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Great Fls Development Authority Inc

EIN 81-0465605 · Great Falls, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong91 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GFDA'S MISSION IS TO GROW DIVERSE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE. GFDA SEEKS TO TRANSFORM GREAT FALLS, MONTANA AND THE SURROUNDING RURAL AND TRIBAL REGION INTO A THRIVING ECONOMY THAT RAISES THE STANDARD OF LIVING, PARTICULARLY FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS AND ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS, AND CREATES GREATER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE, ENTREPRENEURS, AND BUSINESSES.

Income
$9.1 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
32.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
27
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$278,453, president

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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 32.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    43 of 43 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 (4)
  1. $1.5 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THROUGHOUT A 13-COUNTY, 44,000 SQUARE MILE REGION OF NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA THAT INCLUDES URBAN, RURAL AND TRIBAL AREAS. THESE SERVICES FOCUS ON THE FOUR ASPECTS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY - PEOPLE, PLACE, OPPORTUNITIES, AND TEAM. THE ORGANIZATION'S STRATEGY DETAILED 19 PRIORITIES AND 60 SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO UNDERTAKE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. AS PART OF THIS WORK, THE ORGANIZATIONS HOSTS A SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AN APEX ACCELERATOR CENTER, A FOOD & AG DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AND A BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATION ASSISTS OVER 700 ENTREPRENEURS, BUSINESSES, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS A YEAR THROUGH ADVISING, TRAINING, AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
  2. $1.7 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS A CERTIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT PROVIDES GAP AND BRIDGE FINANCING TO ENTREPRENEURS, BUSINESSES, DEVELOPERS AND NON-PROFITS WHO CANNOT SECURE ALL THE FINANCING THEY NEED FROM CONVENTIONAL SOURCES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS THIRTEEN REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS CAPITALIZED FROM A VARIETY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOURCES. TO DATE, THE ORGANIZATION HAS MADE 209 LOANS TOTALING $72,403,010 THAT HAVE MADE POSSIBLE TOTAL INVESTMENT OF OVER $350,000,000, CREATING THOUSANDS OF JOBS, A NUMBER OF NEW BUSINESSES AND RENOVATED PROPERTIES, AND HUNDREDS OF NEW APARTMENTS. THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES A SEPARATE NON-PROFIT, HIGH PLAINS FINANCIAL, THAT IS A SBA-CERTIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PROVIDING SBA 504 LOANS STATEWIDE ACROSS MONTANA.
  3. $524,945 spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS DEVELOPING A HEAVY INDUSTRIAL RAIL-SERVED INDUSTRIAL PARK, THE GREAT FALLS AGRITECH PARK, TO PROVIDE SITES NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR BUSINESS STARTUPS, EXPANSIONS AND ATTRACTION. EIGHT COMPANIES HAVE PURCHASED LOTS IN THE PARK. TO DATE, FOUR COMPANIES HAVE COMPLETED NEW FACILITIES IN THE PARK.
  4. $116,382 spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS

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 June 1992.

    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.