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Bear Paw Development Corp of North Montana Hill County Courthouse

EIN 81-0302638 · Havre, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COMPANY'S PRIMARY FUNCTION IS THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN HILL, BLAINE, LIBERTY, PHILLIPS AND CHOUTEAU COUNTIES OF MONTANA.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
115.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
12
Volunteers
64
Highest pay
$108,528, ed

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 115.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 76% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 101% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $219,942 spent. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. BEAR PAW DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WORKS WITH LOCAL AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND PRIVATE INTERESTS, ON INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY PLANNING, VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. IN 2024, THESE EFFORTS CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE REGION, UNDERSCORING BEAR PAW'S PIVOTAL ROLE IN ADVANCING DEVELOPMENT IN THIS RURAL AREA.
  2. $47,906 spent. BEAR PAW DEVELOPMENT'S BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM THAT STARTED IN 2009 HAS BEEN FUNDED BY A TOTAL OF $5.45 MILLION IN GRANTS FROM THE EPA. $1.8 MILLION OF THIS AMOUNT IS ASSOCIATED WITH PERFORMING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS ON PROPERTIES IN THE BEAR PAW DISTRICT THAT ARE CONTAMINATED OR PERCEIVED TO BE CONTAMINATED. $3.65 MILLION IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BROWNFIELDS REVOLVING LOAN FUND TO MAKE LOW OR NO INTEREST LOANS TO BUSINESSES AND OTHER ENTITIES WISHING TO CLEANUP CONTAMINATION ON THEIR PROPERTY. TO DATE, 93 ASSESSMENTS AND 17 CLEANUPS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED
  3. $957,780 spent. ADMINISTRATION OF LOAN PROGRAMS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH BEAR PAW DEVELOPMENT'S LOAN DEPARTMENT, $2.6 MILLION WAS LOANED TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN 2024 FOR START-UP OR EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES. THESE LOANS WERE FOR BUSINESSES THAT COULD NOT RECEIVE FINANCING FROM CONVENTIONAL BANK SOURCES. THIS LOAN ACTIVITY RESULTED IN THE CREATION OR RETENTION OF 3 JOBS.
  4. $162,424 spent. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER ACTIVITIES. BEAR PAW DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SERVES AS THE HOST FOR ONE OF TEN SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS LOCATED THROUGHOUT MONTANA. FUNDING THROUGH A VARIETY OF SOURCES ALLOWS BEAR PAW DEVELOPMENT TO HIRE AN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSISTING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS WITH ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING BUSINESS PLANS, FINANCE STRATEGIES, AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2024, THE SBDC AT BEAR PAW DEVELOPMENT COUNSELED 80 DISTINCT CLIENTS, WHICH RESULTED IN OVER $515,000 IN FINANCING FROM LOCAL BANKS AND OTHER SOURCES. THIS FUNDING HELPED TO START 5 NEW BUSINESSES, WHILE SUPPORTING 36 JOBS.ST. MARY REHABILITATION WORKING GROUP ACTIVITIES. BEAR PAW DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SERVES AS FISCAL AGENT FOR THIS GROUP OF CONCERNED ENTITIES IN THE MILK RIVER BASIN THAT HAS ORGANIZED TO EXPEDITE THE REHABILITATION OF THE ST. MARY CONVEYANCE WORKS AND CANAL SYSTEM, WHICH DELIVERS WATER FOR IRRIGATION, RECREATION, AND MUNICIPAL USE TO A BROAD AREA OF NORTHERN MONTANA. THE GROUP CONSISTS OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM MUNICIPALITIES, CONSERVATION GROUPS, IRRIGATION DISTRICTS, AND OTHERS, AND WORKS WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS, IN AN ATTEMPT TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THIS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO.

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 1969.

    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.