Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Montana Justice Foundation

EIN 81-0391131 · Helena, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ACHIEVE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL MONTANANS THROUGH EFFECTIVE FUNDING AND LEADERSHIP.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
61.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
2
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$95,861, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 61.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 93% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 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 March 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)
  1. $839,378 spent. INTEREST ON LAWYERS TRUST ACCOUNTS PROGRAM (IOLTA): A LAW-RELATED PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM THAT STRENGTHENS OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. IOLTA GENERATES FUNDS THAT ARE USED TO SUPPORT LEGAL AID, LEGAL EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE IN MONTANA. THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE GRANT PROGRAM, THE MJF STRATEGICALLY AND OBJECTIVELY ALLOCATES ITS RESOURCES TO DOZENS OF OUTSTANDING LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
  2. $12,278 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION & GRANTEE SUPPORT: THE MJF IS A CONVENING FORCE THAT FOSTERS INNOVATION. WITH OUR STRONG TIES TO THE STATE BAR, OUR SOLID RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COURT SYSTEM, AND OUR IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE, PUBLIC INTEREST LAW AND PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITIES, THE MJF HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY TO BRING TOGETHER DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS TO INNOVATIVELY ADDRESS THE COMMON NEEDS AND COLLECTIVE CHALLENGES FACING LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS AND TACKLE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO JUSTICE. THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION & GRANTEE SUPPORT THE MJF REACHES OUT TO MONTANA'S LOCAL COMMUNITIES, CORPORATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF AND NEED FOR CIVIL LEGAL AID AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVES IN THE STATE.
  3. $28,278 spent. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LRAP): THE FOUNDATION MAKES LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE FOUNDATIONS LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LEGAL AID LOANS). THIS PROGRAM IS FOR LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES DEDICATED TO PROVIDING LEGAL AID TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN MONTANA, AND ASSISTS LEGAL AID LAWYERS WORKING FOR MONTANA LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS BY REDUCING THE BURDEN OF SIGNIFICANT DEBT INCURRED TO FINANCE THEIR LAW SCHOOL EDUCATION. A MAXIMUM LOAN AMOUNT OF $2,500 PER YEAR MAY BE AWARDED. APPLICANTS MUST MEET CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. THERE ARE TWO ENROLLMENT PERIODS. THE FIRST ENROLLMENT PERIOD HAS AN APPLICATION DEADLINE OF MAY 15. APPLICANTS APPROVED UNDER THIS ENROLLMENT PERIOD WILL RECEIVE DISBURSEMENTS SEMI-ANNUALLY IN JULY AND JANUARY. THE SECOND ENROLLMENT PERIOD HAS AN APPLICATION DEADLINE OF NOVEMBER 15. APPLICANTS APPROVED UNDER THIS ENROLLMENT PERIOD WILL RECEIVE DISBURSEMENTS SEMI-ANNUALLY IN JANUARY AND JULY. THE FOUNDATION EXPECTS TO FORGIVE SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE LOANS. ACCORDINGLY, THE OUTSTANDING LOAN BALANCE IS OFFSET BY AN ALLOWANCE. THESE LOANS DO NOT ACCRUE INTEREST.
  4. $12,279 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE: LAW RELATED EDUCATION AND OTHER LAW RELATED PROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITIES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 March 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 September 1980.

    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.