Montana Free Press

Analysis

Montana Free Press is a registered charity in United States, based in Helena, MT. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in May 2019, 7 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts, culture and humanities, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Montana Free Press reported income of $1.3m and spending of $1.5m, spending 113% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $377k to $1.3m (+246%), an average of +36% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income rose by 352%. Over the whole period it spent 84% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Montana Free Press sits at the 88th percentile: it is larger than about 88% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 82nd percentile, and in the 84th percentile within MT. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include International Society for the Performing Arts Foundation ($1.3m), Opera Guild Inc of Fort Lauderdale ($1.3m) and International Music Camp Inc ($1.3m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 98% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $93k (6.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $793k. At year end it held assets of $1.1m against liabilities of $87k, net assets of $1.0m. It reported 18 employees.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.