Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Montana Professional Teaching Foundation

EIN 81-0511792 · Helena, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong97 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MONTANA PROFESSIONAL TEACHING FOUNDATION WORKS TO ENHANCE THE TEACHING PROFESSION AND PROMOTE QUALITY EDUCATION IN MONTANA.

Income
$100,463
Spending
$99,686
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
90.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 90.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (4)
  1. $12,570 spent. JIM MCGARVEY SCHOLARSHIPS: IN MEMORY OF THE LATE JIM MCGARVEY, A GREAT UNION LEADER AND A FOREFATHER OF THE MONTANA FEDERATION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, THE MONTANA PROFESSIONAL TEACHING FOUNDATION CREATED A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN HIS NAME. THE PROGRAM HELPS FUND UNION MEMBER PARTICIPATION IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT IMPROVE QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SERVICE AND UNION INVOLVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP.
  2. $13,588 spent. KAREN COX GRANTS: KAREN COX, ONE OF MONTANA'S GREAT EDUCATORS, LOST HER LIFE DOING WHAT SHE LOVED, WORKING TO IMPROVE PUBLIC EDUCATION. SHE TOOK SERIOUSLY HER OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT HER FELLOW TEACHERS. IN HER HONOR, THE MONTANA PROFESSIONAL TEACHING FOUNDATION CREATED THE KAREN COX MEMORIAL GRANT PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE SCHOOL FUNDING, RATHER IT IS MEANT TO ASSIST EDUCATORS WHO SELFLESSLY REACH INTO THEIR OWN POCKETS FOR CLASSROOM SUPPLIES. MONTANA EDUCATORS CAN APPLY TO THE FOUNDATION FOR FUNDS EXPENDED ON BEHALF OF THE CLASSROOM.
  3. $14,513 spent. TEACHER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (TLI): TLI FELLOWSHIP IS A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO RECRUIT, PREPARE, ACTIVATE, AND SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF TEACHERS TO SHAPE AND LEAD A TRANSFORMED TEACHING PROFESSION. THE TEACHER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IS A COHORT-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE CONSISTING OF RIGOROUS COMPETENCY-BASED CURRICULUM; APPLIED EXPERIENCE THROUGH A SELF-SELECTED CAPSTONE PROJECT; DEEP STATE AND LOCAL COLLABORATION; EXTENSIVE COACHING AND SUPPORT; AND EVIDENCE-BASED PORTFOLIO DOCUMENTING GROWTH IN THE TEACHER LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES.
  4. $43,611 spent. 1. NEA AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE2. EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR3. NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION4. CELEBRATION OF TEACHING5. JOHN MORRISON HEALTHY MONTANA KIDS EDUCATOR AWARD

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 August 1997.

    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.

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.