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Whitefish Legacy Partners Inc

EIN 20-0674119 · Whitefish, MT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE COMMUNITY-MINDED VISION IS TO ENSURE CONSERVATION, RECREATION AND EDUCATION ON THE LANDS AROUND WHITEFISH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$860,840
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
60.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
6
Volunteers
197
Highest pay
$117,154, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 60.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $457,560 spent. RECREATION: THE WHITEFISH TRAIL IS OUR ANCHOR RECREATION PROJECT OFFERING A NON-MOTORIZED, MULTI-USE TRAIL NETWORK AND TRAILHEADS READILY ACCESSED FROM TOWN. THE TRAIL IS OPEN TO HIKERS, BIKERS, AND HORSE USERS AND IS COMPRISED OF STACKED LOOPS, SCENIC OVERLOOKS, SINGLE-TRACK TRAIL AND GATED LOGGING ROADS. OUR VISION IS TO CREATE A 55-MILE RECREATIONAL LOOP TRAIL AROUND WHITEFISH LAKE CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY OF WHITEFISH TO THE ADJACENT STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS. ONGOING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE IS MANAGED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF WHITEFISH AND IS FUNDED 100% THROUGH THE WT ENDOWMENT FUND AND WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS. THE WHITEFISH TRAIL AND TRAILHEAD CONSTRUCTION TO CLOSE THE LOOP OF THE WHITEFISH TRAIL IS FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS AND MATCHING FUNDS RAISED BY WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS. THE CLOSE THE LOOP EFFORTS WILL PLAN, DESIGN, AND FUND THE FINAL PHASES OF THE WHITEFISH TRAIL BY YEAR 2025.
  2. $195,772 spent. OPERATIONS & EDUCATION: WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS WORKS AS THE COMMUNITY PARTNER AND CATALYST TO CREATE A NATURAL SURFACE TRAIL SYSTEM, KNOWN AS THE WHITEFISH TRAIL, ENCOMPASSING THE 13,000 ACRES OF STATE LANDS IN OUR STUNNING BACKYARD. OUR WORK PERMANENTLY PROTECTS AND CONNECTS THESE IMPORTANT LANDSCAPES, SUPPORTS THE GROWTH OF TOURISM AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AND ENGAGES THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. WLP'S EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS ON THE WHITEFISH TRAIL OFFER A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CULTIVATE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR NATURAL LANDS, AND OUR OUTDOOR HERITAGE. WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS FACILITATES OUTINGS ON THE TRAIL AND WE STRIVE TO EDUCATE LOCALS, VISITORS, AND YOUTH ABOUT CONSERVATION AND THE INTERWOVEN ELEMENTS OF A THRIVING FOREST, SCENIC VIEWSHEDS, CLEAN WATER, CRITICAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS, AND QUALITY RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED 100% THROUGH WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS ANNUAL OPERATIONS, GRANTS, AND PRIVATE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.
  3. $129,006 spent. CONSERVATION: OUR COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PROJECTS KNOWN LOCALLY AS SMITH LAKE LEGACY AND PLACES WORTH PROTECTING CREATE A LEGACY OF PERMANENT, PUBLIC ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, WILDLIFE HABITAT, UNCLUTTERED VIEWS, HIGH QUALITY RECREATION, WORKING FORESTS. OUR WORK CREATES PERMANENT, PUBLIC ACCESS AND TRAILS IN SUSTAINABLE, WORKING FORESTS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF LICENSES, AGREEMENTS, EASEMENTS, LAND SWAPS, COMMUNITY FORESTS, COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP, AND OTHER INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. OUR PLACES WORTH PROTECTING WORK IDENTIFIES OUR PRIORITY CONSERVATION STRATEGIES, DRIVES THE LEGALLY COMPLEX TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTS THE COMPLICATED FUNDING MECHANISMS AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE SMITH LAKE LEGACY EFFORTS WILL PROTECT AN ADDITIONAL 800 ACRES BY YEAR 2025.

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

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.