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Citizens for a Better Flathead

EIN 81-0482317 · Kalispell, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WHAT DO WE DO? THE MISSION OF CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD IS TO FOSTER CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND CHAMPION SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS NEEDED TO KEEP THE FLATHEAD ECOLOGICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY HEALTHY. SINCE 1992, CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD HAS BEEN A LEADER AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES THAT RAPID GROWTH IS BRINGING TO OUR REGION. WE WORK TO PROTECT THE VALLEY'S CLEAN WATER, NATURAL BEAUTY, AND FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES THROUGH SOLID PLANNING AND POLICY SOLUTIONS. WE CHAMPION THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS, AND SHARED VISION NECESSARY TO KEEP THE FLATHEAD SPECIAL FOREVER. PRIMARY PROGRAM OVERVIEW: OVER OUR THIRTY-FOUR YEARS OF WORK IN THE FLATHEAD, WE HAVE BUILT A REPUTATION AS A NON-PARTISAN, WELL INFORMED, AND SOLUTION-ORIENTED COMMUNITY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. WE FOCUSED ON LAND USE, WATER QUALITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND WASTE REDUCTION ISSUES. WE WORK TO ALERT AND INFORM THE PUBLIC OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN CRITICAL DECISIONS SHAPING HOW

Income
$441,132
Spending
$374,262
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
5
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$12,496, co-chair

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 88% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    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 (1)
  1. $313,260 spent. PROTECTING WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVING WATER RESOURCES: CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD (CBF) CONTINUED TO MONITOR AND RESPOND TO PROJECTS, POLICIES, AND RESIDENT'S CONCERNS ON MATTERS THAT COULD THREATEN AND IMPACT WATER QUALITY AND WATER RIGHTS WITHIN THE FLATHEAD BASIN. WE WORK DAILY TO IDENTIFY THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE AND PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT AND SUSTAIN THE FLATHEAD'S WATERS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY SHARING RESEARCH AND INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC, ENCOURAGING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ATTENDING MEETINGS AND SUBMITTING COMMENTS. WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO HOLD DECISION MAKERS ACCOUNTABLE TO PROTECTING OUR WATER QUALITY AND WATER RESOURCES, THROUGH RECENT COURT FILINGS WHEN WE FIND THAT DECISIONS WERE NOT GROUNDED IN SCIENCE, WERE ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS, FAILED TO COMPLY WITH EXISTING LAWS, AND/OR VIOLATED THE PUBLIC'S TO KNOW AND PARTICIPATE IN ISSUES OF SIGNIFICANT INTEREST TO THE PUBLIC. COMMUNITY DRIVEN PLANNING: CBF EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS ABOUT CURRENT UPDATES TO GROWTH POLICIES AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IN THE FLATHEAD'S THREE CITIES AND THE COUNTY, BY SHARING RESEARCH AND INFORMATION, ENCOURAGING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ATTENDING MEETINGS, AND SUBMITTING COMMENTS. WE HAVE LONG-STANDING AND DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS YEAR, WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND PROVIDED RESEARCH AND ASSISTANCE TO THEM, INCLUDING SUPPORTING THEM ON MAKING EFFECTIVE COMMENTS ON PENDING POLICY DECISIONS IMPACTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED NEWSLETTERS, PUBLIC TESTIMONY, AND COLLABORATIVE LEGAL ACTION, WHEN NECESSARY, CBF INFORMS AND EMPOWERS THE FLATHEAD CITIZENRY. WE WORK ON AN ON-GOING BASIS TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND DECISIONS GIVE MEANINGFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. CBF'S EFFORTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ADOPTION OF POLICIES THAT LIMIT URBAN SPRAWL, ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIES, PROTECT GROUNDWATER, PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND CHAMPION LOCAL CONTROL IN LOCAL PLANNING AND GOVERNANCE. REDUCING WASTE-CONSERVING RESOURCES: FOR OVER 30 YEARS, CBF HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO ADVANCING PRACTICES OF WASTE REDUCTION, REUSE, AND RECYCLING AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE FLATHEAD AREA. IN 2025, CBF DELIVERED WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING LESSONS TO MORE THAN 2,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE HAVE ALSO PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF RESOURCE GUIDES TO ENCOURAGE REUSE, REPAIR, AND RECYCLING AS WELL AS PROPER DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE FOR THREE DECADES. CBF CURRENTLY MAINTAINS AN INFORMATIONAL WEBSITE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC AWARENESS ON WASTE REDUCTION AND REUSE. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: ENCOURAGING, INCREASING, AND DEFENDING THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO INFORMED AND MEANINGFUL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS AT THE HEART OF THE WORK WE DO. IT IS AN ISSUE WE HAVE RAISED IN NUMEROUS PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR, WE ALSO FILED A CASE CHALLENGING THE BARRIERS TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW CREATED BY THE LAKESIDE COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOARD IN A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THEIR PUBLIC PROCESS. PROTECTING WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVING WATER RESOURCES: CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD (CBF) CONTINUED TO MONITOR AND RESPOND TO PROJECTS, POLICIES, AND RESIDENT'S CONCERNS ON MATTERS THAT COULD THREATEN AND IMPACT WATER QUALITY AND WATER RIGHTS WITHIN THE FLATHEAD BASIN. WE WORK DAILY TO IDENTIFY THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE AND PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT AND SUSTAIN THE FLATHEAD'S WATERS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY SHARING RESEARCH AND INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC, ENCOURAGING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ATTENDING MEETINGS AND SUBMITTING COMMENTS. WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO HOLD DECISION MAKERS ACCOUNTABLE TO PROTECTING OUR WATER QUALITY AND WATER RESOURCES, THROUGH RECENT COURT FILINGS WHEN WE FIND THAT DECISIONS WERE NOT GROUNDED IN SCIENCE, WERE ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS, FAILED TO COMPLY WITH EXISTING LAWS, AND/OR VIOLATED THE PUBLIC'S TO KNOW AND PARTICIPATE IN ISSUES OF SIGNIFICANT INTEREST TO THE PUBLIC. COMMUNITY DRIVEN PLANNING: CBF EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS ABOUT CURRENT UPDATES TO GROWTH POLICIES AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IN THE FLATHEAD'S THREE CITIES AND THE COUNTY, BY SHARING RESEARCH AND INFORMATION, ENCOURAGING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ATTENDING MEETINGS, AND SUBMITTING COMMENTS. WE HAVE LONG-STANDING AND DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS YEAR, WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND PROVIDED RESEARCH AND ASSISTANCE TO THEM, INCLUDING SUPPORTING THEM ON MAKING EFFECTIVE COMMENTS ON PENDING POLICY DECISIONS IMPACTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED NEWSLETTERS, PUBLIC TESTIMONY, AND COLLABORATIVE LEGAL ACTION, WHEN NECESSARY, CBF INFORMS AND EMPOWERS THE FLATHEAD CITIZENRY. WE WORK ON AN ON-GOING BASIS TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND DECISIONS GIVE MEANINGFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. CBF'S EFFORTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ADOPTION OF POLICIES THAT LIMIT URBAN SPRAWL, ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIES, PROTECT GROUNDWATER, PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND CHAMPION LOCAL CONTROL IN LOCAL PLANNING AND GOVERNANCE. REDUCING WASTE-CONSERVING RESOURCES: FOR OVER 30 YEARS, CBF HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO ADVANCING PRACTICES OF WASTE REDUCTION, REUSE, AND RECYCLING AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE FLATHEAD AREA. IN 2025, CBF DELIVERED WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING LESSONS TO MORE THAN 2,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE HAVE ALSO PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF RESOURCE GUIDES TO ENCOURAGE REUSE, REPAIR, AND RECYCLING AS WELL AS PROPER DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE FOR THREE DECADES. CBF CURRENTLY MAINTAINS AN INFORMATIONAL WEBSITE TO SUPPORT

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 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 October 13, 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 December 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 1993.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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