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Gallatin Valley Land Trust

EIN 81-0464513 · Bozeman, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood87 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GVLT CONNECTS PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND OPEN LANDS THROUGH CONSERVATION OF WORKING FARMS AND RANCHES, HEALTHY RIVERS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND THE CREATION OF TRAILS IN THE MONTANA HEADWATERS OF THE MISSOURI AND UPPER YELLOWSTONE RIVERS.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
17.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
17
Volunteers
640
Highest pay
$211,848, 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

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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)
  1. $2.0 million spent. Land Conservation GVLT furthered its mission to conserve working farms and ranches, wildlife habitat, and river corridors in Southwestern Montana. We identify strategic areas with high conservation values and conserve blocks of open land that protect special parts of our landscape. We hold 135 conservation easements covering 74,764 acres. Our staff visit each conservation easement annually to monitor their condition and partner with landowners on restoration projects to improve eroding streambanks, plant vegetation, and enhance floodplains. In FY25, we conserved 5,938 acres of land in priority conservation focus areas, including Paradise Valley, East Gallatin, and Amsterdam/Churchill. We also launched Northern Yellowstone Open Lands, a regional initiative serving Park County, Montana landowners and communities who are committed to preserving the regions unparalleled landscapes and working lands.
  2. $747,503 spent. Community Trails GVLT connects people, communities, and the land through public trails and collaborative trail projects. We completed the Burke Park Traverse; trail enhancements to Triple Tree, Drinking Horse, and Painted Hills trails; and created all-abilities trails in Sunset Hills. Staff and 511 volunteers spent over 1300 hours maintaining trails at Burke Park, Drinking Horse, and Triple Tree . We also partnered with other local recreation groups on an Outside Kind campaign to share messages about considerate trail and outdoor etiquette.
  3. $150,081 spent. Education GVLT shares news with over 10,000 monthly e-newsletter subscribers and more than 16,000 social media followers on community trails, private land conservation, and related public events. GVLT publishes our audited financial statements, IRS Form 990s, and annual reports on our website. The 22 rising leaders on the NextGen Advisory Board educate and inspire their peers to volunteer and support GVLT. Our Trails team hosted 511 volunteers for over 1300 hours of service and educated them all on GVLTs mission and accomplishments. Through a partnership with Random Acts of Silliness, we brought the trails to life with the ever-enchanting Bumblewood Thicket Fairy Village, introducing many first-time users to the trail system. The Summer Trails Challenge engaged thousands of community members to explore the trails and log 114,095 miles of trail use in four weeks.

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 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 June 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 December 1994.

    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.