Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Northwest Montana Historical Society Inc

EIN 81-0439232 · Kalispell, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair53 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 12% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE NORTHWEST MONTANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS DEDICATED TO THE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ACQUISITION, PRESERVATION, AND DISPLAY OF MATERIAL RELATED TO LOCAL HISTORY, AND TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC OF MUSEUM PROGRAMS THROUGH RESEARCH, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$437,567
Spending
$186,983
Spent on programs
12%
Reserves
47.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
11
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$52,567, exec. direct

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: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 47.3 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 57% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    12% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Fair: 53 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. $10,910 spent. EXHIBITIONS AND DISPLAYS IMPROVED AND EXPANDED: KALISPELL: MONTANA'S EDEN; ON A PASSING FRONTIER; FLATHEAD VALLEY HISTORY; THE LAND OF MANY STORIES; GREETINGS FROM DEMERSVILLE; LUMBERJACKS, TIE HACKS, AND RIVER PIGS; AND THE HISTORY OF CENTRAL SCHOOL. SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.
  2. COMBINED MUSEUM USE AS COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE WITH OVER 150 EVENTS ATTENDED BY IN EXCESS OF 20,000 VISTORS AND TOUR-GOERS. ADDITIONALLY, MORE THAN 2,000 LOCAL STUDENTS BENEFITTED FROM FREE SCHOOL TOURS OF THE MUSEUM.
  3. $703 spent. ON-GOING AND NEW MUSEUM PROGRAMS INCLUDED THE ANNUAL NORTHWEST MONTANA BOOK FESTIVAL, ANNUAL JOHN WHITE SPEAKER SERIES, HISTORY BOOK CLUB, DOWNTOWN KALISPELL WALKING TOUR, MCCLAREN 1895 CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE FOR THIRD GRADERS, MOVIE NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, AND A WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC KALISPELL (JUNE-SEPT). SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.
  4. $10,708 spent. EXHIBITIONS AND DISPLAYS IMPROVED AND EXPANDED: FLATHEAD HISTORY EXHIBITION IMPROVED. OTHER EXHIBITS MODIFIED TO INCLUDE NEW ITEMS OBTAINED OVER PAST YEAR.
  5. EXHIBITIONS AND DISPLAYS IMPROVED AND EXPANDED: FLATHEAD HISTORY EXHIBITION IMPROVED. OTHER EXHIBITS MODIFIED TO INCLUDE NEW ITEMS OBTAINED OVER PAST YEAR.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.