Trout Unlimited
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CONSERVE, PROTECT AND RESTORE MONTANA'S COLDWATER FISHERIES AND WATERSHEDS.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 7.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 42
- Highest pay
- $80,606, executive direc
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 March 31, 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 (1)
- $1.3 million spent. Montana Trout Unlimiteds exempt purpose achievements continue to include protecting and restoring trout habitat, advocating for clean water and wild fish management and educating the public on Montanas fishery issues.Examples of Montana TUs FYE 2025 accomplishments to protect water quality and quantity to benefit coldwater fisheries include:Reviewed and provided input on public land management activities and management plans as they relate to protecting water resources.We continue to monitor the mining plans and activities within the Smith River watershed. Engaged in the development of a watershed restoration plan and supported on-the-ground projects to improve water quality and quantity in the Smith. MTU continues to work with partners to monitor water quality conditions and press for mitigation of damages from selenium pollution in the Kootenai River and Lake Koocanusa.MTU continues to monitor a possible rare earth elements (REEs - neodymium and praseodymium) mine in the Sheep Creek tributary of the West Fork Bitterroot River.Participate in the Frenchtown Working Group to focus on and communicate about research and cleanup of the Smurfit-Stone site on the Clark Fork River below Missoula. Successfully pushed for additional groundwater and soil sampling to be conducted to better idenfiy sources and pathways of contamination to the river.Increased instream flow through water right changes, improved infrastructure and habitat restoration.Maintained fulltime staff in the Montana State Legislature (and in relevant interim committees during non-legislative session years) to advocate for policy that benefits coldwater fisheries.Montana Trout Unlimited strives to protect high-quality fish habitat and to restore degraded streams and watersheds. Our FYE 2025 accomplishments include:Provided funding for a full-time Jefferson Watershed Project Manager with a focus on improving irrigation and ranching practices to benefit instream flow.MTU continued to work with the Custer-Gallatin National Forest (CGNF) as part of a 5-year, $3M agreement to provide a full-time Beartooth Project Manager to complete restoration projects on the National Forest.Continued to partner other groups and Tribes to evaluate Montanore Minerals (subsidiary of Hecla Mining Company) plans to expand exploration mining under the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness.Continued to prioritize research of the fishery in southwest MT. Supporting the continued evaluation of fish samples and health surveys conducted by FWP and MSU PhD students.Healthy, abundant populations of wild trout are the best measure of Montana TUs success. We emphasize conservation of sustainable wild and native trout populations. Our actions the past year include. Funding portions of wild or native trout habitat improvement projects in the Blackfoot, Beaverhead, Missouri, Yellowstone, Clark Fork, and Bitterroot River watersheds.Securing funding to increase grant opportunities for restoration and conservation projects by local TU chapters. Lead statewide advocacy for coldwater fisheries management and funding by regularly communicating with, monitored, and advised state agencies, boards and commissions.Provided official comments and regular communications with FWP leadership/regional biologists and the F&W Commission regarding using best fishery science to manage MT streams and rivers.Participated at the annual Arctic Grayling Work Group meeting. Continued to work with the USFWS to pursue amendments to the EA for a project at Upper Red Rock Lakes to benefit grayling overwintering conditions.Assisted with renewed effort to suppress lake trout in the Swan Lake system to recover bull trout populations.Montana TU is first and foremost a people organization. Achieving our mission requires engaged members, supporters and partners. We strive to improve and protect the values the public treasures about rivers and trout: Educated the next generation of conservationists with one 5-day, overnight camp.Increased awareness of fisheries issues from responsible angling and fish handling, Hoot Owl information to ongoing concerns and opportunities like AIS, catch-and-release and Keep Em Wet.Helped train the next generation of angling guides in conservation priorities and strategies.Defended Montanas best-in-the nation Stream Access Law and public lands.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 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? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
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 March 1972.
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.