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Emmas House - Bitterroot Valleychildrens Advocacy Center Inc

EIN 20-5484868 · Hamilton, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A FACILITY-BASED PROGRAM WHERE CHILDREN BEGIN HEALING FROM THE TRAUMA OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

Income
$492,525
Spending
$491,980
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
7
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$108,097, 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    6 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 (1)
  1. $397,770 spent. EMMA'S HOUSE PROVIDES A SAFE, CHILD-FRIENDLY FACILITY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO TALK TO PROFESSIONALS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. EMMA'S HOUSE COORDINATES WITH MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND PROSECUTORS TO STREAMLINE THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS AND REDUCE TRAUMA BY OFFERING SPECIALIZED CARE IN TRAUMA TREATMENT. IN ADDITION, EMMA'S HOUSE PROVIDES OUTREACH AND PREVENTION EDUCATION TO PROMOTE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY.WE SERVE ALL OF RAVALLI COUNTY AND HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, RAVALLI COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY. WE ALSO DO COURTESY INTERVIEWS FOR OTHER STATES AND COUNTIES. THERE ARE 750 CACS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE. EMMA'S HOUSE IS ONE OF SIX CACS IN MONTANA AND IS THE ONLY ONE IN MONTANA THAT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A HOSPITAL OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER (CAC) IS, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT CHILDREN FACE WITHOUT ONE. WITHOUT A CAC, THE CHILD MAY END UP HAVING TO TELL THE WORST STORY OF HIS OR HER LIFE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TO DOCTORS, COPS, LAWYERS, THERAPISTS, INVESTIGATORS, JUDGES, AND OTHERS. THEY MAY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE IN A POLICE STATION WHERE THEY THINK THEY MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE, OR MAY BE ASKED THE WRONG QUESTIONS BY A WELL-MEANING TEACHER OR OTHER ADULT THAT COULD HURT THE CASE AGAINST THE ABUSER.WHEN POLICE OR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES BELIEVE A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED, THE CHILD IS BROUGHT TO THE CAC--A SAFE, CHILD-FOCUSED ENVIRONMENT--BY A CAREGIVER OR OTHER "SAFE" ADULT. AT THE CAC, THE CHILD TELLS THEIR STORY ONCE TO A TRAINED INTERVIEWER WHO KNOWS THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT NOT RETRAUMATIZE THE CHILD. THEN, A TEAM THAT INCLUDES MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, PROSECUTION, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, VICTIM ADVOCACY, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS MAKE DECISIONS TOGETHER ABOUT HOW TO HELP THE CHILD BASED ON THE INTERVIEW. CACS OFFER THERAPY AND MEDICAL EXAMS, PLUS COURTROOM PREPARATION, VICTIM ADVOCACY, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND OTHER SERVICES. THIS IS CALLED THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM (MDT) RESPONSE AND IS A CORE PART OF THE WORK OF CACS.SPECIFIC SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, MEDICAL EXAMS SPECIFIC TO CHILD ABUSE ALLEGATIONS, CRISIS INTERVENTION AND COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, VICTIM ADVOCACY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ASSISTANCE IN FILING CLAIMS WITH THE MONTANA CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND SOCIAL SERVICE. EMMA'S HOUSE ADDED ACUTE MEDICAL SERVICES IN JULY 2024.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.