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Montgomery Countryside Alliance Inc

EIN 52-2294213 · Poolesville, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To promote sound economic, land-use, and transportation policies that preserve the natural environment, open spaces, and rural lands in Montgomery County's Agricultural Reserve for the benefit of all Washington metropolitan area residents.

Income
$380,049
Spending
$316,069
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
19.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
2
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$107,034, 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 (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 64% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $123,220 spent. Land and Water Protection: The seventh year of the Re-Leaf the Reserve program saw more acres along stream buffers planted to improve water and air quality - the program has now planted 6000 trees. MCA partnered with Friends of Ten Mile Creek to maintain strong protections for our backup water supply. We partnered with other local civic organizations to ensure critical protections for farmland and our shared water supply through public testimony. MCA provided much needed outreach to residents on well and septic systems in the County during this year's prolonged drought as part of the Good Gift Groundwater Campaign. MCA worked with the owner of a proposed data center along the Potomac to fine tune their site plan to balance use of local water resources.
  2. $78,713 spent. Education: We conducted tours of local farms and water quality monitoring sites for local high school students. The 2025 Royce Hanson Award honored the Montgomery County Parks Department for its work protecting parkland and to celebrate the creation of the new Royce Hanson Conservation Park. The Good Gift Groundwater campaign expanded educational efforts regarding the Piedmont Sole Source Aquifer. We conducted educational outreach including interactive sessions with our Enviroscape model at schools and events along with webinars about protecting groundwater at the household and community level. MCA also conducted a webinar about balancing solar arrays with farming in the County.
  3. $56,607 spent. Farmer Support: Since 2011 MCA has matched 40 new or expanding farmers with long term leases on local land through our Land Link program- now totaling over 500 acres of matches. 2025 saw 2 matches, joining the majority that are growing some or all of their produce for food banks. Staff offered presentations on Land Link to community gardening groups. We promoted local food products and CSA programs and continued to grow our producers listserve to help farmers share knowledge and equipment. MCA worked to limit the impact of a statewide law that would site solar arrays on prime protected farmland. MCA conducted a Community Share Along event - a listening session for farmers, residents, and local leaders to discuss issues impacting the Agricultural Reserve.

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 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 April 2001.

    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.