Red Lodge Area Community Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE RED LODGE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SERVES OUR COMMUNITY BY CONNECTING PEOPLE AND BUILDING COMMUNITY BY CATALYZING CHANGE AND LEVERAGING RESOURCES TO BUILD A STRONG, VIBRANT, RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. WE ARE A NEUTRAL CONVENER FOUNDED IN THREE FACETS: GRANT MAKING, LEADERSHIP, AND PHILANTHROPY SERVICES.
- Income
- $4.7 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 266
- Highest pay
- $114,389, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 53% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $948,167 spent. IN 2024, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 3,666 HOURS TO RESILIENT COMMUNITY PROJECTS, VALUED AT $122,782.THE CARBON COUNTY AREA RIDE & TRANSIT COMPLETED ITS FOURTH YEAR OF PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RIDES TO CARBON COUNTY RESIDENTS IN NEED OF TRANSPORTATION, SURPASSING 17,000 TOTAL RIDES IN ITS FOUR YEARS OF OPERATION. CART ACQUIRED A NEW 13-PASSENGER FORD E450 ENDURA SHUTTLE WITH A WHEELCHAIR LIFT, IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AND INCREASING CAPACITY. THE WORKFORCE HOUSING INITIATIVE PARTNERED WITH THE RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CORPORATION TO LAUNCH THE MUTUAL SELF-HELP HOUSING PROGRAM IN CARBON COUNTY. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 1.21 HOURS FOR EVERY STAFF HOUR SPENT ON THE PROJECT IN 2024. A HOUSING FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS COMPLETED IN BRIDGER, ACCOMPANIED BY THREE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS. A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PLANNING GRANT WAS SECURED TO ASSESS ATTAINABLE HOUSING LOCATIONS IN RED LODGE, INCLUDING WITHIN THE URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT.THE SENIOR ARK FUND GRANTED $5,168 TO SUPPORT SIX MAJOR HOME REPAIR PROJECTS, INCLUDING WINTERIZATION AND RAMP CONSTRUCTION, IN COLLABORATION WITH CALVARY CARPENTERS. THE FIREWOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DELIVERED 34 LOADS OF FIREWOOD AND OBTAINED FUNDING FOR NEW EQUIPMENT TO EXPAND ITS CAPACITY.EMERGENCY NEEDS WERE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE SALVATION ARMY RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN, WHICH RAISED OVER $3,200 FOR MICRO-GRANTS. A TOTAL OF $4,315 IN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WAS DISTRIBUTED TO COVER RENT, MOVING EXPENSES, UTILITIES, AND MEDICATION.THE ORGANIZATION WAS SELECTED BY THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO HOST A 12-MONTH AMERICORPS VISTA POSITION IN 2025, FOCUSED ON AGING IN PLACE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CARBON COUNTY HISTORIC REHABILITATION GRANT PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED. OVER THE YEAR, APPLICANTS SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TOTALING $1.9 MILLION. A VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE, CONTRIBUTING 144 HOURS, REVIEWED APPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDED FUNDING FOR EIGHT PROJECTS TOTALING $653,750.
- $733,270 spent. IN 2024, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 1,601 HOURS TO THRIVING NONPROFIT PROJECTS, VALUED AT $53,617.THE 21ST ANNUAL FUN RUN AWARDED $380,613 TO 65 PARTICIPATING CHARITIES, THE LARGEST AMOUNT AWARDED INA SINGLE YEAR IN THE EVENT'S HISTORY.THROUGH FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED A LEGAL NONPROFIT FRAMEWORK FOR CHARITABLE INITIATIVES, OFFERING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO GROUPS WITHOUT FORMAL TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. THIS ARRANGEMENT ENABLED DONORS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THESE INITIATIVES WITH TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFTS. THE FOUNDATION GRANTED $143,539 ON BEHALF OF THESE GROUPS, ALLOWING THEM TO FOCUS ON THEIR MISSIONS WHILE BENEFITING FROM THE FOUNDATION'S NONPROFIT STATUS AND OVERSIGHT.THE COMMUNITY GRANTMAKING PROGRAM AWARDED $18,000 TO 17 CARBON COUNTY NONPROFITS, SUPPORTING A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY-DRIVEN INITIATIVES.THE TWO CONFERENCE ROOMS AT THE NONPROFIT SHARED SERVICES CENTER PROVIDE VALUABLE COLLABORATIVE SPACE FOR NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. IN 2024, THEY HOSTED 210 MEETINGS FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS AND AN ADDITIONAL 117 MEETINGS FOR THE FOUNDATION'S STAFF AND COMMITTEES, FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND SUPPORTING LOCAL INITIATIVES, INCLUDING GROUPS THAT LACK ACCESS TO MEETING SPACE.THE RED LODGE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HOSTED A TWO-DAY GRACIOUS SPACE TRAINING EVENT, LED BY CREATOR PAT HUGHES, IN RED LODGE. OFFERED FREE TO THE PUBLIC, THE TRAINING BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 55 COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM DIVERSE ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPLORE THE PRINCIPLES OF GRACIOUS SPACE, INCLUDING LISTENING DEEPLY, FOSTERING INCLUSIVE DIALOGUE, AND CREATING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL VOICES. PARTICIPANTS WERE IMMERSED IN THE THEORY BEHIND GRACIOUS SPACE AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY ITS CORE TENETSSUCH AS RESPECT, CURIOSITY, AND SHARED UNDERSTANDINGTO REAL-WORLD SCENARIOS, STRENGTHENING THEIR CAPACITY TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL, CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS ACROSS DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES.
- $544,549 spent. IN 2024, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 679 HOURS TO ROBUST ARTS & CULTURE PROJECTS, VALUED AT $22,740.THE ROOSEVELT CENTER HOSTED 345 EVENTS, ATTRACTING 18,686 ATTENDEESA 38% INCREASE OVER 2023. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: DAVID AND CHERYL WHITCOMB'S OPEN MIC NIGHTS SHOWCASED OVER 100 PERFORMANCES ACROSS EIGHT EVENTS, WITH A TOTAL AUDIENCE OF 340. THE MISSOULA CHILDREN'S THEATER RETURNED IN FEBRUARY, HOSTING AUDITIONS, REHEARSALS, AND TWO PERFORMANCES OF BLACKBEARD THE PIRATE, FEATURING 29 LOCAL YOUTH ACTORS. THE PERFORMANCES DREW 269 ATTENDEES. MONTANA SHAKES! VISITED TWICE IN 2024, OFFERING A PLAY PERFORMANCE AND ACTING WORKSHOPS. THE APRIL PERFORMANCE FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ATTRACTED 162 ATTENDEES, WHILE THE OCTOBER PERFORMANCE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DREW 195. RED LODGE HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTED TWO NIGHTS OF ONE-ACT PLAYS AT THE ROOSEVELT CENTER, DRAWING 197 ATTENDEES. THE RED LODGE THEATER COMPANY HOSTED TWO PERFORMANCES OF ITS MONTANA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL SHOW, ATTENDED BY 45 PEOPLE. ADDITIONALLY, 11 YOUNG ACTORS PARTICIPATED IN FOUR FREE ACTING WORKSHOPS LED BY THE COMPANY. SUMMER FEST, NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, WAS ORGANIZED BY ROOSEVELT CENTER STAFF AND SPANNED THREE WEEKENDS IN 2024. THE FESTIVAL FEATURED 12 MUSICAL ACTS, WITH THE LARGEST EVENT ON JULY 27 DRAWING 1,052 ATTENDEESMAKING IT THE MOST ATTENDED SINGLE-DAY EVENT IN THE BUILDING'S HISTORY. DESPITE RAIN AND LIGHTNING, STAFF SEAMLESSLY ADAPTED, MOVING THE FINAL PERFORMANCE INDOORS FOR AN INTIMATE SHOW. THE FESTIVAL AS A WHOLE WELCOMED 2,200 ATTENDEES.THE ROOSEVELT CENTER ALSO PROVED ITS CAPACITY AS A PREMIER CONFERENCE VENUE, HOSTING A THREE-DAY EVENT FOR 240 GUESTS OF THE INTERMOUNTAIN SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION. THE VENUE ACCOMMODATED ALL ATTENDEES ACROSS VARIOUS SPACES, INCLUDING THE AUDITORIUM, CONFERENCE ROOM, OUTDOOR GROUNDS, HARPER RECITAL HALL, AND FOUR BREAKOUT ROOMS. STAFF EFFICIENTLY TRANSITIONED THE AUDITORIUM FROM A 250-SEAT SPEAKING EVENT TO A BUSINESS FAIR WITH 30 VENDOR BOOTHS, MARKING THE LARGEST MULTI-DAY EVENT IN THE ROOSEVELT CENTER'S HISTORY.EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE HISTORIC PART OF THE BUILDING CONTINUED IN 2024. EAST WING EXTERIOR RESTORATION WAS COMPLETED, INCLUDING PARAPET, FAADE, AND CHIMNEY WORK, FUNDED BY THE MONTANA HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT AND THE FOUNDATION FOR MONTANA HISTORY. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON AN ELEVATOR IN THE HISTORIC EAST WING, PROVIDING ADA-COMPLIANT ACCESS TO THE GREGORY T. HARPER RECITAL HALL. ADDITIONALLY, 6,000 SQUARE FEET OF MAPLE FLOORING IN THE AUDITORIUM WAS REFINISHED.THE ROOSEVELT CENTER ALSO FEATURED FREE EXHIBITS BY 15 CARBON COUNTY ARTISTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.A 12-PANEL SOLAR ARRAY WAS INSTALLED IN THE YOUTH AND ART GARDEN AT THE ROOSEVELT CENTER, SAVING $1,774 IN ELECTRICITY COSTS.
- $390,072 spent. IN 2024, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 2552 HOURS FOR CONNECTED YOUTH PROJECTS, VALUED AT $85,466.48.THE EARLY CHILDHOOD FUND GRANTED $25,665 TO SUPPORT 25 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HELP OFFSET THE HIGH COST OF CHILDCARE. THE YOUTH ENRICHMENT FUND PROVIDED $10,908 IN FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR 76 AREA YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PIANO LESSONS, DANCE LESSONS, VOLLEYBALL, SCHOOL SKI DAYS, SWIM LESSONS, SOCCER, AND JIU-JITSU. MEADOWLARK CHILDREN'S CENTER COMPLETED ITS FIRST FULL YEAR IN SEPTEMBER 2024, PROVIDING CARE FOR 20 CHILDREN SINCE OPENING IN THE FALL OF 2023.CONNECTED YOUTH HIGHLIGHTS: COMPLETED COMPREHENSIVE CHILDCARE ASSESSMENTS WITH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ACROSS CARBON COUNTY. PARTNERED WITH SEVEN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES TO SERVE OVER 600 MEALS THROUGH THE LUNCH IN THE SUN PROGRAM AT THE RED LODGE CITY POOL. FUTURE OF MONTANA VOLUNTEER CORPS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GAVE BACK IN A BIG WAYLOGGING 2,396 VOLUNTEER HOURS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT LOCAL CAUSES. DELIVERED SAFE SITTER TRAINING TO SIX YOUTH PARTICIPANTS AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, PREPARING THEM FOR SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE BABYSITTING. FACILITATED MONTHLY EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION MEETINGS TO SHARE UPDATES AND COLLABORATE ON MONTANA'S CHILDCARE SUPPORT SERVICES. TRANSITIONED THE RESILIENT YOUTH MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAM TO A SUSTAINABLE MODEL THROUGH DIRECT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE SERVICE PROVIDER. CONVENED THE ANNUAL YOUTH STEERING COMMITTEE, FOSTERING YOUTH VOICE AND LEADERSHIP IN LOCAL PROGRAM PLANNING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.