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North-Missoula Community Development Corporation

EIN 81-0509941 · Missoula, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUILDING COMMUNITY POWER, THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS AND AFFORDABLE HOMES

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$514,555
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
26.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
9
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$84,654, 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 82% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 104% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 77 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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

    0 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, 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 (4)
  1. $157,366 spent. LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM. FRONT STEP COMMUNITY LAND TRUST (FORMERLY NORTH MISSOULA CDC) ADVANCES PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP USING THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST MODEL. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION AWARDED MORE THAN 90 HOMES AND SUPPORTED OVER 30 HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH EDUCATION, RESALE, AND ONGOING STEWARDSHIP. MAJOR MILESTONES INCLUDED LAUNCHING THE ORGANIZATION'S NEW NAME AND BRAND IDENTITY TO FOLLOW AN EXPANDED SERVICE AREA THAT INCLUDES ALL OF MISSOULA, COMPLETING THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COMMUNITY LAND TRUST HOMES, AND CONTINUING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF MISSOULA AND RAVARA DEVELOPMENT TO BRING OVER 45 NEW COMMUNITY LAND TRUST HOMES TO MARKET.
  2. $103,731 spent. BURNS STREET COMMUNITY CENTER. FRONT STEP OWNS AND OPERATES THE BURNS STREET CENTER, A COMMUNITY HUB AND COMMERCIAL SPACE ON MISSOULA'S WESTSIDE THAT HOUSES LOCAL FOOD BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY SERVING ORGANIZATIONS. IN 2024, THE CENTER HOSTED OVER 40 COMMUNITY EVENTS, MEETINGS, AND PUBLIC GATHERINGS, PROVIDING AN AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE SPACE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT. THE CENTER CONTINUES TO SERVE AS AN ANCHOR FOR LOCAL FOOD BUSINESSES AS HOME TO THE WESTERN MONTANA GROWERS COOPERATIVE, BURNS ST. BISTRO CATERING, AND SOFT LANDING MISSOULA'S UNITED WE EAT PROGRAM, AND CONTINUES TO GENERATE CRITICAL EARNED INCOME THAT SUPPORTS FRONT STEP'S MISSION.
  3. $93,811 spent. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. FRONT STEP CLT BUILDS COLLECTIVE POWER AND ADVANCES HOUSING JUSTICE THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, COALITION BUILDING, AND POLICY AND ADVOCACY. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO CONVENE THE PROHOUSING MISSOULA COALITION, BRINGING TOGETHER HOUSING AND CLIMATE ADVOCATES, TENANTS, AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO SUPPORT ZONING CODE REFORM AND EQUITABLE HOUSING POLICYMAKING DURING THE CITY'S UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATE. FRONT STEP ALSO BUILT COMMUNITY BY HOSTING NEIGHBORHOOD POTLUCKS, BLOCK PARTIES, MISSOULA OUTDOOR CINEMA, AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS ACROSS MISSOULA'S INVEST HEALTH NEIGHBORHOODS, ENGAGING OVER 500 RESIDENTS. THESE EFFORTS DEEPENED LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN HOUSING SOLUTIONS, ELEVATED RESIDENT VOICES IN POLICY DECISIONS, AND STRENGTHENED NETWORKS OF MUTUAL SUPPORT.
  4. $43,094 spent. HILL AND HOMESTEAD PRESERVATION COALITION. IN A COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MISSOULA, NMCDC FOCUSES ON OPEN SPACE, HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION OF MISSOULA'S NORTH HILLS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MOON-RANDOLPH HOMESTEAD. THE HOMESTEAD IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THE HOMESTEAD REPRESENTS BOTH HOMESTEAD ERA SETTLEMENT PATTERNS ON INDIGENEOUS LANDS AND HARD SCRABBLE TRUCK FARM PRODUCTION OF THE 20TH CENTURY-A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW MISSOULA FED ITSELF. MISSOULA OUTDOOR CINEMA. MISSOULA OUTDOOR CINEMA FREE OR LOW COST (DONATIONS ARE ACCEPTED) CINEMA TO THE PLAY-FIELD NEXT TO THE NORTHSIDE'S OLD WHITTIER SCHOOL, NOW PROJECT HEAD START, THE PROJECT HAS PROVIDED WEEKEND EVENING ENTERTAINMENT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS SINCE 2003. ADMISSION IS FREE WITH VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. MOVIES ARE PROJECTED ON A SCREEN HUNG ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

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 January 1998.

    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.