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Carter County Geological Society

EIN 81-6012684 · Ekalaka, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INCREASE AND DIFFUSE KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION OF HISTORY, ART AND SCIENCE; TO DISCOVER, EXCAVATE AND PRESERVE FOSSILS, FOSSIL BONES, AND HUMAN ARTIFACTS; TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY; TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE OBJECTS OF HISTORIC, ARTISTIC, AND SCIENTIFIC INTEREST; AND TO ACQUIRE AND MAINTAIN A LIBRARY TO ASSIST IN THE ABOVE PURPOSE.

Income
$448,718
Spending
$137,248
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
97 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
0
Volunteers
45

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.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 97.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 69% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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: 75 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (3)
  1. $5,208 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IS A CENTRAL TENANT OF OUR MISSION. IN 2024 WE HELD A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL DINO SHINDIG, THE JUNIOR SCIENTIST PROGRAM, STAR PARTIES AND DARK SKY EVENTS, SCHOOL TOURS, SEWING SOIREES, YOGA, AND VACCINE CLINICS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CARTER COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. HUMANITIES MONTANA AWARDED US A GRANT FOR APSAALOOKE CULTURAL PROGRAMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,176, WHICH RESULTED IN AN AUDIENCE SERVED OF 94. IN 2024, FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL DINO SHINDIG WE HOSTED 748 PEOPLE OVER A THREE DAY PERIOD. SINCE 2013, THE SHINDIG HAS SERVED 14,400 PEOPLE. DONOR RESTRICTED INCOME INCLUDED THE JUNIOR SCIENTIST PROGRAM ($3,620) WITH EXPENSES. APPROXIMATELY 20,809 PEOPLE WERE REACHED THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING 1,039 ON-SITE, 3,851 OFF-SITE, AND 15,199 THROUGH VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING.
  2. $71,299 spent. MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT - EXHIBITIONS AT THE CARTER COUNTY MUSEUM FOLLOW THE NARRATIVE OF THE LANDSCAPE THROUGH THE DEEP PAST AND ITS EVOLVING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIGENOUS AND RANCHING CULTURES. OUR COLLECTIONS WERE AMASSED OVER AN 80+ YEAR PERIOD AND REPRESENT 90 MILLION YEARS OF HISTORY AND PREHISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA AND CARTER COUNTY. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS PROGRAM SERVICE INCLUDE THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM ($400) AND THE SCOPE PROGRAM ($6,000 INCOME, $9,356.10 EXPENSES). THE MUSEUM CONTINUED THE BIG SKY SEAWAY EXHIBITION, WHICH INCURRED EXPENSES OF $24,453.94, AND INSTALLED A COMMUNITY GARDEN WITH REIMAGINING RURAL GRANT FUNDS ($2,000). WE ALSO CONDUCTED AN ENERGY DESIGN STUDY ON THE PROPOSED MUSEUM RENOVATION AND EXPANSION THROUGH A $20,000 GRANT FROM SOUTHEAST ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE. A TOTAL OF 5,808 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE MUSEUM IN 2024, WHICH WAS AN INCREASE OF 5.5% FROM 2023.
  3. $50,629 spent. OUTREACH PROGRAM SERVICES IN 2024 INCLUDE BOTH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SERVICES. PARTICIPATION BY THE MUSEUM DIRECTOR INCLUDED INVOLVEMENT IN THE MUSEUM ASSOCIATION OF MONTANA, VISIT SOUTHEAST MONTANA, THE MONTANA GOVERNOR'S TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE MT CHAPTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION, AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR INTERPRETATION. THE MUSEUM DIRECTOR AND CURATOR VISITED KUMAMOTO, JAPAN AND SIGNED A SISTER MUSEUM AGREEMENT WITH THE AMAKUSA MUSEUM OF GOSHOURA DINOSAUR ISLAND IN MARCH, GIVING LECTURES THAT RESULTED IN OUTREACH TO 669 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. CARTER COUNTY MUSEUM HOSTED THE MONTANA DINOSAUR TRAIL AND VISIT SOUTHEAST MONTANA MEETINGS AND THE CURATOR ATTENDED THE ASSOCIATION OF MATERIALS & METHODS IN PALEONTOLOGY CONFERENCE IN MANITOBA, CANADA. THE MUSEUM ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE MILES CITY GEM & MINERAL SHOW. WE FINISHED THE CARTER COUNTY TALKING TRAIL PROJECT, INCURRING $1,200 IN EXPENSES THROUGH GRANT FUNDS AND CONTINUED WORK ON THE VETERAN'S MEMORIAL PARK ($33,561 IN INCOME AND $33,560) IN EXPENSES. A TOTAL OF 63,802 PEOPLE WERE SERVED THROUGH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL OUTREACH PROGRAMMING IN 2024.

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 April 1938.

    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.