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Montana Farm Bureau Foundation

EIN 81-0518824 · Bozeman, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MONTANA FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION (MFBFO) IS TO SUPPORT MONTANA AGRICULTURE THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUTH.

Income
$237,607
Spending
$141,450
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
0
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$158,523, executive vice president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 14 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (3)
  1. $109,077 spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT- OUR FOUNDATION SUPPORTED YOUTH EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDED $40,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MFBF COLLEGIATE AND VOTING MEMBERS CAN ATTEND STATE AND NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCES AND PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS FUNDING FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION.YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS - MFB FOUNDATION IS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF YOUTH AGRICULTURE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS AND DONATED OVER $15,000 IN PROGRAM SUPPORT TO MONTANA 4-H AND MONTANA FFA. OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE IN LOCAL AND STATE PROGRAMS AS JUDGES AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THOSE PROGRAMS AS PART OF OUR SUPPORT AND TO CONNECT MFB FOUNDATION TO THE MEMBERS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED MORE THAN $5,000 WORTH OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION MATERIALS TO CLASSROOMS AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT MONTANA. THIS INCLUDES EDUCATOR APPROVED FOOD AND FARM FACTS PAMPHLETS, AG MAGAZINES FOR KIDS ON ALL TOPICS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE AND FOOD, AND HUNDREDS OF AWARD WINNING BOOKS AND TEACHER FUIDES FOR CLASSROOMS AND COMMUNITIES. THESE MATERIALS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW AGRICULTURE FEEDS THE WORLD AND CARES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
  2. $1,318 spent. YOUTH AGRICULTURE SPEECH CONTEST - MFB FOUNDATION HOSTS A SPEECH CONTEST IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STATE FFA CONVENTION (ANOTHER PARTNER OF THE FOUNDATION) WHERE 7TH - 9TH GRADE STUDENTS PRESENT A PREPARED SPEECH ON A DESIGNATED AGRICULTURE TOPIC. 19 STUDENTS COMPETED AND $1,050 WAS AWARDED TO CONTEST WINNERS.
  3. $9,175 spent. MONTANA FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION PROVIDED TEN $1,000 MINI GRANTS DURING OUR FISCAL YEAR. OUR MINI GRANTS SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND PROMOTION PROJECTS. HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE MINI GRANTS AWARDED AND PROJECTS SUPPORTED:CLASSROOM GARDEN: A RURAL FIRST GRADE CLASSROOM WAS AWARDED A $1,000 GRANT TO PURCHASE A HYDROPONIC AND LIGHT GROWING SYSTEM FOR THEIR CLASSROOM. THEY WERE ABLE TO SHOWCASE TO THE SCHOOL HOW THEY PLANTED VEGETABLE AND HERB SEEDS AND EVEN HARVESTED SOME FOR THEIR HOMES. THE EQUIPMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED FOR FUTURE CLASSES.AG MECHANICS CLASS TOOLKITS: A MONTANA SCHOOL WAS AWARDED A $1,000 MINI GRANT TO PURCHASE 30 SMALL ENGINE TOOLKITS FOR THE AGRICULTURE MECHANICS CLASSROOM. THESE KITS ENABLE THE TEACHER TO EXPAND THEIR LESSONS ON SMALL ENGINES AND ENSURE THAT EVERY PARTICIPANT HAD A HANDS-ON EDUCATION IN A CRITICAL STEM AREA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 November 6, 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 September 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 1998.

    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 November 4, 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.