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Bitter Root Valley Historical Society

EIN 81-0370013 · Hamilton, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACQUIRE, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND INTERPRET THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE BITTER ROOT VALLEY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Income
$271,306
Spending
$273,031
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 39%
Employees
9

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: 74 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Good: 80 out of 100.

  • 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

    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.

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. $198,881 spent. LINE 4A: OPERATE THE RAVALLI COUNTY MUSEUM BRVHS OPERATES AND SUPPORTS THE RAVALLI COUNTY MUSEUM IN THE HISTORIC A.J. GIBSON COURTHOUSE BUILT IN 1900. THE MUSEUM IS STAFFED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND WITH ROTATING AND PERMANENT EXHIBITS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING THAT FOCUSES ON LOCAL HISTORY, ART, AND NATURAL HISTORY. IT PRESERVES ARCHIVES AND ARTIFACTS THAT NUMBER IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS MAKING THESE ITEMS ACCESSIBLE TO EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF OUR VALLEY AND REGION FROM PAST TO PRESENT DAY. OPEN ALL YEAR FROM TUESDAY THRU SATURDAY WITH FREE ADMISSION ON THURSDAY AND SATURDAY. THE MUSEUM SERVES THE ENTIRE REGION ATTRACTING OVER 9,000 VISITORS AND TOURISTS EACH YEAR.
  2. $17,044 spent. LINE 4B: MCINTOSH APPLE DAY & LIQUID APPLE NIGHT IN THE FALL, MCINTOSH APPLE DAY & LIQUID APPLE NIGHT CULTURAL HERITAGE FESTIVALS CELEBRATE THE APPLE BOOM THAT HELPED TO SETTLE THIS AREA IN 1880S TO 1920S. THIS WAS THE 45TH APPLE DAY PRESENTED BY THE MUSEUM, FEATURING 700 HANDMADE MCINTOSH APPLE PIES, APPLE BUTTER STIRRED ONSITE, CARAMEL APPLES, APPLE FRITTERS, AND FRESH CIDER FROM A VINTAGE CIDER PRESS. OVER 175 FRESH PRODUCE AND CRAFT VENDORS FROM AROUND THE REGION OFFER THEIR WARES TO THE MANY ATTENDEES. THE HARD CIDER FESTIVAL IN THE EVENING OFFERS LOCALLY MADE CIDERS TO TASTE WHILE ENJOYING MUSIC ON THE MUSEUM LAWN TO CLOSE OUT THE DAY. THESE EVENTS ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, SUPPORTING LOCAL MERCHANTS AND EXPLORING THE HISTORY AND CULTURES OF THE BITTER ROOT VALLEY. LINE 4B: MCINTOSH APPLE DAY & LIQUID APPLE NIGHT IN THE FALL, MCINTOSH APPLE DAY & LIQUID APPLE NIGHT CULTURAL HERITAGE FESTIVALS CELEBRATE THE APPLE BOOM THAT HELPED TO SETTLE THIS AREA IN 1880S TO 1920S. THIS WAS THE 45TH APPLE DAY PRESENTED BY THE MUSEUM, FEATURING 700 HANDMADE MCINTOSH APPLE PIES, APPLE BUTTER STIRRED ONSITE, CARAMEL APPLES, APPLE FRITTERS, AND FRESH CIDER FROM A VINTAGE CIDER PRESS. OVER 175 FRESH PRODUCE AND CRAFT VENDORS FROM AROUND THE REGION OFFER THEIR WARES TO THE MANY ATTENDEES. THE HARD CIDER FESTIVAL IN THE EVENING OFFERS LOCALLY MADE CIDERS TO TASTE WHILE ENJOYING MUSIC ON THE MUSEUM LAWN TO CLOSE OUT THE DAY. THESE EVENTS ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, SUPPORTING LOCAL MERCHANTS AND EXPLORING THE HISTORY AND CULTURES OF THE BITTER ROOT VALLEY.
  3. $2,066 spent. LINE 4C: OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THE MUSEUM IS AN EDUCATIONAL VENUE WITH GUIDED AND INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THE RICH HISTORY OF THE BITTER ROOT. WE INVITE OUR GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE OUR HISTORY THROUGH ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, TOURS, AND EXHIBITS. WE HOST STUDENT FIELD TRIPS FOR THE SCHOOLS IN OUR VALLEY AND ARE VISITED BY HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIES ARE PRESENTED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING FOCUSING ON S.T.E.A.M. CONCEPTS AND NATURAL HISTORY. WE PRESENT ANNUAL CULTURAL HERITAGE EVENTS THAT REINFORCE OUR LIVING HISTORY AND SENSE OF PLACE. IN 2024, THE MAIN COURTROOM GALLERY FEATURED GLACIER PARK: VINTAGE VIEWS AND POLLINATION INVESTIGATION, WITH INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES. THE NEW HOMESTEAD CABIN ACTIVITY ROOM AND COVERED WAGON OPENED THIS YEAR. OUR NINE EXHIBIT GALLERIES HIGHLIGHT LEWIS & CLARK AND THE SALISH PEOPLE, EARLY SETTLERS, LOGGING, AGRICULTURE, ANTIQUE TOOLS, AND WILDLIFE. OUTSIDE ON THE MUSEUM LAWN, LIVING HISTORY OF THE NEZ PERCE EXHIBIT IS DISPLAYED TELLING THE STORY OF THE NEE-MEE-POO PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN WORDS AND PICTURES. LINE 4C: OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THE MUSEUM IS AN EDUCATIONAL VENUE WITH GUIDED AND INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THE RICH HISTORY OF THE BITTER ROOT. WE INVITE OUR GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE OUR HISTORY THROUGH ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, TOURS, AND EXHIBITS. WE HOST STUDENT FIELD TRIPS FOR THE SCHOOLS IN OUR VALLEY AND ARE VISITED BY HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIES ARE PRESENTED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING FOCUSING ON S.T.E.A.M. CONCEPTS AND NATURAL HISTORY. WE PRESENT ANNUAL CULTURAL HERITAGE EVENTS THAT REINFORCE OUR LIVING HISTORY AND SENSE OF PLACE. IN 2024, THE MAIN COURTROOM GALLERY FEATURED GLACIER PARK: VINTAGE VIEWS AND POLLINATION INVESTIGATION, WITH INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES. THE NEW HOMESTEAD CABIN ACTIVITY ROOM AND COVERED WAGON OPENED THIS YEAR. OUR NINE EXHIBIT GALLERIES HIGHLIGHT LEWIS & CLARK AND THE SALISH PEOPLE, EARLY SETTLERS, LOGGING, AGRICULTURE, ANTIQUE TOOLS, AND WILDLIFE. OUTSIDE ON THE MUSEUM LAWN, LIVING HISTORY OF THE NEZ PERCE EXHIBIT IS DISPLAYED TELLING THE STORY OF THE NEE-MEE-POO PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN WORDS AND PICTURES.
  4. $55,040 spent. LINE 4D: OTHER CULTURAL HERITAGE EVENTS THE VALLEY'S DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE IS HIGHLIGHTED EACH YEAR WITH BITTER ROOT DAY HONORING THE SALISH CULTURE AND MONTANA'S STATE FLOWER IN JUNE. THE MUSEUM PROGRAMS INCLUDE COWBOY MUSIC AND POETRY, APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, VETERANS DAY, VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS, SPEAKERS, AND AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE MUSEUM IS A PASSPORT STATION FOR THREE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS: LEWIS & CLARK, NEZ PERCE, AND ICE AGE GLACIERS WITH EXHIBITS TO ADD TO VISITORS' EXPLORATION OF THE PAST.
  5. LINE 4D: OTHER CULTURAL HERITAGE EVENTS THE VALLEY'S DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE IS HIGHLIGHTED EACH YEAR WITH BITTER ROOT DAY HONORING THE SALISH CULTURE AND MONTANA'S STATE FLOWER IN JUNE. THE MUSEUM PROGRAMS INCLUDE COWBOY MUSIC AND POETRY, APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, VETERANS DAY, VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS, SPEAKERS, AND AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE MUSEUM IS A PASSPORT STATION FOR THREE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS: LEWIS & CLARK, NEZ PERCE, AND ICE AGE GLACIERS WITH EXHIBITS TO ADD TO VISITORS' EXPLORATION OF THE PAST.

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 2024.

    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 August 1974.

    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.