Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$2,859,538

Total expenses

$1,187,548

Contributions and grants received

$2,547,145

Grants paid

$843,100

Program service revenue

$0

Investment income

$309,373

Other revenue

$3,020

Total assets, end of year

$6,246,428

Total liabilities, end of year

$2,061

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$6,244,367

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$892,213

Management and general expenses

$290,115

Fundraising expenses

$5,220

Program service expenses (Part III)

$892,213

Program services were 75.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2024

• INTEREST ON LAWYERS TRUST ACCOUNTS PROGRAM (IOLTA): A LAW-RELATED PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM THAT STRENGTHENS OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. IOLTA GENERATES FUNDS THAT ARE USED TO SUPPORT LEGAL AID, LEGAL EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE IN MONTANA. THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE GRANT PROGRAM, THE MJF STRATEGICALLY AND OBJECTIVELY ALLOCATES ITS RESOURCES TO DOZENS OF OUTSTANDING LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

  Expenses $839,378 · Grants $827,100

• COMMUNITY EDUCATION & GRANTEE SUPPORT: THE MJF IS A CONVENING FORCE THAT FOSTERS INNOVATION. WITH OUR STRONG TIES TO THE STATE BAR, OUR SOLID RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COURT SYSTEM, AND OUR IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE, PUBLIC INTEREST LAW AND PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITIES, THE MJF HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY TO BRING TOGETHER DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS TO INNOVATIVELY ADDRESS THE COMMON NEEDS AND COLLECTIVE CHALLENGES FACING LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS AND TACKLE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO JUSTICE. THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION & GRANTEE SUPPORT THE MJF REACHES OUT TO MONTANA'S LOCAL COMMUNITIES, CORPORATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF AND NEED FOR CIVIL LEGAL AID AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVES IN THE STATE.

  Expenses $12,278

• LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LRAP): THE FOUNDATION MAKES LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE FOUNDATIONS LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LEGAL AID LOANS). THIS PROGRAM IS FOR LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES DEDICATED TO PROVIDING LEGAL AID TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN MONTANA, AND ASSISTS LEGAL AID LAWYERS WORKING FOR MONTANA LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS BY REDUCING THE BURDEN OF SIGNIFICANT DEBT INCURRED TO FINANCE THEIR LAW SCHOOL EDUCATION. A MAXIMUM LOAN AMOUNT OF $2,500 PER YEAR MAY BE AWARDED. APPLICANTS MUST MEET CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. THERE ARE TWO ENROLLMENT PERIODS. THE FIRST ENROLLMENT PERIOD HAS AN APPLICATION DEADLINE OF MAY 15. APPLICANTS APPROVED UNDER THIS ENROLLMENT PERIOD WILL RECEIVE DISBURSEMENTS SEMI-ANNUALLY IN JULY AND JANUARY. THE SECOND ENROLLMENT PERIOD HAS AN APPLICATION DEADLINE OF NOVEMBER 15. APPLICANTS APPROVED UNDER THIS ENROLLMENT PERIOD WILL RECEIVE DISBURSEMENTS SEMI-ANNUALLY IN JANUARY AND JULY. THE FOUNDATION EXPECTS TO FORGIVE SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE LOANS. ACCORDINGLY, THE OUTSTANDING LOAN BALANCE IS OFFSET BY AN ALLOWANCE. THESE LOANS DO NOT ACCRUE INTEREST.

  Expenses $28,278 · Grants $16,000

• OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE: LAW RELATED EDUCATION AND OTHER LAW RELATED PROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITIES

  Expenses $12,279

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

• MONTANA LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION

  $616,150

  GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FUNDS INCLUDING STAFF SALARIES.

• PARTNERS FOR JUSTICE

  $30,000

  SUSTAIN EXISTING PUBLIC DEFENSE/RESTORATIVE SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS ENTANGLED IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM OF THE CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES ON THE FLATHEAD RESERVATION.

• HAVEN

  $25,000

  SUPPORT SALARIES FOR TWO LEGAL ADVOCATES. CONTRIBUTION TO A POOL OF TRANSLATION FUNDS FOR LEGAL SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND INTERPRETATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING

• MONTANA FAIR HOUSING

  $15,000

  ASSIST VICTIMS OF DISCRIMINATION IN SECURING COUNSEL WITH EXPERTISE IN NON-DISCRIMINATION LAWS WHEN NEEDED. SECURING TRANSLATORS IN COURT CASES WHEN NEEDED. SALARIES FOR PORTIONS OF STAFF SALARY.

• YWCA BILLINGS

  $15,000

  PAY PART OF THE YWCA LEGAL AND VICTIM SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR'S SALARY AND BENEFITS WHOSE TYPICAL CASE LOAD IN 15ACTIVE CASES AT A TIME WITH AN AVERAGE OF 120 VICTIMS ASSISTED ANNUALLY.

• BILLINGS MEDIATION CENTER INC

  $13,000

  TRAINING EXPENSES. SUPPORT FOR 16TH JUDICIAL TRAINEES. CONTRACT FOR ED TO PERFORM CONFLICT RESILIENCE PROJECT TASKS AND COURT SUPPORT.

• EASTERN MONTANA CASA GAL INC

  $12,000

  RECRUITMENT, TRAVEL, TRAINING, ADVOCATING AND MENTORING OF CASA VOLUNTEERS IN THE 7TH, 15TH, 16TH, AND 17TH JUDICIAL DISTRICTS IN ADDITION TO THE TRIBAL FORT PECK ASSINIBOINE SIOUX TRIBAL CHILDREN.

• MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT

  $10,000

  SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTING STAFF ATTORNEY TO CONDUCT PLACE-BASED WORK AMONGST MONTANA'S RURAL AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. 10% WILL SUPPORT THE STAFF ATTORNEY'S SALARY.

• CASA OF MISSOULA

  $7,500

  IMPROVE CASA PRESENCE IN IN ALL 4TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURTS. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CASA VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING TRAINING.

• SAFE HARBOR INC

  $7,500

  ASSIST VICTIMS LIVING ON THE FLATHEAD RESERVATION AND LAKE COUNTY IN SECURING LEGAL ASSISTANCE SO AS TO NOT NAVIGATE THE LEGAL SYSTEM ON THEIR OWN. OVERHEAD COSTS OF COURT FEES, SUPPLIES, LODGING FOR VICTIMS PROVIDING TESTIMONY, PRINTING OF DOCUMENTS

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

8 October 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.2

Source object

202542829349301639

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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