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Montpirg Leadership Fund

EIN 81-0486984 · Missoula, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MONTPIRG LEADERSHIP FUND IS DEDICATED TO EDUCATING AND MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CIVIC LEADERS. THROUGH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, WE EMPOWER CITIZENS TO BE A STRONG VOICE FOR A CLEAN AND HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT, OPEN AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, AND STRONG CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.

Income
$187,545
Spending
$238,870
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$58,958, executive director

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $165,684 spent. MONTPIRG LEADERSHIP FUND CREATES POSITIVE, TANGIBLE CHANGE IN MONTANA MONTPIRG LEADERSHIP FUND IS DEDICATED TO TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CIVIC LEADERS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND ADVOCACY. WE ADDRESS IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING MONTANA INCLUDING PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT, ADVANCING CLEAN ENERGY, EMPOWERING YOUNG VOTERS, AND DEFENDING CONSUMER RIGHTS. IN 2024-2025, MONTPIRG LEADERSHIP FUND EDUCATED DOZENS OF STUDENT LEADERS WHO VISITED THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS TO DISCUSS CLEAN WATER, SOIL, AND AIR. MONTPIRG STUDENTS REGISTERED NEW VOTERS, EDUCATING THEM, AND GETTING THEM OUT TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS VOTER ENGAGEMENT REGISTERING TO VOTE IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. MONTPIRG STUDENTS SET OUT EACH YEAR TO REGISTER NEW VOTERS. OUR TEAMS WORK TO MAKE ACCESS TO REGISTERING TO VOTE AS EASY AND ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE. WORKING THROUGHOUT THE MISSOULA AND BOZEMAN COMMUNITIES, WE HELP THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE AS MUCH OPPORTUNITY AS POSSIBLE TO VOTE. BY DIRECTLY LINKING CANDIDATES WITH STUDENTS, MOBILIZING STUDENT VOTER TURNOUT, AND EQUIPPING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS EFFECTIVELY, WE FACILITATED INFORMED PARTICIPATION IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. THROUGH ON-CAMPUS INFORMATIONAL EVENTS, CANDIDATE FORUMS, AND RALLIES, WE HELPED YOUNG FOLKS PREPARE TO CAST THEIR VOTES. WHILE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY SEEM DISTANT TO MANY YOUNG VOTERS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT LOCAL DECISION-MAKERS OFTEN HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS' DAILY LIVES, MAKING IT IMPERATIVE TO CONNECT YOUNG AND FIRST-TIME VOTERS WITH THESE OFFCIALS TO AMPLIFY YOUTHFUL VOICES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. IN 2025, MONTPIRG LEADERSHIP FUND ALSO ENGAGED MONTANANS ABOUT THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE PARTNERED WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. WE HELD INFORMATION SESSIONS, MADE PHONE CALLS, AND TURNED OUT CITIZENS TO SPEAK OUT AT LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS. IN ALL, WE INFORMED MONTANANS ABOUT THIS CRITICAL PROCESS AND EMPOWERED DOZENS TO SPEAK UP FOR GOOD POLICY. STANDING UP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE SUMMER OF 2024, MONTPIRG LEADERSHIP FUND ENGAGED IN SIGNATURE GATHERING AND CANVASSING EFFORTS TO HELP BAN CERTAIN PLASTIC PRODUCTS FROM BOZEMAN AND MISSOULA. THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO KEEP PLASTICS OUT OF OUR WATER AND ENVIRONMENT. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AT THE CORE OF MONTPIRG LEADERSHIP FUND'S MISSION LIES A COMMITMENT TO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. RECOGNIZING THE ROLE YOUNG LEADERS PLAY ACROSS SOCIETY, OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO EMPOWER THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO ADVOCATE EFFECTIVELY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS YEAR, WE CONDUCTED INTENSIVE TRAINING SESSIONS FOR COHORTS OF INTERNS IN BOZEMAN AND MISSOULA, FOCUSING ON A DIVERSE RANGE OF SKILLS SUCH AS FUNDRAISING, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING (INCLUDING DOOR KNOCKING AND PHONE CALLING), WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING LETTER WRITING), PUBLIC SPEAKING, EVENT COORDINATION, AND PEER-TO-PEER OUTREACH. IN ADDITION TO OUR INTERN PROGRAM, WE ACTIVELY ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS WHO COLLABORATE WITH INTERNS AND STAFF TO CULTIVATE THESE PROFICIENCIES AND DRIVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE. CRUCIALLY, PARTICIPANTS GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE BY ADDRESSING PRESSING PROJECTS AND ISSUES DIRECTLY IMPACTING BOTH THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AMPLIFYING THEIR IMPACT AND ENHANCING THEIR LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES.

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 January 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.

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