Montana Innocence Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Because liberty and justice are paramount to a democratic society, it is the mission of the Montana Innocence Project to free the innocent and unjustly incarcerated, and advocate for systems of Justice that are accurate, accountable, and fair for all.
- Income
- $757,319
- Spending
- $654,611
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $120,577, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 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)
- $542,683 spent. Legal: o Reviewed 111 applications and advanced 32 cases into active investigation, with 6 cases in active litigation.o Strengthened investigations through expert collaboration, including nationally recognized medical experts.o Expanded impact by taking on your first unjust incarceration case, broadening pathways to relief beyond traditional innocence claims.o Conducted a comprehensive case inventory review to focus resources on cases with the greatest potential for impact.o Built a referral network and supported medical parole efforts, ensuring more peopleespecially medically vulnerable individualshave pathways to release.o Prioritized equity, with roughly half of active cases involving Indigenous clients, many of whom were young at conviction or impacted by addiction.Social Services:o Provided individualized, trauma-informed support to clients both inside correctional facilities and in the community.o Assisted with general and medical parole planning, improving readiness and chances for release.o Built direct relationships with correctional facilities, enabling regular in-person support from a formerly incarcerated advocate.o Connected freed clients with national exoneree-led organizations for ongoing support, training, and community.o Launched foundational work for inside-out organizing, centering the voices of incarcerated individuals in policy and reform.o Developed individualized healing opportunities (e.g., retreats, community-based support) to support restoration beyond release.o Mentored social work students, helping build the next generation of reentry advocates.Advocacy:o Championed efforts to restore compensation for exonerees, bringing statewide attention to gaps in restitution.o Supported passage of key policies, including: - Creation of an Office of Reentry Services - A work time credit program to reduce supervision through employmento Opposed harmful policies, including efforts to expand execution methods, reinforcing commitment to ending the death penalty.o Elevated critical issues such as prison expansion, reentry barriers, and prison conditions, positioning MTIP as a trusted statewide voice.o Advanced lived-experience-informed advocacy, ensuring directly impacted individuals help shape policy solutions.Public Education: o Strengthened public understanding of wrongful conviction and justice issues through community engagement and storytelling.o Participated in the Innocence Network Conference, amplifying exoneree voices and building national partnerships.o Hosted a community event with exoneree and author Calvin Duncan, fostering dialogue around resilience and second chances.o Organized a holiday card campaign, sending 50+ messages of support to incarcerated individuals.o Expanded reach through your podcast Unpacking Injustice, which is now accessible in correctional facilities and driving awareness nationwide.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 November 6, 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 December 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 December 2008.
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 November 4, 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.