook page
noblefoundation 
Twitter profile
@noblefoundation 
IRS details
EIN
73-0606209
Fiscal year end
December
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1945
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
C30: Natural Resources Conservation and Protection
NAICS code, primary
5417: Scientific Research and Development Services
Parent/child status
Central organization
California AB-488 details
AB 488 status
May Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes
Charity Registration status
Current
FTB status revoked
Not revoked
AG Registration Number
CT0263771
FTB Entity ID
None yet
AB 488 data last updated ("as-of") date
2025-06-04
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