Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 6,795,531 | 3,285,062 | 4,460,384 | 5,338,534 | 5,087,805 | 24,967,316 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 6,795,531 | 3,285,062 | 4,460,384 | 5,338,534 | 5,087,805 | 24,967,316 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. | 898,660 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 24,068,656 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 6,795,531 | 3,285,062 | 4,460,384 | 5,338,534 | 5,087,805 | 24,967,316 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 23,847 | 42,428 | 42,434 | 80,889 | 84,600 | 274,198 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | -7,599 | -66,027 | -18,703 | -17,206 | -40,044 | -149,579 |
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 25,091,935 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2016 | (b) 2017 | (c) 2018 | (d) 2019 | (e) 2020 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 0.015 of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by 0.035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2020 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2020 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2020 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2020 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2019 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2020: | ||||
| a From 2015....... | ||||
| b From 2016....... | ||||
| c From 2017....... | ||||
| d From 2018....... | ||||
| e From 2019....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2020 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2015 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2020 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2020 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2020, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2020. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2021. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2016..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
|---|
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Schedule A, Part II, Line 10 | Other income includes net gain/loss from investment sales, net income/loss from fundraising events, and net income/loss from sales of inventory. |
| Software ID: | 20012124 |
| Software Version: | v1.00 |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Form 990, Part III, Line 4a | (Specific expenditures related to land projects). Total expenditures were $4,521,234 in 2020. These expenditures related to potential land projects, completed conservation easements (donated), and purchased conservation easements. General land project planning and easement discussions amounted to $219,251; completed easement projects (25) and new land projects (53) being negotiated expenditures were $117,359; noncollectable project accounts totaled $386; and purchased easements amounted to the remaining $4,184,238 (Ringling - $1,400,500; Watson - $861,000; Kalsta - $1,262,500; Musselshell Retreat - $14,000; and Lewis (Marc) - $646,238). |
| Form 990, Part III, Line 4b | (Specific expenditures related to stewardship, monitoring, and enforcement activities). Total expenditures related to the stewardship, monitoring, and enforcement of the 922 conservation easements held by MLR amounted to $775,582, including $473,375 granted to the Montana Land Reliance Foundation as noted on Form 990, Part III, line 4b. General administration of the stewardship program; mapping of new/potential projects; the digitizing of all existing easement files/documents accounted for $43,679. The remaining $258,528 covered the costs of the lands manager, land steward/GIS coordinator, stewardship coordinator, and 19 part-time land stewards (salaries/benefits - $199,017; fees for services - $4,454; office expenses - $8,503; information technology - $13,424; occupancy - $6,941; travel/per diem - $23,074; conference/conventions - $1,122; vehicle depreciation - $1,627; and insurance - $366). Stewardship/monitoring activities carried out by these staff members involves visiting (which was limited due to Covid in 2020) or viewing aerial photos of each easement property on an annual basis to insure that the terms of the conservation easements are being upheld. |
| Form 990, Part III, Line 4c | (Specific expenditures related to outreach and education activities). Expenditures related to MLR's outreach and education activities amounted to $334,330 in 2020. Those expenditures included general outreach activities to landowners, attorneys, accountants, government agencies, etc., - $238,231; publication materials (brochures, annual report, newsletters, etc.) - $23,669; membership and outreach to state, regional, and national land conservation/agricultural organization, etc., - $35,642; accreditation activities - $30,525; and, outreach and education activities to support organizations (Montana Land Reliance Foundation and Ruby Habitat Foundation) - $6,263. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b | MLR's annual Form 990 is drafted by staff, reviewed by legal counsel, and then distributed to the MLR Board of Directors for review, comment, and approval. The draft Form 990 is also reviewed in detail by the independent auditors during MLR's annual audit process. Should the drafting of the Form 990 be delayed, leaving insufficient time for the full Board's review, the MLR Financial Committee is authorized to review and approve the submittal. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c | MLR's conflict of interest policy covers all employees, Board members, members of the Council of Trustees, major donors, and individuals such as independent contractors or former employees who might have access to inside information (conflicted parties) and references conflicted parties' spouses, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings or business entities (related parties). A conflicted party must disclose the material facts of the transaction and his/her interest in said transaction to the full Board/staff prior to any discussion, and shall not vote on or be present for the discussion of an issue giving rise to any potential conflict. Potential conflicts of interest are documented in Board minutes and discussed with legal counsel if necessary. In accordance with Montana law, a transaction with a conflicted party may only be authorized, approved, or ratified if the transaction received the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors who have no direct or in-direct interest in the transaction. Each director and employee signs a statement which affirms he/she has received, read, understands, and agrees to comply in all respects with MLR's conflict of interest policy. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 | The salaries of all MLR employees are determined by the Board of Directors, after consideration of any recommendations received from the Management Team and the Board's Compensation and Evaluation Committee and are based upon their review of salary/benefit surveys conducted on other conservation organizations across the country. These surveys are conducted annually by the Land Trust Alliance and by TREC (a nationally known survey organization). MLR staff may also be given cost-of-living increases that take into consideration the Social Security Administration's cost-of-living calculations. The Compensation and Evaluation Committee has the authority to revise proposed salary packages if they determine that is necessary/warranted. The annual salary packages (along with recommendations from the Compensation and Evaluation Committee) are presented to and discussed with the full Board of Directors for final approval on an annual basis. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 | MLR provides its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and audited financial statements to the general public upon request at no cost. |
| Form 990, Part IX, Line 25 | (Other expenses). Other expenses listed on line 24 include the acquisition of conservation easements ($4,184,238), the majority of which were purchased through the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (see detail above in response to Part III, line 4a). |
| Software ID: | 20012124 |
| Software Version: | v1.00 |