Nonprofit · EIN 26-2603477
MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT
Tax-exempt · MISSOULA, MT 59807
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $757,319 | $654,611 | $102,708 | $131,779 | $12,273 | $119,506 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $595,959 | $694,694 | -$98,735 | $27,284 | $10,614 | $16,670 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $428,985 | $411,652 | $17,333 | $122,657 | $7,252 | $115,405 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $757,759
- of which government grants
- $309,346
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $148
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$562
- Net income from sales of inventory
- -$26
- Other revenue
- -$588
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $120,577
- Other salaries and wages
- $304,987
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $496,764
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $17,852
- Travel
- $27,250
- Program services (functional)
- $542,683
- Management and general (functional)
- $111,928
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $27,284
- Total assets, end of year
- $131,779
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $12,273
- Net assets, end of year
- $119,506
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $119,506
- Gross receipts
- $757,967
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 60
- Year formed
- 2008
- State of legal domicile
- MT
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMY SINGS IN THE TIMBER | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $108,650 | $11,927 |
| DAN WEINBERG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CARRIE GIBADLO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RYLEE SOMMERS-FLANAGAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TIM PAYNE | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LOVI | IMM. PAST CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| COLIN STEPHENS | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LIZ WELCH | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHYREL GARDING | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL LEISHER | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RON WATERMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LYNDA MOSS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LEWIS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMY SINGS IN THE TIMBER | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $104,750 | $14,251 |
| DAN WEINBERG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RANDY BISHOP | IMM. PAST CHAIR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CARRIE GIBADLO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RYLEE SOMMERS-FLANAGAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TIM PAYNE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LOVI | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| COLIN STEPHENS | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHYREL GARDING | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL LEISHER | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RON WATERMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LYNDA MOSS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW HUFF | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMY SINGS IN THE TIMBER | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $95,750 | $10,226 |
| DAN WEINBERG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CAITLIN BOLAND AARAB | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RANDY BISHOP | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW HUFF | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TIM PAYNE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LOVI | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| COLIN STEPHENS | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHYREL GARDING | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL LEISHER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RON WATERMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LYNDA MOSS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MAYLINN SMITH | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 7607, MISSOULA, MT 59807-7607
- In care of
- % JESSIE MCQUILLAN
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- COLIN STEPHENS, PO BOX 7607, MISSOULA, MT 59807
- Signed the 990
- AMY SINGS IN THE TIMBER, Executive Dir.
- Phone
- (406) 243-6698
- Website
- WWW.MTINNOCENCEPROJECT.ORG
- Return prepared by
- Boyle Deveny & Meyer PC
Mission
Because liberty and justice are paramount to a democratic society, it is the mission of the Montana Innocence Project to free the innocent and unjustly incarcerated, and advocate for systems of Justice that are accurate, accountable, and fair for all.
Program accomplishments
- Legal: o Reviewed 111 applications and advanced 32 cases into active investigation, with 6 cases in active litigation.o Strengthened investigations through expert collaboration, including nationally recognized medical experts.o Expanded impact by taking on your first unjust incarceration case, broadening pathways to relief beyond traditional innocence claims.o Conducted a comprehensive case inventory review to focus resources on cases with the greatest potential for impact.o Built a referral network and supported medical parole efforts, ensuring more peopleespecially medically vulnerable individualshave pathways to release.o Prioritized equity, with roughly half of active cases involving Indigenous clients, many of whom were young at conviction or impacted by addiction.Social Services:o Provided individualized, trauma-informed support to clients both inside correctional facilities and in the community.o Assisted with general and medical parole planning, improving readiness and chances for release.o Built direct relationships with correctional facilities, enabling regular in-person support from a formerly incarcerated advocate.o Connected freed clients with national exoneree-led organizations for ongoing support, training, and community.o Launched foundational work for inside-out organizing, centering the voices of incarcerated individuals in policy and reform.o Developed individualized healing opportunities (e.g., retreats, community-based support) to support restoration beyond release.o Mentored social work students, helping build the next generation of reentry advocates.Advocacy:o Championed efforts to restore compensation for exonerees, bringing statewide attention to gaps in restitution.o Supported passage of key policies, including: - Creation of an Office of Reentry Services - A work time credit program to reduce supervision through employmento Opposed harmful policies, including efforts to expand execution methods, reinforcing commitment to ending the death penalty.o Elevated critical issues such as prison expansion, reentry barriers, and prison conditions, positioning MTIP as a trusted statewide voice.o Advanced lived-experience-informed advocacy, ensuring directly impacted individuals help shape policy solutions.Public Education: o Strengthened public understanding of wrongful conviction and justice issues through community engagement and storytelling.o Participated in the Innocence Network Conference, amplifying exoneree voices and building national partnerships.o Hosted a community event with exoneree and author Calvin Duncan, fostering dialogue around resilience and second chances.o Organized a holiday card campaign, sending 50+ messages of support to incarcerated individuals.o Expanded reach through your podcast Unpacking Injustice, which is now accessible in correctional facilities and driving awareness nationwide.Expenses $542,683
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 26-2603477
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2008
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Crime and legal-related (I80)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $131,779
- Income (IRS master file)
- $757,967
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $757,319 | $654,611 | $131,779 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $595,959 | $694,694 | $27,284 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $428,985 | $411,652 | $122,657 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $342,241 | $351,390 | $104,161 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 26-2603477).
Questions about MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT
- What is the EIN of MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT is 26-2603477.
- Is MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2008.
- Are donations to MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names COLIN STEPHENS.
- Who are the officers and directors of MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 13 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $108,650 (AMY SINGS IN THE TIMBER, Executive Dir.).
- How much revenue does MONTANA INNOCENCE PROJECT have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $757,319, expenses of $654,611 and total assets of $131,779 at year end.
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All nonprofits in MISSOULA · Montana · Crime and legal-related