Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Free Verse Project

EIN 92-1471452 · Missoula, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FREE VERSE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN MONTANA BRINGING ARTS- AND LITERARY-BASED PROGRAMMING TO INCARCERATED YOUTH AND ADULTS AND YOUTH IN PSYCHIATRIC CARE. WE HAVE PROVIDED THIS PROGRAMMING FOR OVER ELEVEN YEARS.

Income
$99,385
Spending
$72,599
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $17,641 spent. RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS, OFFERS MONTHLY WORKSHOPS AT ST. PATRICK'S HOSPITAL FOR BOTH INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT ADOLESCENTS, AS WELL AS INPATIENT ADULTS. THROUGH TWELVE IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS EACH MONTH, WE REACHED 291 NEW STUDENTS, PROVIDING THEM WITH VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION WHILE RECEIVING PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT.
  2. $17,258 spent. JDCS/SHELTER CARE, OPERATES ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THE MISSOULA COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, BILLINGS JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, BILLINGS SHELTER CARE, AND PINE HILLS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES EIGHT MONTHLY IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS IN MISSOULA AND TWO VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS EACH MONTH AT BOTH THE BILLINGS JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER AND BILLINGS SHELTER CARE. ADDITIONALLY, WE HOST AN EXTENDED-LENGTH MONTHLY WORKSHOP AT PINE HILLS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. IN TOTAL, 101 NEW STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR WORKSHOPS, OFFERING THEM CREATIVE OUTLETS WHILE INCARCERATED OR IN SHELTER CARE.
  3. $6,702 spent. THE PUBLICATIONS PROGRAM PRODUCED THREE FULL-LENGTH ANTHOLOGIES: ON THE PRECIPICE (FEATURING WORK FROM PINE HILLS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY), A LOT GOING ON INSIDE HEAD, AND DEAR FUTURE (WHICH INCLUDED CONTRIBUTIONS FROM STUDENTS ACROSS ALL FACILITIES). THE PUBLICATION OF DEAR FUTURE WAS CELEBRATED WITH A RELEASE PARTY ATTENDED BY NUMEROUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS. EACH PUBLICATION WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE STUDENTS INVOLVED, EMPOWERING THEM TO SEE THEMSELVES AS ARTISTS, WRITERS, AND EXPERTS ON THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES THROUGH SEEING THEIR OWN WORK PUBLISHED IN PRINT.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 July 2023.

    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.