Montana Conservation Corps Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) inspires young people through hands-on conservation service to be leaders, stewards of the land and engaged citizens who improve their communities.
- Income
- $13.9 million
- Spending
- $13.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 46%
- Employees
- 442
- Volunteers
- 84
- Highest pay
- $186,432, president & ceo
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $10.5 million spent. MCC programs bring together hands-on conservation service in the outdoors with leadership development, civic engagement and workforce training to develop young people as productive individuals and engaged citizens. MCC helps young people develop vital competencies and discover their capacity to lead in their lives and their communities. In 2025, expenses supported three delivery models: 1) young adult crew-based experiences; 2) individual placement models for young adults; and 3)youth corps opportunities for Montana teens. In the young adult programs, members ages 17 and up completed an AmeriCorps term of service of three to nine months. They served on a four to six-person crew or individually in intern or fellow positions. For youth ages 14-18, MCC offered service expeditions of various lengths during the summer, as well as full-summer positions as part of Corps-to-Career Youth Corps crews with federal agency partners. MCC also supported two Piikuni Lands Corps crews and school-based programs in coordination with partners on the Blackfeet Tribal Nation. Through meaningful service projects, corps members cultivated service values and a vigorous work ethic, learned practical job skills, developed as effective leaders and crew members, practiced responsible land stewardship, and made lasting contributions to our communities and environment. MCC conducted over 315 community and conservation service projects in 2025. Projects met community and public lands needs in Montana and surrounding states in the Northern Rockies and Great Plains regions. Projects involved a variety of conservation work including trails building and maintenance, invasive species mitigation, wildfire rehabilitation and fuels reduction, historic restoration, biological monitoring, habitat enhancement, fencing, watershed restoration, and community service. Significant accomplishments in 2025 included improvements to 1,525 miles of recreational trails that enhanced safety and access to public lands, restoration of 8,816 acres including 4,236 acres treated for invasive and noxious weeds, planting 17,568 trees, and repairing or installing 115 miles of fencing to reduce wildlife mortality and improve habitat management. A youth participant reflected: I did MCC and it was amazing. I loved the structure, the work we do, the people we meet, and the overall experience. I learned so much.
- $1.6 million spent. The Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) is a partnership between Montana ConservationCorps, Montana Association of Conservation Districts, and Montana WatershedCoordination Council. BSWC activates community-based solutions for watershed health and protection. BSWC AmeriCorps members serve with local watershed-related groupsthroughout the state of Montana where they increase the capacity of host site organizations to lead community based, citizen-led watershed stewardship. Home-grown solutions to local watershed issues, on the ground watershed education and outreach, volunteer training, stream restoration projects and water monitoring initiatives make a measurable difference in local conservation efforts. BSWC AmeriCorps members gain practical, professional experience in watershed stewardship while developing skills for project leadership, collaborative management, volunteer engagement, and the role of citizens in leading change in their communities.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.