Nonprofit · EIN 81-0482317
CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD
Tax-exempt · KALISPELL, MT 59903
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $441,132 | $374,262 | $66,870 | $206,990 | $10,592 | $196,398 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $234,356 | $274,012 | -$39,656 | $139,423 | $9,895 | $129,528 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990-EZ | $180,997 | $139,292 | $41,705 | $173,530 | $4,345 | $169,185 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $308,579
- Program service revenue
- $118,969
- Investment income
- $0
- Net income from gaming
- $13,584
- Other revenue
- $13,584
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $12,496
- Other salaries and wages
- $100,558
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $125,660
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $106,005
- Accounting fees
- $1,886
- Occupancy
- $8,344
- Depreciation
- $1,418
- Program services (functional)
- $313,260
- Management and general (functional)
- $56,670
- Fundraising (functional)
- $4,332
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $139,423
- Total assets, end of year
- $206,990
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $10,592
- Net assets, end of year
- $196,398
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $591
- Publicly traded securities
- $5,008
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $196,398
- Gross receipts
- $441,132
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 30
- Year formed
- 1992
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAYRE FLOWERS | CO-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $12,496 |
| SUSAN CAHILL | CO-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| LAURA DAMON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DAVID FISCHLOWITZ | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| ROD MCIVER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| LINDA NEWGARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DIANE TAYLOR-MAHNKE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAYRE FLOWERS | CO-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $44,000 |
| SUSAN CAHILL | CO-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| LAURA DAMON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DAVID FISCHLOWITZ | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| ROD MCIVER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| LINDA NEWGARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DIANE TAYLOR-MAHNKE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2023: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAYRE FLOWERS | CO-CHAIR | 5 | $37,000 |
| SUSAN CAHILL | CO-CHAIR | 2 | $0 |
| DIANE TAYLOR-MAHNKE | SECRETARY/TR | 2 | $0 |
| DAVID FISCHLOWITZ | DIRECTOR | 2 | $0 |
| ROD MCIVER | DIRECTOR | 2 | $0 |
| LINDA NEWGARD | DIRECTOR | 2 | $0 |
| LAURA DAMON | DIRECTOR | 2 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 2198, KALISPELL, MT 59903-2198
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- MAYRE FLOWERS, PO BOX 3094, KALISPELL, MT 59903
- Signed the 990
- MAYRE FLOWERS, CO-CHAIR
- Phone
- (406) 756-8993
- Website
- WWW.FLATHEADCITIZENS.ORG
- Return prepared by
- SWIFTCURRENT ACCOUNTING & TAX INC
Mission
WHAT DO WE DO? THE MISSION OF CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD IS TO FOSTER CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND CHAMPION SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS NEEDED TO KEEP THE FLATHEAD ECOLOGICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY HEALTHY. SINCE 1992, CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD HAS BEEN A LEADER AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES THAT RAPID GROWTH IS BRINGING TO OUR REGION. WE WORK TO PROTECT THE VALLEY'S CLEAN WATER, NATURAL BEAUTY, AND FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES THROUGH SOLID PLANNING AND POLICY SOLUTIONS. WE CHAMPION THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS, AND SHARED VISION NECESSARY TO KEEP THE FLATHEAD SPECIAL FOREVER. PRIMARY PROGRAM OVERVIEW: OVER OUR THIRTY-FOUR YEARS OF WORK IN THE FLATHEAD, WE HAVE BUILT A REPUTATION AS A NON-PARTISAN, WELL INFORMED, AND SOLUTION-ORIENTED COMMUNITY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. WE FOCUSED ON LAND USE, WATER QUALITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND WASTE REDUCTION ISSUES. WE WORK TO ALERT AND INFORM THE PUBLIC OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN CRITICAL DECISIONS SHAPING HOW
Program accomplishments
- PROTECTING WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVING WATER RESOURCES: CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD (CBF) CONTINUED TO MONITOR AND RESPOND TO PROJECTS, POLICIES, AND RESIDENT'S CONCERNS ON MATTERS THAT COULD THREATEN AND IMPACT WATER QUALITY AND WATER RIGHTS WITHIN THE FLATHEAD BASIN. WE WORK DAILY TO IDENTIFY THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE AND PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT AND SUSTAIN THE FLATHEAD'S WATERS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY SHARING RESEARCH AND INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC, ENCOURAGING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ATTENDING MEETINGS AND SUBMITTING COMMENTS. WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO HOLD DECISION MAKERS ACCOUNTABLE TO PROTECTING OUR WATER QUALITY AND WATER RESOURCES, THROUGH RECENT COURT FILINGS WHEN WE FIND THAT DECISIONS WERE NOT GROUNDED IN SCIENCE, WERE ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS, FAILED TO COMPLY WITH EXISTING LAWS, AND/OR VIOLATED THE PUBLIC'S TO KNOW AND PARTICIPATE IN ISSUES OF SIGNIFICANT INTEREST TO THE PUBLIC. COMMUNITY DRIVEN PLANNING: CBF EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS ABOUT CURRENT UPDATES TO GROWTH POLICIES AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IN THE FLATHEAD'S THREE CITIES AND THE COUNTY, BY SHARING RESEARCH AND INFORMATION, ENCOURAGING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ATTENDING MEETINGS, AND SUBMITTING COMMENTS. WE HAVE LONG-STANDING AND DEEP RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS YEAR, WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND PROVIDED RESEARCH AND ASSISTANCE TO THEM, INCLUDING SUPPORTING THEM ON MAKING EFFECTIVE COMMENTS ON PENDING POLICY DECISIONS IMPACTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED NEWSLETTERS, PUBLIC TESTIMONY, AND COLLABORATIVE LEGAL ACTION, WHEN NECESSARY, CBF INFORMS AND EMPOWERS THE FLATHEAD CITIZENRY. WE WORK ON AN ON-GOING BASIS TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND DECISIONS GIVE MEANINGFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. CBF'S EFFORTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ADOPTION OF POLICIES THAT LIMIT URBAN SPRAWL, ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIES, PROTECT GROUNDWATER, PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND CHAMPION LOCAL CONTROL IN LOCAL PLANNING AND GOVERNANCE. REDUCING WASTE-CONSERVING RESOURCES: FOR OVER 30 YEARS, CBF HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO ADVANCING PRACTICES OF WASTE REDUCTION, REUSE, AND RECYCLING AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE FLATHEAD AREA. IN 2025, CBF DELIVERED WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING LESSONS TO MORE THAN 2,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE HAVE ALSO PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF RESOURCE GUIDES TO ENCOURAGE REUSE, REPAIR, AND RECYCLING AS WELL AS PROPER DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE FOR THREE DECADES. CBF CURRENTLY MAINTAINS AN INFORMATIONAL WEBSITE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC AWARENESS ON WASTE REDUCTION AND REUSE. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: ENCOURAGING, INCREASING, AND DEFENDING THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO INFORMED AND MEANINGFUL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS AT THE HEART OF THE WORK WE DO. IT IS AN ISSUE WE HAVE RAISED IN NUMEROUS PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS YEAR. THIS YEAR, WE ALSO FILED A CASE CHALLENGING THE BARRIERS TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW CREATED BY THE LAKESIDE COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOARD IN A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THEIR PUBLIC PROCESS.Expenses $313,260 · revenue $118,969
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-EZ on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 81-0482317
- 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
- 1993
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Human services (P20Z)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $206,990
- Income (IRS master file)
- $441,132
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $441,132 | $374,262 | $206,990 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $234,356 | $274,012 | $139,423 | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2023 | $180,997 | $139,292 | $173,530 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $126,040 | $115,206 | $129,840 | 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 81-0482317).
Questions about CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD
- What is the EIN of CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD is 81-0482317.
- Is CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1993.
- Are donations to CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD 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 CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD 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 CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD 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 CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names MAYRE FLOWERS.
- Who are the officers and directors of CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $12,496 (MAYRE FLOWERS, CO-CHAIR).
- How much revenue does CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $441,132, expenses of $374,262 and total assets of $206,990 at year end.
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