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Passes our checks

Montana Free Press

EIN 47-5237719 · Helena, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION: OUR MISSION IS TO PRODUCE IN-DEPTH PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM COVERINGSTATE AND COMMUNITY ISSUES RELEVANT TO MONTANANS.OUR VISION: ALL MONTANANS HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY JOURNALISM THAT CREATESPOSITIVE CHANGE AND HELPS MOVE SOCIETY TOWARD JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
24
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$110,286, executive dir.

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    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. $1.0 million spent. PROGRAM:EDITORIALMTFP SEEKS TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH AND BRING TO LIGHT ESSENTIAL NEWS STORIES BY STUDYING ARCANE BUREAUCRATIC PROCESSES, SEEKING OUT DARK CORNERS OF MAJOR INSTITUTIONS, DIGGING DEEP INTO DATA AND DOCUMENTS, AND HOLDING THOSE IN POWER ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE. WE WORK INDEPENDENTLY AND IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NEWS OUTLETS AROUND MONTANA TO PRODUCE MEANINGFUL NEW STORIES THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
  2. $246,254 spent. PROGRAM: AUDIENCEONE OF MTFP'S KEY GOALS IS TO PRODUCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM THAT FILLS THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF MONTANANS, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE UNDERSERVED BY LOCAL NEWS. IN ORDER TO MEET THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF MONTANANS, WE MUST PRIORITIZE DISSEMINATION OF OUR FREE CONTENT. WE HAVE EXPERTISE IN DATA-VISUALIZATION JOURNALISM AND AUDIO JOURNALISM - OUR AUDIENCE SAYS THEY WANT IT AND AREN'T FINDING IT ELSEWHERE - AND CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AND IMPLEMENT NEW METHODS OF DELIVERING NEWS THAT MEET MONTANANS WHEREVER THEY ARE, AND HOWEVER THEY MIGHT ACCESS OUR WORK, WHETHER ONLINE, ON MOBILE, OR VIA CUSTOM-BUILT NEWS APPS AND NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, BRODCAST, OR LIVE EVENTS.

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 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 May 2019.

    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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