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Clark Fork Coalition

EIN 36-3428665 · Missoula, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O FOR FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
26
Volunteers
482
Highest pay
$80,051, former 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    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. $1.5 million spent. UPPER CLARK FORK (UCF) & BITTERROOT INITIATIVES: IN THE UCF THE COALITION IS WORKING TO BRING ABOUT A WORLD-CLASS CLEANUP AND RESTORATION BY PARTICIPATING IN RESEARCH, PUBLIC PROCESSES, AND TRACKING OF SUPERFUND CLEANUP, AND THROUGH STREAM RESTORATION PROJECTS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND BY ADVANCING POLICY AND OTHER TOOLS TO BOOST HEALING AND RESILIENCE IN THE UCF BASIN. IN THE BITTERROOT THE COALITION IS BOOSTING THE HEALTH OF THIS SUBBASIN BY INCREASING FLOWS, REDUCING SEDIMENT, AND RESTORING FISH PASSAGE IN HIGH-PRIORITY TRIBUTARIES
  2. $403,658 spent. MIDDLE CLARK FORK: IN THE MIDDLE CLARK FORK THE COALITION IS FOSTERING AND ADVOCATING FOR A WATER ETHIC THAT MAKES CLEANUP, RESTORATION, AND PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY WATERWAYS A CENTRAL GOAL IN THE FACE OF LINGERING CONTAMINATION, RAPID GROWTH, AND LANDSCAPE CHANGE. THE COALITION IS FOCUSED ON THREE CAMPAIGNS IN THIS REGION: CLEANJUP OF THE SHUTTERED SMURFIT-STONE PULP MILL SITE, RESTORATION OF LOWER GRANT CREEK, AND RIVER-SMART PLANNING FOR THE URBAN RIVER CORRIDOR IN MISSOULA. AT SMURFIT, THE COALITION IS ADVOCATING FOR TIMELY AND SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND CLEANUP OF HAZARDOUS WASTE DUMPS, REMOVAL OF CRUMBLING BERMS, AND RESTORATION OF THE FLOODPLAIN. AT GRANT CREEK, THE COALITION IS IMPLEMENTING A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN VISION FOR RESTORING THE CREEK IN ADVANCE OF DEVELOPMENT PLANNED FOR THE AREA. ON THE URBAN RIVER CORRIDOR, CFC IS PROMOTING RIVER-SMART PLANNING AND WATERSHED LITERACY THROUGH DYNAMIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND THROUGH PROMOTING PLANNING PRINCIPLES THAT MAKE PROTECTION OF WATERWAYS A CENTRAL GOAL.
  3. $167,748 spent. WATERSHED WIDE AND PROGRAM SUPPORT INITIATIVES:THROUGH ITS WATERSHED WIDE WORK THE COALITION PROTECTS CLEAN WATER BY DEFENDING WATER PROTECTION LAWS, PREVENTING NEW CONTAMINATION, AND IMPROVING WATER MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES. IT ALSO FOCUSES ON FLOW RESTORATION, MANAGEMENT OF WATER RIGHTS AND LEASES, RIVER CLEANUPS, WATER QUALITY MONITORING, BEAVER-RELATED PROJECTS, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND UPDATES ON RIVER-RELATED ISSUES.

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 April 1986.

    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.

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