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Prickly Pear Land Trust

EIN 81-0506868 · Helena, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE CONNECTIONS TO THE LANDSCAPES, WATER, WILDLIFE, RECREATION AND AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE OF WEST-CENTRAL MONTANA THROUGH CONSERVATION, NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$8.9 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
21 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
15
Volunteers
419
Highest pay
$142,775, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 119% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $5.5 million spent. CONSERVATION LAND AND EASEMENT ACQUISITION, ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION, & MONITORING:PPLT ACQUIRES CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OR FEE LAND TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT CONSERVATION AND/OR RECREATIONAL VALUES OF SPECIFIC LAND PARCELS. IN, 2024, PPLT COMPLETED ONE FEE TITLE ACQUISITION OF CONSERVATION LAND AND TWO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON PRIVATE LAND TOTALING 7,739-ACRES IN LEWIS AND CLARK, BROADWATER AND MEAGHER COUNTIES. PPLT ALSO ORCHESTRATES ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION EFFORTS ON KEY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER CONSERVATION GROUPS. IN 2024, PPLT CONTINUED RESTORATION ACTIVITIES ON APPROXIMATELY 700 ACRES OF LAND IN LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY.
  2. $243,191 spent. LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: PPLT'S LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM MAINTAINS AND RESTORES FEE-OWNED PROPERTIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF WILDLIFE HABITAT, RESILIENT LANDSCAPE, AND RECREATION. CURRENTLY, PPLT OWNS AND MANAGES 2,239 ACRES OF LAND IN LEWIS AND CLARK COUNTY.
  3. $216,312 spent. TRAILS AND PARKS PROGRAM - PLAN DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE:THE GROVE PARK WAS REPAIRED AFTER SPRING FLOODS. TRAIL BUILDING AT PRICKLY PEAR PARK WAS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED AND WAS PREPARED FOR A 2025 OPENING. PARK AND TRAIL MAINTENANCE CONTINUED IN HELENA'S SOUTH HILLS AND AT TENMILE CREEK PARK. OVER 1,000 HOURS OF CONTRACT AND VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE RECORDED IN CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 June 1996.

    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.