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Friends of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks

EIN 84-3393904 · Bozeman, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF MONTANA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS THE PROGRAMS OF MONTANA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS (MSIP), WHICH IS AN EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM OF MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY. SUPPORT IS PROVIDED THROUGH FUNDRAISING AND SERVES THE POPULATION OF RESIDENTS IN THE 65-TOWN TOURING AREA ON THE FIVE-STATE SUMMER TOUR, AND K-12 STUDENTS IN MONTANA AND WYOMING SERVED BY SHAKESPEARE IN THE SCHOOLS AND MONTANA SHAKES!FRIENDS OF MONTANA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS ALSO SUPPORTS MSIP THROUGH TWO DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGNS, A GIVING DAY CAMPAIGN, TWO IN-PERSON BENEFIT EVENTS, AND BY SECURING SEVERAL PROGRAM GRANTS.

Income
$844,744
Spending
$834,960
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
0
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$121,485, president

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

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% 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 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 6 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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, 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. $752,983 spent. SUMMER TOUR: THE 12-WEEK SUMMER PARKS TOUR BROUGHT FREE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES OF HENRY V AND AS YOU LIKE IT TO RESIDENTS IN 65 COMMUNITIES, CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 21,600 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS FIVE STATES (MT, ID, ND, WY, AND WA).FRIENDS OF MONTANA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS SUPPORTS THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL THEATRE TOURING PROGRAM IN THE REGION THAT PRODUCES SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS, THE ONLY COMPANY THAT OFFERS ITS PERFORMANCES FREE TO THE PUBLIC, ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY TO ALL, AND THE ONLY COMPANY IN AMERICA REACHING AS EXTENSIVELY INTO RURAL AREAS. MONTANA AND ITS SURROUNDING STATES ARE LARGELY RURAL AND UNDERSERVED.THROUGH ALL THE PROGRAMS, FRIENDS OF MONTANA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS HELPS TO ADDRESS A COMMUNITY AND REGION-WIDE NEED FOR HIGH-QUALITY THEATRICAL PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH NOT MET BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. BY PROVIDING RELEVANT, POLISHED CLASSICAL PRODUCTIONS FREE OR AT A REASONABLE COST, AND BY BRINGING PERFORMANCES DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS ACROSS A FIVE-STATE REGION, MONTANA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS HELPS TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS OF COST, DISTANCE, AND PERCEPTION THAT MAY DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM EXPERIENCING LIVE PROFESSIONAL THEATRE. EIGHTY PERCENT OF COMMUNITIES REACHED BY MONTANA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS HAVE POPULATIONS OF 10,000 OR FEWER. SIXTY-SEVEN PERCENT HAVE POPULATIONS OF 5,000 OR FEWER. WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM FRIENDS OF MONTANA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS, CITIZENS ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN WEST WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE ARTS AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THAT MSIP, MONTANA SHAKES!, OR SHAKESPEARE IN THE SCHOOLS PROVIDE.
  2. $48,935 spent. SHAKESPEARE IN THE SCHOOLS: BROUGHT AN 80-MINUTE PRODUCTION OF RICHARD III TO 50 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS MT AND WY, PERFORMING FOR 10,548 STUDENTS AND 580 ADULTS. THE DAYLONG RESIDENCIES INCLUDED THE PERFORMANCE, A Q&A SESSION, AND A SELECTION OF PARTICIPATORY WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE PLAY, PROVIDE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES IN THEATRICAL DISCIPLINES, AND SUPPORT THE ARTS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE/LITERATURE CURRICULUM.
  3. $5,787 spent. MONTANA SHAKES!: ADAPTED FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, SHAKES! ENGAGES THE YOUNGEST AUDIENCES IN SHAKESPEARE AT A TIME WHEN THEY ARE MOST RECEPTIVE TO LEARNING. THE 2025 TOUR BROUGHT FAITHFUL FRIENDS, AN ADAPTATION OF SHAKESPEARE'S THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, TO 60 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN MT AND WY. THE INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE AND WORKSHOPS REACHED 10,953 STUDENTS AND 881 ADULTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 March 2023.

    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.