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Catalyst for Change

EIN 85-1815145 · Big Timber, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CATALYST FOR CHANGE IS TO IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND GENERAL WELL-BEING ALL MONTANANS AND REDUCE DEATHS BY SUICIDE THROUGH: (A) THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND PROPAGATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS PROGRAMS FOR MENTAL HEALTH; (B) THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A TELEBEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK OF THERAPISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS AND DIGITAL THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS; (C) EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND (D) MAXIMIZING AND AUGMENTING THE AVAILABILITY AND USE OF LOCAL RESOURCES.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$966,778
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
14
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$195,600, ceo

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    0 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 (1)
  1. $655,734 spent. IN 2024, CATALYST FOR CHANGE ACHIEVED TRANSFORMATIVE MILESTONES, ADVANCING ITS MISSION TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE, CULTURALLY SENSITIVE MENTAL HEALTHCARE TO MONTANA'S DIVERSE RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. SERVING 23 OF THE STATE'S 56 COUNTIES, THE ORGANIZATION DELIVERED SERVICES TO 241 CLIENTSA 43% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARTHROUGH 2,390 CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE SEEKING PERSONALIZED MENTAL HEALTHCARE. CLIENTS ACCESSED CARE VIA CATALYST'S ROBUST NETWORK OF TELEHEALTH PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWS), AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH COUNTIES, SCHOOLS, HEALTH CLINICS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND FIRST RESPONDERS. CATALYST EXPANDED ITS CHW TRAINING AND CLINICAL OVERSIGHT PROGRAM INTO TWO ADDITIONAL COUNTIES, FURTHER SOLIDIFYING ITS STATEWIDE PRESENCE. GROUNDBREAKING MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES INCLUDED 83% OF SURVEYED CLIENTS REPORTING IMPROVED MOOD, 84% INDICATING ENHANCED STRESS-COPING SKILLS, AND 50% EXPERIENCING REDUCED DEPRESSION OR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF CARE. THESE EFFORTS, COMBINED WITH IMMEDIATE MENTAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES INTERVENTION CAPABILITIES AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CARE, BRIDGED CRITICAL GAPS FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, DEMONSTRATING CATALYST'S SCALABLE AND SUSTAINABLE IMPACT.CATALYST'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE AMPLIFIED BY STRATEGIC GROWTH AND STATEWIDE RECOGNITION. KEY EXPANSIONS INCLUDED ONE NEW BOARD MEMBER WITH EXTENSIVE HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC PLANNING EXPERIENCE AND THE ADDITION OF TWO FULL-TIME AND THREE PART-TIME ROLES, INCLUDING A HEADQUARTERS ADMINISTRATOR AND DATA-MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, TO BOLSTER OPERATIONAL AND OUTREACH CAPACITIES. SIGNIFICANT PARTNERSHIPS, INCLUDING A CONTRACT WITH THE HELP CENTER, A SUICIDE AND CRISIS HELPLINE, TO PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP CARE AND PARTICIPATION IN THE MONTANA LEGISLATURE'S HB872 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS INITIATIVE TO INTEGRATE CHWS INTO RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS, FURTHER POSITIONED CATALYST AS A LEADER IN SYSTEMS CHANGE. RECOGNITION BY KTVQ BILLINGS AND THE HELENA INDEPENDENT RECORD HIGHLIGHTED THE ORGANIZATION'S INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO RURAL MENTAL HEALTHCARE. WITH A DATA-DRIVEN, COMMUNITY-FOCUSED MODEL, CATALYST FOR CHANGE SET A NEW STANDARD FOR ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH DISPARITIES, STRENGTHENING INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, AND EMPOWERING MONTANA'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2020.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.