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Big Sky Youth Empowerment Project Inc

EIN 81-0543203 · Bozeman, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BIG SKY YOUTH EMPOWERMENT CREATES A TRANSFORMATIVE COMMUNITY WHERE VULNERABLE TEENAGERS EXPERIENCE BELONGING, PURPOSE, AND WELL-BEING THROUGH GROUP MENTORSHIP, ADVENTURE, AND CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. OUR VISION IS THAT BYEP TEENS DISCOVER THEIR OWN CAPACITY FOR GROWTH AND SUCCESS, CONFIDENTLY CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS A KINDER AND MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY. OUR MOTTO: GET OUTSIDE. GROW INSIDE.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
17
Volunteers
68
Highest pay
$131,543, executive dir.

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    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

    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 (1)
  1. $1.4 million spent. IN 2024, BIG SKY YOUTH EMPOWERMENT WORKED WITH 175 YOUTH PROVIDING 38,233 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING. 68 MENTORS AND TUTORS PROVIDED 7,148 HOURS OF SERVICE. YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN 36 WEEKS OF EVENING WORKSHOPS AND 26 WEEKEND ADVENTURES. THE WEEKNIGHT WORKSHOP CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING TRUST, TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION, COPING SKILLS, GOAL SETTING, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.ADVENTURES INCLUDED SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING IN WINTER. SUMMER ADVENTURES INCLUDED WHITEWATER RAFTING, OUTDOOR ROCK CLIMBING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, HIKING, SKATEBOARDING, CIRCUS SKILLS, AERIAL SKILLS, LAKE DAYS/SWIMMING, PADDLEBOARDING, PLEIN AIR PAINTING, STREAM ECOLOGY, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, MISSOURI HEADWATERS STATE PARK, AND FLOATING ON THE MADISON RIVER. FALL ADVENTURES INCLUDED BIKING, HIKING, WILDFLOWER IDENTIFICATION, INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING, HORSEBACK RIDING, ARCHERY, CERAMICS, GOAT & ALPACA FARM VISITS, AERIAL SILKS, GEOCACHING, HAY MAZE, JUMPTIME, THE RUN FOR YOUR LIFE 5K, MUSEUM OF THE ROCKIES, AND CAVING AT THE LEWIS AND CLARK CAVERNS.WE PROVIDED TUTORING 2 NIGHTS PER WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL SEASON AND TEENS ENGAGED IN 15 ELECTIVES WORKSHOPS HELD 1 NIGHT PER WEEK. ELECTIVES INCLUDED BAKING & COOKING, MAKING SKIS, MINDFULNESS WITH THE MONTANA MINDFULNESS PROJECT, PLANTING, PAINTING/SCULPTURE/ART-MAKING,GAME NIGHTS, HIKING, VISITING THE LIBRARY, VIDEOGRAPHY, WRITING WORKSHOP WITH LOCAL AUTHOR JANET FOX, SNOWBOARD BENCH-MAKING, CRAFTING, AND COMBAT STAGE FIGHTING WITH MONTANA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS. MIDWEEK PROGRAM OFFERINGS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOUTH TO COME TO OUR BYEP TEEN CENTER UP TO 5 DAYS PER WEEK AND GET FURTHER INVOLVED WITH BYEP.THROUGHOUT 2024, WE PILOTED AN EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT BY HAVING A NEW, HIGHLY UTILIZED BYEP COUNSELOR & RESOURCE NAVIGATOR ON-SITE WHEN TEENS WERE IN THE PROGRAM. WE NOW OFFER UP TO 8 FREE COUNSELING SESSIONS FOR BYEP TEENS ON-SITE.100% GRADUATION / HISET RATE OF BYEP TEENS IN 2024, COMPARED TO AN 86% GRADUATION RATE IN MONTANA.77% OF TEEN PARTICIPANTS IMPROVED THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS.3 OUT OF 4 TEENS INCREASED THEIR COMMITMENT TO LEARNING.79% OF TEENS REPORTED DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH IN THEIR PERSONAL VALUES SUCH AS HELPING OTHERS, TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, DEVELOPING RESPECT FOR OTHERS, AND BETTER HEALTH HABITS.STUDIES SHOW THAT SPENDING 2 HOURS PER WEEK IN NATURE IMPROVES WELLBEING. BYEP TEENS SPEND 7 HOURS OUTSIDE EACH WEEK!

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 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 December 2024.

    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 January 2002.

    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.