Montana Chamber Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 44% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO EDUCATE MONTANANS ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS, BUSINESS NEEDS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BUSINESS TO SOCIETY.
- Income
- $610,093
- Spending
- $462,260
- Spent on programs
- 44%
- Reserves
- 16.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 13
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1544% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 89 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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)
- $132,726 spent. MT YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS FUELED BY EMPOWERED - IN 2017, THE MONTANA CHAMBER FOUNDATION BROUGHT TO MONTANA "EMPOWERED", A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM THAT DEVELOPS EMPLOYABILITY TRAITS AND INSTILLS ECONOMIC AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PRINCIPLES IN OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE FOUNDATION ADDED AN ADDITIONAL FULL TIME WORKFORCE STRATEGIST WHO TRAVELS THE STATE EXPANDING AND EXECUTING THE YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAM AND EMPOWERED TEACHER NETWORK.
- $43,067 spent. THE PROSPECTS ENCOMPASSES A VIRTUAL STATEWIDE ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETITION WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AND CASH PRIZES FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH NEW IDEAS AND EXISTING SMALL BUSINESSES.THIS COMPETITION IS DESIGNED TO FIND, CELEBRATE AND REWARD PROMISING STUDENTS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW OFF THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET AND ABILITY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS FOR THE REAL WORLD. MONTANA CHAMBER FOUNDATION IS CONNECTING STUDENTS AND BUSINESSES LEADERS FROM AROUND THE STATE.
- $14,797 spent. CULTIVATING CAREERS - THE MONTANA CHAMBER FOUNDATION AND PARK HIGH SCHOOL ARE HOSTING THIS PROVEN COMMUNITY FOCUSED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EVENT THAT ILLUSTRATES HOW INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION PARTNERS CAN SUPPORT CAREER AWARENESS AND WORKFORCE PIPELINE OPPORTUNITIES. THESE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES DEMONSTRATE THE LATEST CAREERS IN PATHWAYS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM HELPING TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.
- $12,090 spent. ENVISION 2026 WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2016 AS A 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUSED ON THE SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR MONTANA. TO MEET ITS FOUR GOALS BY 2026, THE MONTANA CHAMBER WILL WORK IN THE FOLLOWING FOUR KEY AREAS TO DRIVE PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME LEVELS AND GROWTH, GROSS STATE PRODUCT GROWTH, AND JOB GROWTH: WORKFORCE; ENTREPRENEURSHIP; BUSINESS CLIMATE; AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1970.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.