Montana Conservation Corps Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

MCC programs bring together hands-on conservation service in the outdoors with leadership development, civic engagement and workforce training to develop young people as productive individuals and engaged citizens. MCC helps young people develop vital competencies and discover their capacity to lead in their lives and their communities. In 2025, expenses supported three delivery models: 1) young adult crew-based experiences; 2) individual placement models for young adults; and 3)youth corps opportunities for Montana teens. In the young adult programs, members ages 17 and up completed an AmeriCorps term of service of three to nine months. They served on a four to six-person crew or individually in intern or fellow positions. For youth ages 14-18, MCC offered service expeditions of various lengths during the summer, as well as full-summer positions as part of Corps-to-Career Youth Corps crews with federal agency partners. MCC also supported two Piikuni Lands Corps crews and school-based programs in coordination with partners on the Blackfeet Tribal Nation. Through meaningful service projects, corps members cultivated service values and a vigorous work ethic, learned practical job skills, developed as effective leaders and crew members, practiced responsible land stewardship, and made lasting contributions to our communities and environment. MCC conducted over 315 community and conservation service projects in 2025. Projects met community and public lands needs in Montana and surrounding states in the Northern Rockies and Great Plains regions. Projects involved a variety of conservation work including trails building and maintenance, invasive species mitigation, wildfire rehabilitation and fuels reduction, historic restoration, biological monitoring, habitat enhancement, fencing, watershed restoration, and community service. Significant accomplishments in 2025 included improvements to 1,525 miles of recreational trails that enhanced safety and access to public lands, restoration of 8,816 acres including 4,236 acres treated for invasive and noxious weeds, planting 17,568 trees, and repairing or installing 115 miles of fencing to reduce wildlife mortality and improve habitat management. A youth participant reflected: I did MCC and it was amazing. I loved the structure, the work we do, the people we meet, and the overall experience. I learned so much.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 91.1%; rating input score 91
• Program expense ratio: 89.4%; rating input score 89
• Fundraising efficiency: $53.46 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 2.4%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.73; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.37; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.5%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 57th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.5% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.9% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings