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Bighorn River Alliance

EIN 36-5177006 · Billings, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT, PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND VIABILITY OF THE BIGHORN RIVER RECOGNIZING ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE WILD TROUT FISHERY, THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND THE CROW NATION THROUGH WHICH IT FLOWS.

Income
$555,971
Spending
$412,096
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
25.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
3
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$90,917, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 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, 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 (3)
  1. $246,189 spent. OUTREACH: BIGHORN RIVER ALLIANCE REACHES ITS MEMBERSHIP AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS OF THE BIGHORN RIVER AND THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH NUMEROUS OUTLETS INCLUDING: AN ANNUAL REPORT, BI-ANNUAL NEWSLETTERS, MONTHLY EMAIL UPDATES, SOCIAL MEDIA EXPOSURE AND AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE THAT CONTAINS BLOGS, AND AN INTERACTIVE RIVER CONDITIONS TOOLS FEATURE OF WHICH CURRENT AND HISTORICAL RIVER DATA CAN BE FOUND. OTHER OUTREACH EFFORTS INCLUDE SIGNAGE AT SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS AND INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES PLACED AT LOCAL BUSINESSES. BIGHORN RIVER ALLIANCE INTERACTS WITH ITS MEMBERSHIP AND OTHER WATERSHED STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH COMMUNITY FORUMS, PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS, AND BIGHORN BASIN INTERAGENCY MEETINGS.
  2. $64,060 spent. RESEARCH INITIATIVE: THE BIGHORN RIVER ALLIANCE RECOGNIZES THAT THE HEALTH OF THE BIGHORN RIVER FISHERY IS DEPENDENT ON THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE ENTIRE RIVER CORRIDOR. THE RESEARCH INITIATVE PROGRAM WORKS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER AND HOW IT RESPONDS TO NATURAL AND HUMAN FACTORS, THROUGH IN DEPTH SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY THAT CAN LEAD TO PROJECTS THAT PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE RESOURCE. COMPONENTS OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE THE ANNUAL LONG-TERM MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY AND MACROINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES, MONITORING OF RAINBOW TROUT SPAWNING GROUNDS, LARGE SCALE SIDE CHANNEL RESTORATION WORK THAT RESTORES CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BIGHORN RIVER AND ITS SIDE CHANNELS, AND MONITORING OF HABITATS POST RESTORATION. TO DATE, BIGHORN RIVER ALLIANCE HAS RESTORED 9 SIDE CHANNELS.
  3. CROW YOUTH FISHING ENGAGEMENT: A YOUTH EDUCATIONAL FISHING PROGRAM TO INTRODUCE LOCAL CROW YOUTH TO FLY-FISHING IN THEIR LOCAL RESERVATION WATERS AS A FORM OF POSITIVE RECREATION. THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION, YOUTH LEARN ABOUT THE SPORT WHILE ALSO LEARNING ABOUT THE BIGHORN AND LITTLE BIGHORN RIVERS.

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

  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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 December 1995.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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