Building the political power with and for young montanans by driving a culture of civic engagement.

501(c)(4) social-welfare organization; gifts are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$72K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2022 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(4)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
No
Donations are not tax-deductible
Worth a look: the IRS does not list gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $170K a year · 14% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$72K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
13
named funders · $2.1M
Looks good: 13 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$123K
25% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 25% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$537K
+76% vs prior year
Spent
$707K
To programs
88%
Net assets
$364K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$537K
FY2022▲ +76%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.0M
FY2021$305K
FY2022$537K
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$2.8M
Expenses
$707K
FY2022▲ +89%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$525K
FY2021$373K
FY2022$707K
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$2.6M
Net assets
$364K
FY2022▼ -32%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$603K
FY2021$535K
FY2022$364K
FY2023$702K
FY2024$949K

From the FY2022 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2022 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 2006.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $622K Management & general 8% · $59K Fundraising 4% · $27K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

14 people listed on the 990; $72K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$71,684Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Kiersten Iwai’s $91K as Executive Dir. is at the 19th percentile of top reported officer pay among 797 $1–10M civil rights & advocacy nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Kiersten Iwai$91,364$74,486$71,684$73,707$65,000

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Forward Mt executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Empowering young Montanans through civic engagement and political action.

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3 programs · $622K · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTWe graduated fellows in Missoula, Bozeman, Billings and the Flathead. Fellows receive robust training on community organizing and civic engagement. Fellows lead on a final project that connects their interests to meaningful change in their communities.

$287Kprogram expense
02

VOTER EDUCATION AND MOBILIZATIONForward Montana mobilized young voters for the 2022 midterm elections. This included distributing voter guides, peer-to-peer phone calls, and door-to-door canvassing to get-out-the-vote.

$254Kprogram expense
03

ISSUE ADVOCACYWe organized young Montanans on policies related to climate justice, housing, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ equality. This included launching 'Transcendent Joy', a zine by and for queer and trans Montanans and hosting a series of community building events.

$82Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
North FundFY2024$300K
A Better Big SkyFY2024$175K
Tides FoundationFY2024$150K
Tides AdvocacyFY2024$130K
Total grants receivedfrom 13 funders$2.1M
See all 13 funders →
Grants paid · 4 grants · $198K · 2022–2024
Individual RecipientFY2024$75,000
America VotesDC · FY2023$88,000

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$537K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$521K
Other incomeLn 4–11$16K
Money outPt IX
$707K
Ln 25
Programscol B$622K
Managementcol C$59K
Fundraisingcol D$27K
Owns and owesPt X
$364K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$334K
Total assetsLn 16$488K
LiabilitiesLn 26$123K
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$521K
Other incomeLn 4–11$16K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$537K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$311K
SavingsLn 2$22K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$334K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K
Other assetsLn 15$139K
Total assetsLn 16$488K
LiabilitiesLn 26$123K
Net assetsLn 32$364K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 530
VolunteersI 6100
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$127K$334K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K
Total assetsLn 16$578K$488K
LiabilitiesLn 26$43K$123K
Net assetsLn 32$535K$364K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$10K$10K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$50K$43K$4K$3K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$292K$268K$16K$9K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$13K$13K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$6K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$30K$27K$2K$1K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$13K$12K$706
Accounting feesLn 11c$24K$12K$11K$657
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$28K$27K$151$1K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$39K$38K$444$438
Office expensesLn 13$8K$8K
Information technologyLn 14$12K$10K$1K$689
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$39K$35K$3K$2K
TravelLn 17$16K$16K$140
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$759$759
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$125K$115K$464$9K
All other expensesLn 24e$600$600
Total functional expensesLn 25$707K$622K$59K$27K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $2.8M$2.6M$247K$949K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.5M$1.1M$365K$702K 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $537K$707K−$170K$364K 990 PDF
FY2021 $305K$373K−$68K$535K 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.0M$525K$477K$603K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $536,721 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $291,423$521,024
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $13,799$15,697
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $305,222$536,721
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$10,000
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $234,440$391,607
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $139,007$305,569
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $373,447$707,176
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$68,225−$170,455
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $536,721 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $356 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$521,024
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$521,024
VIII-3 Investment income$0
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $15,300$15,300
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $41$41
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $41 · Excluded from tax $15,656$536,721
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $707,176 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $10,000$10,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $43,082 · Management $3,856 · Fundraising $3,241$50,179
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $267,901 · Management $15,553 · Fundraising $9,030$292,484
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsManagement $13,422$13,422
IX-9 Other employee benefitsManagement $5,966$5,966
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $26,796 · Management $1,688 · Fundraising $1,072$29,556
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $12,371 · Management $706$13,077
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $12,251 · Management $11,474 · Fundraising $657$24,382
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $27,301 · Management $151 · Fundraising $1,047$28,499
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $37,732 · Management $444 · Fundraising $438$38,614
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $7,575$7,575
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $10,201 · Management $1,279 · Fundraising $689$12,169
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $35,016 · Management $2,637 · Fundraising $1,775$39,428
IX-17 TravelPrograms $15,666 · Management $140$15,806
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $759$759
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $115,381 · Management $464 · Fundraising $8,815$124,660
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $600$600
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $621,873 · Management $58,539 · Fundraising $26,764$707,176
Part X · Balance sheet $487,551 assets, 20 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $104,879$311,236
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $22,258$22,299
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$10,000
X-4 Accounts receivable$500
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$548
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$2,147
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$2,039
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $450,816$138,782
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $577,953$487,551
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $43,268$50,615
X-25 Other liabilities$72,706
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $43,268$123,321
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $534,685$338,745
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$25,485
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $534,685$364,230
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $577,953$487,551
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $364,230 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$536,721
XI-2 Total expenses$707,176
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$170,455
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$534,685
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$364,230

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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