Montana Technological University Foundation

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
810250363
IRS 990 coverage
2011–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Location
Butte, MT, USA
Phone
4064964615
Rating
69
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Single Organization Support

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$12,612,425
Expenses
$7,757,993
Assets
$121,902,431
Liabilities
$381,918

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

19 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • JAIME HEPPLER (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)
  • LUKE MEYER (VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT)
  • SHANNON PANISKO (VICE PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • JAIME HEPPLER (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER): $249,537 total reported compensation
  • LUKE MEYER (VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT): $183,409 total reported compensation
  • SHANNON PANISKO (VICE PRESIDENT): $147,817 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The mission of the Montana tech foundation is to advance the teaching, research and public service endeavors of Montana tech by generating private contributions to supplement the institution's state and federal revenues for capital, operating and student assistance funds. The foundation is the catalyst and channel through which gifts and donation income flow to provide instantaneous and long-term support for Montana tech and all of its programs.

What it reported doing in 2024

The Montana technological university foundation provided the Montana technological university with private dollars to advance its mission to connect students to a network of people, opportunities and experience that empower them to change the world. The foundation provided 2.5 million in scholarships to over 550 students and 2.6 million to assist departments with purchases of equipment, supplies and other support.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 97% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 77% of its reported program spending out as grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 52
  • Transparency & Controls: 67
  • Accountability: 95
  • Sustainability: 84
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 47.8%; rating input score 48
  • Program expense ratio: 65.8%; rating input score 66
  • Fundraising efficiency: $6.71 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd 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: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
    • 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: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 38.5%; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 15.71; rating input score 94; 94th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 9.4%; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 4% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 9.4% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 10.1% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 47.8% of revenue deployed · 65.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 11 of 11 board members independent · 8 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $5.1M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $250K · 19 people listed · 2 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 1 contractor listed · $399K reported
  • Consistency: 43 of 43 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 10 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 14 filing years from 2011 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 6 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 48/100.
  • High — Transparency & Controls: Foreign activity oversight scored 0/100.
  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 28/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Form 990 shared with the board not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 23/100.