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Big Sky Sno Inc

EIN 85-2790702 · Big Sky, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BIG SKY SNO IS A COLLABORATIVE SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCE HUB DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING NET-ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050 THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES & COMMUNITY ACTION. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS & DONORS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS AND RESOURCES THAT INCREASE THE HEALTH & LONGEVITY OF BIG SKY. OUR EFFORTS ARE CENTERED ON IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY, REDUCING WASTE, EXPANDING LOW-IMPACT TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS & RESTORING LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS.

Income
$362,835
Spending
$283,159
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
1
Volunteers
113
Highest pay
$111,000, director of community sust

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $99,370 spent. CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (CAP) IMPLEMENTATIONOBJECTIVE: TO IMPLEMENT BIG SKY'S COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (CAP) TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (GHG) ON THE WAY TO NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050, INCREASE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, AND TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND LOW-CARBON FUTURE.DURING THE YEAR WE IMPLEMENTED OR ADVANCED PROGRAMS ACROSS OUR CAP TARGETED IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES (TIPS): ENERGY AND BUILDINGS, TRANSPORTATION, CONSUMPTION & WASTE, AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING:-EXPANDED THE BUILD BETTER BIG SKY PROGRAM (BUILDBETTERBIGSKY.COM), ADDING A DEDICATED BUILDING PROFESSIONALS PAGE TO CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LOCAL CONTRACTORS, ARCHITECTS, AND ENGINEERS COMMITTED TO RESILIENT BUILDING PRACTICES, AND HOSTING A FACILITATED ROUNDTABLE TO DEEPEN ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE BUILDING TRADES.-PUBLISHED THE RESILIENT BUILDING CHECKLIST (BUILDBETTERBIGSKY.COM/RBC), A SCORING BASED TOOL GUIDING ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY, WILDFIRE RESILIENCE, WASTE REDUCTION, AND CARBON EMISSIONS IN NEW CONSTRUCTION. SNO IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO HAVE THE CHECKLIST ADOPTED AS A SCORING CRITERION IN PUBLICLY FUNDED PROJECT APPLICATIONS AND IS PRESENTING IT TO LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPERS FOR VOLUNTARY ADOPTION.-LAUNCHED THE ALPENSCAPES GUIDEBOOK (ALPENSCAPES.ORG/GUIDEBOOK), A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR FIRE-SAFE, WATER-WISE, AND ECOSYSTEM FRIENDLY LANDCAPING IN BIG SKY. THE GUIDEBOOK IS NOW WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND OVER 50 HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS HAVE ADOPTED ALPENSCAPES BEST PRACTICES INTO THEIR COVENANTS, CONDITIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS (CCRS), INSTITUTIONALIZING RESILIENT LANDSCAPING STANDARDS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. -LAUNCHED A SUBSIDIZED HOME ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM THROUGH BUILD BETTER BIG SKY, OFFERING AUDITS STARTING AT $50 AND FREE COORDINATED AUDITS FOR CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS PARTICIPATING AS A GROUP. OVER 30,000 SQUARE FEET OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WAS AUDITED. -ENGAGED OVER 150 HOMEOWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS THROUGH TARGETED WORKSHOPS, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND SUSTAINABILITY TOOLS, INCLUDING THE 2025 AND 2026 OWNERS ASSOCIATION SUSTAINABILITY WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON WILDFIRE RESILIENCE, WATER CONSERVATION, INVASIVE PLANT MITIGATION, AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY. -EXPANDED FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAMMING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BIG SKY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK AND LOCAL EVENT SPACES, DIVERTING FOOD FROM LANDFILLS THROUGH DONATION AND COMPOSTING PARTNERSHIPS.-COLLABORATED WITH EVENT HOSTS TO SUPPORT ZERO WASTE EVENTS (85,000 ATTENDEES) AND CONTINUED OPERATING COMMUNITY COMPOSTING, RECYCLING, AND WASTE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TOWN CENTER AND BIG SKY COMMUNITY PARK. LONG-TERM GOAL: TO ACHIEVE MEASURABLE EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS ALIGNED WITH THE CAP TARGETS OF NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050 AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LAND AND WATER USE.
  2. $99,370 spent. OUTREACH & EDUCATIONOBJECTIVE: TO INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESS, BUILD CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION, AND EMPOWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STUDENTS, AND BUSINESSES TO ADOPT MORE SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIORS.DURING THE YEAR WE:-HOSTED OR CO-HOSTED PUBLIC SUSTAINABILITY EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS INCLUDING WILDFIRE RESILIENCE WORKSHOPS AND OWNERS ASSOCIATION SUSTAINABILITY WORKSHOPS, REACHING HUNDREDS OF ATTENDEES INCLUDING HOA BOARDS, PROPERTY MANAGERS, REALTORS, DEVELOPERS, AND HOMEOWNERS. -ENGAGED LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGH THE BIG SKY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM, LED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BIG SKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND VISIT BIG SKY, CERTIFYING BUSINESSES THAT DEMONSTRATE MEASURABLE SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS ACROSS ENERGY, WASTE, WATER, AND PURCHASING PRACTICES. -DISTRIBUTED COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH REGULAR NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PLATFORMS PROMOTING KEY PROGRAMS AND SUSTAINABILITY BEHAVIORS. -PARTICIPATED IN REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE COALITIONS, INCLUDING MT2030 AND ELECTRIFY MONTANA, TO SHARE RESOURCES AND INFLUENCE BROADER POLICY AND FUNDING EFFORTS. -HOSTED AND FACILITATED MONTHLY COALITION MEETINGS TO ENGAGE INFLUENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS AND EXPERTS TO CONTINUE ASSESSING COMMUNITY NEED AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCING INITIATIVES. -LAUNCHED 6 MONTHS FREE COMPOSTING TO INCENTIVIZE 30 NEW HOUSEHOLDS TO COMPOST, BRINGING THE COMMUNITY UP TO 111 HOUSEHOLDS COMPOSTING.-CONTINUED ONE LESS CAR TO REDUCE TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS FROM COMMUTERS BY INCENTIVIZING CARPOOLING, VANPOOLING, AND BUS RIDING, SAVING COMMUTERS $80,000+ IN GAS MONEY AND REDUCING MILES TRAVELED BY 179,307 MILES AND EMISSIONS BY 44.4 METRIC TONS.-COLLABORATED WITH THE GALLATIN RIVER TASK FORCE TO IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE RULE CHANGE WITH THE MT DEPARTMENT HEALTH OF HUMAN SERVICES (DPHHS) ON HOT TUB DRAINING AT SHORT TERM RENTALS, CONSERVING UP TO 7 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER YEAR IN BIG SKY. LONG-TERM GOAL: FOSTER COLLECTIVE IMPACT THROUGH A COMMUNITY CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY, INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN EMISSIONS-REDUCING ACTIONS, AND POSITION BIG SKY AS A STATEWIDE LEADER IN CLIMATE-SMART EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE.
  3. $49,682 spent. DATA & REPORTINGOBJECTIVE: TO COLLECT, MANAGE, AND REPORT ON DATA RELATED TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, AND COMMUNITY PROGRESS TOWARD CLIMATE GOALS. DURING THE YEAR WE:-CONTINUED BUILDING A CONSISTENT SYSTEM FOR RECORDING EMISSIONS-RELATED DATA ACROSS BUILDINGS, TRANSPORTATION, AND WASTE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SNO'S GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY (GHGI) TRACKING CYCLE.-INTEGRATED DATA TRACKING INTO PROGRAM TOOLS SUCH AS THE BUILD BETTER BIG SKY WEBSITE AND THE RESILIENT BUILDING CHECKLIST TO SUPPORT ENERGY EFFICIENCY ADOPTION, DEVELOPER ACCOUNTABILITY, AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT.-TRACKED PROGRAM OUTCOMES ACROSS KEY INDICATORS INCLUDING HOA CCR ADOPTIONS, BUILDING PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT, CHECKLIST SUBMISSIONS, AND ENERGY PARTICIPATION TO INFORM ONGOING CAP IMPLEMENTATION.LONG-TERM GOAL: TO ESTABLISH A ROBUST, TRANSPARENT SYSTEM FOR TRACKING EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS AND COMMUNITY-FACING DASHBOARD TO INFORM DECISIONS BY LOCAL LEADERS, FUNDERS, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.

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 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 2025.

    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 November 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.