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Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development Area

EIN 36-3705448 · Joliet, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BEARTOOTH RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT AREA, INC. (BEARTOOTH RC&D) IS A CITIZEN-DRIVEN NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES. SPONSORED AND DIRECTED BY LOCAL PEOPLE, RC&D PROVIDES A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS BY CONSERVING, UTILIZING, AND DEVELOPING THE NATURAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES OF SOUTH-CENTRAL MONTANA. BY ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, EXPERTISE, AND PERSPECTIVES, BEARTOOTH RC&D HELPS COMMUNITIES IDENTIFY CHALLENGES, DESIGN SOLUTIONS, AND IMPLEMENT PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE. IN ITS SIMPLEST FORM, THE RC&D IS CITIZENS WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.

Income
$690,003
Spending
$493,794
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 82%
Employees
6
Volunteers
29
Highest pay
$76,143, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
  1. $374,319 spent. BEARTOOTH RC&D PROMOTES RURAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT BIG HORN, CARBON, STILLWATER, SWEET GRASS, AND YELLOWSTONE COUNTIES. AS BOTH A STATE-DESIGNATED CERTIFIED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CRDC) AND A FEDERALLY DESIGNATED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT (EDD), BEARTOOTH PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING BUSINESS GROWTH AND COMMUNITY VITALITY. SERVICES INCLUDE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS PLANNING, AND GRANT WRITING, AS WELL AS DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES ON INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES, AND PUBLIC SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.AS OF DECEMBER 2024, BEARTOOTH MANAGES TWO USDA RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (RCDI) GRANTS, ONE IN BIG HORN COUNTY AND ONE IN CARBON COUNTY. IN 2023, THE ORGANIZATION EXPANDED ITS SERVICES THROUGH THE LAUNCH OF AN EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM, HELPING PROPERTY OWNERS COMPLETE PHASE I AND PHASE II ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS TO PREPARE UNDERUTILIZED SITES FOR REDEVELOPMENT. IN 2024, BEARTOOTH WAS AWARDED A RECHARGE OUR COMMUNITY'S ECONOMY (ROCE) GRANT THROUGH THE RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CORPORATION (RCAC) TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBUS ON ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION INITIATIVES.BEARTOOTH RC&D ALSO OPERATES A STATE-FUNDED FOOD AND AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT CENTER (FADC) THAT HELPS MONTANA PRODUCERS INNOVATE AND GROW BUSINESSES IN FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, COMMERCIALIZATION, AND MARKET EXPANSION. CURRENT FUNDING INCLUDES A FEDERAL SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT, AS WELL AS TARGETED PROGRAMS SUCH AS A FARM-TO-SCHOOL GRANT AND A REAP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT.
  2. $48,799 spent. ANOTHER CORE SERVICE IS THE ADMINISTRATION OF MULTIPLE REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS (RLFS) THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL GAP FINANCING TO SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR TRADITIONAL CREDIT. THESE FUNDS LEVERAGE DIVERSE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RESOURCES INCLUDING BSED, EDA, CDBG, IRP, SSBCI, MBOI, AND RMAP, TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND JOB CREATION. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF BEARTOOTH'S LOAN PROGRAMS IS TO CREATE AND RETAIN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, PARTICULARLY FOR LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME RESIDENTS. AS OF 2024, BEARTOOTH RC&D ACTIVELY SERVICED 24 LOANS ACROSS THE FIVE-COUNTY REGION, DIRECTLY SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF RURAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES.

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 November 1990.

    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.

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.