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Energy Share of Montana Inc

EIN 81-0411562 · Helena, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Montanans helping neighbors faced with energy emergencies maintaining their self-reliance. Energy Share of Montana provides energy assistance and help for Montana families for emergency heating needs through bill assistance, furnace and water heater safety and efficiency.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
43.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
3
Volunteers
83
Highest pay
$130,097, executive dir.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. Energy Share of Montanas primary focus is emergency bill assistance: helping Montanans who face no-heat situations in their homes and have no resources to pay the bills themselves. Applications are reviewed on an individual basis, and applicants are asked to explain their circumstances leading to their need for assistance. In most cases households are helped not more than once every five years or up to $1,400 in assistance unless the household is at or below 125% of poverty and they are then eligible for up to $2,000 in assistance every 5 years. Energy Share of Montana uses private donations and universal systems benefits (USB) funds to fund emergency bill assistance.
  2. $819,052 spent. Other program services include the Appliance Replacement and Baseload Reduction (ARBR) program and the Habitat Partnership program.
  3. $210,947 spent. The weatherization program uses donations from individuals and donated UBS funds from Energy West and Montana-Dakota Utilities to maximize energy savings by performing cost-effective weatherization measures such as work on walls, outside air infiltration, windows, attics, crawl spaces, doors, and heating system repairs to make furnaces more efficient or altogether safe. Energy audits are conducted to determine what measures are needed the most. Measures that maximize energy savings are installed, and in no case will measures be installed that have a savings to investment ration (SIR) of less than 1.0.
  4. $193,410 spent. The furnace safety program uses donated USB funds from Energy West andMontana-Dakota Utilities for their customers who have unsafe furnaces or water heaters. The objective is to help people who cant afford to pay for needed work on furnances or water heaters. The appliances are examined, if possible they are repaired; otherwise they are replaced with a more energy-efficient model.

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

  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 November 6, 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 June 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 1985.

    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 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.