Montana Rural Water Systems Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES FOR ALL WATER SYSTEMS, THEREBY ENABLING THEM TO PRODUCE THE BEST POSSIBLE PRODUCT WITH THEIR AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 70%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $118,681, 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
Good: 78 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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 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 (4)
- $273,107 spent. THIS JOINT PROJECT BY THE US DEPT OF AGRICULTURE FARM SERVICE AGENCY AND THE NONPROFIT NATIONAL RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION IS DESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT SOURCE WATER POLLUTION IN 33 STATES THROUGH VOLUNTARY PRACTICES IMPLEMENTED BY PRODUCERS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THE PROGRAM IS AUTHORIZED BY SEC. 12400 OF THE 1985 FARM BILL AS AMENDED. SOURCE WATER IS SURFACE AND GROUND WATER THAT IS CONSUMED BY RURAL RESIDENTS. ACCORDING TO THE NRWA, GROUND WATER IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER FOR SOME 44,000 COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
- $362,554 spent. PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO WASTEWATER (SEWER) SYSTEMS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES-MUNICIPALITIES WITH A POPULATION OF LESS THAN 10,000, WATER/SEWER DISTRICTS (SEWER ONLY), PRIVATELY OWNED SEWER SYSTEMS AND SEWER SYSTEMS LOCATED ON RESERVATIONS. USDA AND EPA FUND THIS ASSISTANCE. ALL WASTEWATER UTILITIES IN MONTANA BENEFIT. USDA WASTEWATER, USDA DECENTRALIZED WASTEWATER, EPA WW DECENTRALIZED, EPA WW TRIBAL AND EPA WW TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TTA).
- $644,339 spent. FUNDS WERE USED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING FOR ALL PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES. THIS ASSISTANCE AIDS IN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE UTILITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCY REQUIREMENTS.USDA CIRCUIT RIDER AND EPA PRIORITY AREA 1: SDWA PROGRAM (EPA WATER).
- $650,258 spent. FUNDS WERE USED TO PROVIDE BOTH WATER AND WASTEWATER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING. FUNDS ALSO AIDED IN ASSET MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE, FUNDING APPLICATION ASSISTANCE, COMPLIANCE REPORTING, AND WORK FORCEFORCE DEVELOPMENT. ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CENTER (EFC), APPRENTICE PROGRAM, EPA WW FINANCE AND STATE OF MT DEPARATEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION (DNRC).
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
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.
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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.