Nonprofit · EIN 47-5237719
MONTANA FREE PRESS
Also known as JOHN S ADAMS PRES
Tax-exempt · HELENA, MT 59624
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $3,308,425 | $2,819,772 | $488,653 | $1,884,777 | $162,972 | $1,721,805 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $2,151,666 | $1,926,060 | $225,606 | $1,419,011 | $185,859 | $1,233,152 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $1,305,049 | $1,470,356 | -$165,307 | $1,094,047 | $86,501 | $1,007,546 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $3,291,853
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $2,544
- Other revenue
- $14,028
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $122,043
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,468,391
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,912,607
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $5,399
- Accounting fees
- $22,000
- Occupancy
- $63,115
- Travel
- $58,671
- Depreciation
- $3,081
- Program services (functional)
- $2,136,920
- Management and general (functional)
- $313,486
- Fundraising (functional)
- $369,366
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,419,011
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,884,777
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $162,972
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,721,805
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $11,228
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $633,351
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,088,454
- Gross receipts
- $3,308,425
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 6
- Year formed
- 2016
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN ADAMS | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $122,043 |
| MARK HUBER | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| HEATHER DIETRICK | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANNE AVIS | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SUSAN FOX | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SKYLAR BROWNING | President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| ALEXIS BONOGOFSKY | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| TRESA SMITH | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JASON BEGAY | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MIKE DENNISON | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN ADAMS | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $96,622 | $13,664 |
| MARK HUBER | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HEATHER DIETRICK | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNE AVIS | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN FOX | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SKYLAR BROWNING | President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEXIS BONOGOFSKY | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TRESA SMITH | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN ADAMS | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $92,586 | $12,815 |
| MARK HUBER | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DREW GEIGER | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNE AVIS | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN FOX | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SKYLAR BROWNING | President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEXIS BONOGOFSKY | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TRESA SMITH | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 1425, HELENA, MT 59624-1425
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- JOHN ADAMS, PO BOX 1425, HELENA, MT 59624
- Signed the 990
- JOHN ADAMS, Executive Dir.
- Phone
- (406) 207-8727
- Website
- WWW.MONTANAFREEPRESS.ORG
- Return prepared by
- Amatics CPA Group
Mission
OUR MISSION: OUR MISSION IS TO PRODUCE IN-DEPTH PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM COVERINGSTATE AND COMMUNITY ISSUES RELEVANT TO MONTANANS.OUR VISION: ALL MONTANANS HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY JOURNALISM THAT CREATESPOSITIVE CHANGE AND HELPS MOVE SOCIETY TOWARD JUSTICE AND EQUITY.
Program accomplishments
- PROGRAM: EDITORIALMTFP SEEKS TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH AND BRING TO LIGHT ESSENTIAL NEWS STORIES BY INVESTIGATING GOVERNMENT, POLICY AND COMMUNITY ISSUES, ANALYZING DATA AND PUBLIC RECORDS, AND HOLDING THOSE IN POWER ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE. WE WORK INDEPENDENTLY AND IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER NEWS OUTLETS AROUND MONTANA TO PRODUCE IN-DEPTH, PUBLIC-SERVICE JOURNALISM INCLUDING STATEWIDE AND LOCAL REPORTING THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.Expenses $1,587,053
- PROGRAM: AUDIENCEONE OF MTFPS KEY GOALS IS TO PRODUCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC-SERVICE JOURNALISM THAT FILLS THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF MONTANANS, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS UNDERSERVED BY LOCAL NEWS. TO MEET THESE NEEDS, WE PRIORITIZE BROAD DISTRIBUTION OF OUR FREE CONTENT THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AUDIO PROGRAMMING, LIVE EVENTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH NEWS OUTLETS ACROSS THE STATE, WHICH ARE ABLE TO REPUBLISH OUR WORK AT NO COST. WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AND IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE WAYS OF DELIVERING NEWS THAT MEET MONTANANS WHEREVER THEY ARE ONLINE, ON MOBILE, THROUGH EMAIL, BROADCAST, AND IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.Expenses $349,083
- PROGRAM: SPECIAL PROJECTS MTFP launched and expanded several strategic initiatives designed to strengthen civic engagement, improve access to trusted local journalism and better understand the information needs of Montanans. During the year, Special Projects included the Montana Insights public opinion research initiative, expansion of MTFP Local reporting into Billings, and participation in Local News Day, a national effort to increase awareness of and support for local journalism. These initiatives complement Montana Free Press' core reporting mission by providing original public-interest research, expanding local reporting capacity and engaging communities around the importance of independent journalism.Expenses $200,784
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
- 47-5237719
- 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
- 2019
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A33)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,884,777
- Income (IRS master file)
- $3,308,425
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $3,308,425 | $2,819,772 | $1,884,777 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $2,151,666 | $1,926,060 | $1,419,011 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,305,049 | $1,470,356 | $1,094,047 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,079,434 | $1,253,412 | $1,338,420 | 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 47-5237719).
Questions about MONTANA FREE PRESS
- What is the EIN of MONTANA FREE PRESS?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of MONTANA FREE PRESS is 47-5237719.
- Is MONTANA FREE PRESS tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2019.
- Are donations to MONTANA FREE PRESS tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does MONTANA FREE PRESS 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 FREE PRESS 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 FREE PRESS 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 FREE PRESS?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names JOHN ADAMS.
- Who are the officers and directors of MONTANA FREE PRESS?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 10 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $122,043 (JOHN ADAMS, Executive Dir.).
- How much revenue does MONTANA FREE PRESS have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,308,425, expenses of $2,819,772 and total assets of $1,884,777 at year end.
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- CLAY ARTS GUILD OF HELENA EIN 81-0533908 · last filed 990 for 2025
- COHESION DANCE PROJECT EIN 45-5088857 · last filed 990 for 2025
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All nonprofits in HELENA · Montana · Arts, culture and humanities