Alternatives
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CHALLENGE OFFENDERS TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE, PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS THROUGH FIRM, FAIR, CONSISTENT SUPERVISION, TREATMENT, AND EDUCATION.
- Income
- $19.8 million
- Spending
- $19.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 79%
- Employees
- 285
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $240,905, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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)
- $6.4 million spent. THE ALPHA HOUSE: A MEN'S PRE-RELEASE CENTER (PRC) LOCATED IN BILLINGS, MT, SERVES AS AN INTERMEDIATE STEP BETWEEN PRISONS AND THE COMMUNITY. OFFENDERS LIVE IN THIS PRC UNDER TWENTY-FOUR HOUR A DAY SUPERVISION FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. THE RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT, PARTICIPATE IN COUNSELING, ABSTAIN FROM THE USE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, MAINTAIN STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FACILITY RULES, OBTAIN A RESIDENCE FOR RELEASE, AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY ARE READY TO RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY AS PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
- $8.6 million spent. PASSAGES IS A COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PRERELEASE CENTER THAT PREPARES FEMALE ADULT OFFENDERS FROM THE MONTANA STATE WOMENS PRISON, FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS, AND MONTANA PROBATION AND PAROLE. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SUPERVISION, TREATMENT AND REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMMING IS PROVIDED TO THE OFFENDERS TO HELP AND CHALLENGE THEM BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR INTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY AS PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. PASSAGES ALSO PROVIDES TWO SECURED SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR FEMALE OFFENDERS: AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT UNIT AND AN ASSESSMENT, SANCTION, REVOCATION AND HOLD CENTER.
- $4.4 million spent. JAIL ALTERNATIVES AND MISDEMEANOR PROBATION PROVIDES COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, REHABILITATIVE AND TREATMENT SERVICES TO YELLOWSTONE, STILLWATER AND CARBON COUNTIES FOR OVER 5,000 COMMUNITY AND LOCAL OFFENDERS. JAIL ALTERNATIVES PROVIDES SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT SEVICES DESIGNED TO REDUCE JAIL OVERCROWDING, TEACH RESPONSIBILITY, PERMIT NON-DANGEROUS OFFENDERS TO RETAIN EMPLOYMENT, AND SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY. THE MISDEMEANOR PROGRAM PROVIDES YELLOWSTONE COUNTY WITH PRETRIAL AND PROBATIONARY SERVICES WITH PARTICULAR EFFECTIVENESS IN DUI AND PARTNER/FAMILY MEMBER ASSAULT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.