Nonprofit · EIN 81-0472379
MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC
Tax-exempt · MISSOULA, MT 59801
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $1,109,234 | $996,316 | $112,918 | $1,851,493 | $72,546 | $1,778,947 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $839,660 | $878,912 | -$39,252 | $1,738,350 | $83,569 | $1,654,781 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $845,304 | $1,163,741 | -$318,437 | $1,735,336 | $80,855 | $1,654,481 |
| December 31, 2022 | 990 (amended) | $1,221,330 | $1,028,296 | $193,034 | $2,025,703 | $88,181 | $1,937,522 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $859,902
- of which government grants
- $15,270
- Membership dues
- $25,161
- Program service revenue
- $195,701
- Investment income
- $5,822
- Net rental income
- $33,920
- Net gain from sales of assets
- -$69
- Net income from fundraising events
- $2,614
- Other revenue
- $47,809
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Other salaries and wages
- $540,708
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $715,006
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $25,603
- Occupancy
- $1,066
- Depreciation
- $51,449
- Program services (functional)
- $840,196
- Management and general (functional)
- $42,809
- Fundraising (functional)
- $113,311
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,738,350
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,851,493
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $72,546
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,778,947
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,117,229
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,277,537
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $501,410
- Gross unrelated business income
- $1,560
- Gross receipts
- $1,199,500
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 150
- Year formed
- 1991
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARILYN MARLER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $71,464 |
| LISA BICKELL | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| NICOLE REIKER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| GRAHAM ROY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| HANK FISCHER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| CAROLINE KURTZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| MANDELA VAN EEDEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| KELLY DIX | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| CAROL BROOKER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| JOHN SMITH | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT PANKRATZ | INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $31,680 | $0 |
| THURSTON ELFSTROM | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $22,086 | $2,059 |
| MARILYN MARLER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $23,750 | $0 |
| LISA BICKELL | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| NICOLE REIKER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| GRAHAM ROY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| HANK FISCHER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| KATIE GUFFIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| IAN FOSTER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROLINE KURTZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| MANDELA VAN EEDEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| KELLY DIX | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| GARY FEE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THURSTON ELFSTROM | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $70,976 | $11,466 |
| KATIE GUFFIN | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ASHLEY PARKS | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LIZ KOHL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MARCIA HOLLAND | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHERYL CARRINGTON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOANN DUCHARME | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ERIM GOMEZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROLINE KURTZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| EVA-MARIA MAGGI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ED MONNIG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NANCY SEILER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2022: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THURSTON ELFSTROM | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $69,516 | $10,175 |
| KATIE GUFFIN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| PEGGY CHRISTIAN | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| HANK FISCHER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| CHERYL CARRINGTON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| JOANN DUCHARME | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| ERIM GOMEZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHANIE LAMBERT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROLINE KURTZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| EVA-MARIA MAGGI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| ED MONNIG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| RICK ONCKEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
| ASHLEY PARKS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.73 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 120 HICKORY STREET, MISSOULA, MT 59801-1820
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- MARILYN MARLER, 120 HICKORY ST, MISSOULA, MT 59801
- Signed the 990
- MARILYN MARLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (406) 327-0405
- Website
- WWW.MONTANANATURALIST.ORG
- Return prepared by
- PINION LLC
Mission
THE MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER PROMOTES APPRECIATION, UNDERSTANDING, AND STEWARDSHIP OF NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATION.
Program accomplishments
- THE MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER PROMOTES APPRECIATION, UNDERSTANDING, AND STEWARDSHIP OF NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATION. DURING 2025, THE MNHC AWARDED A TOTAL OF 33 SCHOLARSHIPS RELATED TO MNHC COURSES AND CAMPS. MNHC PROVIDED A VISITING NATURALIST TO 71 SCHOOL CLASSROOMS.Expenses $840,196 · revenue $205,416
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 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 81-0472379
- 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
- 1992
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C60)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,851,493
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,199,500
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $1,109,234 | $996,316 | $1,851,493 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $839,660 | $878,912 | $1,738,350 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $845,304 | $1,163,741 | $1,735,336 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,221,330 | $1,028,296 | $2,025,703 | XML |
| 990-T | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2017 | – | – | – | 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 81-0472379).
Questions about MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC
- What is the EIN of MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC is 81-0472379.
- Is MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1992.
- Are donations to MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC 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 MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC 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 MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC 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 MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names MARILYN MARLER.
- Who are the officers and directors of MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 10 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $71,464 (MARILYN MARLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does MONTANA NATURAL HISTORY CENTER INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,109,234, expenses of $996,316 and total assets of $1,851,493 at year end.
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