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Montana Land Reliance

EIN 81-0369262 · Helena, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MONTANA LAND RELIANCE (MLR) IS TO PARTNER WITH LANDOWNERS TO PROVIDE PERMANENT PROTECTION FOR PRIVATE LANDS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND OPEN SPACE.

Income
$26.1 million
Spending
$23.2 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
14.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 63%
Employees
37
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$147,203, managing 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 13 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 (3)
  1. $20.0 million spent. LAND PROJECTS: MLR WORKED WITH NUMEROUS LANDOWNERS IN 2024 TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT PRIVATE LANDS FOR CONTINUED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL HABITAT. THIRTY NEW CONSERVATION EASEMENTS WERE COMPLETED BY MLR IN 2024 THAT PROTECTED, IN PERPETUITY, APPROXIMATELY 68,799 ACRES. MLR HAS PROTECTED A TOTAL OF 1,388,496 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL/RECREATIONAL LANDS IN MONTANA. THAT ACREAGE INCLUDES 350,697 ACRES IN THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM; 21,570 ACRES IN THE NORTHERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ECOSYSTEM; 232,027 ACRES OF CROP/HAY/PASTURE LANDS; 1,156,469 ACRES OF RANGE AND FOREST LANDS; 658,630 ACRES OF ELK HABITAT; AND OVER 49,522 ACRES OF WETLANDS. OVER 2,038 MILES OF STREAM FRONTAGE HAVE BEEN PROTECTED BY EASEMENTS HELD BY MLR TO DATE.
  2. $903,081 spent. STEWARDSHIP AND MONITORING: MLR STEWARDSHIP STAFF MONITOR EACH PROPERTY ON WHICH MLR HOLDS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT. STEWARDSHIP/MONITORING ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY STAFF INVOLVES VISITING OR VIEWING AERIAL PHOTOS OF EACH EASEMENT PROPERTY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO ENSURE THAT THE TERMS OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE BEING UPHELD. THE STEWARDSHIP STAFF ALSO WORKS WITH EXISTING EASEMENT HOLDERS TO SUPPLY NATURAL RESOURCE INFORMATION FOR THE LANDOWNER TO IMPROVE THEIR LAND HOLDINGS FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES. STEWARDSHIP STAFF WORKS WITH LEGAL COUNSEL IN REGARD TO ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT ARISE REGARDING INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY MLR. IN 2024, MLR GRANTED $247,973 TO THE MONTANA LAND RELIANCE FOUNDATION INC., TO BE INVESTED INTO THE LAND PROTECTION FUND TO COVER STEWARDSHIP AND MONITORING EXPENDITURES.
  3. $947,838 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES: MLR STAFF TRAVEL ACROSS THE STATE OF MONTANA CONDUCTING MEETINGS WITH POTENTIAL CLIENTS, COUNTY PLANNING BOARDS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS AND TO CONDUCT GENERAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON THE BENEFITS OF LAND CONSERVATION AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. FOR THESE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, MLR PUBLISHES VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL BROCHURES AND AN ANNUAL REPORT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ENHANCE THE TRANSPARENCY OF ITS PUBLIC INTEREST ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, STAFF PARTICIPATE WITH NUMEROUS CONSERVATION GROUPS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE LAND TRUST COMMUNITY'S CONSERVATION EFFORTS. IN 2024, MLR GRANTED $26,250 TO THE RUBY HABITAT FOUNDATION FOR OUTREACH USE, AND 456,834 TO THE MONTANA ASSOCIATION OF LAND TRUSTS AND ITS FISCAL SPONSOR HEART OF THE ROCKIES INITIATIVE FOR STRATEGIC COLLABORATION OF MONTANA LAND TRUSTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT NATURAL, ECONOMIC, AND AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1978.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.