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Human Services : Food Banks, Food Pantries, and Food Distribution

Montana Food Bank Network

Feeding Montana for over 30 years.

four stars

96.46

5625 Expressway Missoula, MT 59808
tel: (406) 721-3825   Web Site
EIN: 81-0421243

Board Leadership
Mary Lehman
Chair

CEO
Gayle Carlson
Chief Executive Officer

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 96.46 four stars
  Financial 95.00 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 100.00 four stars
This rating was published 03/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Founded in 1983, the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to end hunger in Montana through food acquisition and distribution, education and advocacy. As a statewide food bank, MFBN solicits, sorts, repackages, warehouses, and distributes donated and purchased food to charitable programs that directly serve hungry Montanans. From a main warehouse and office in Missoula, MFBN distributes emergency food across the state through a network of nearly 200 Partner Agencies. MFBN is the only fully privileged Montana member of Feeding America, the national hunger fighting organization.

Each year the Montana Food Bank Network distributes approximately 8 million pounds of food around the state. MFBN partners with local emergency food programs to feed those who may otherwise go hungry, including women and children, the elderly, people with disabilities and the working poor.

Founded in 1983, the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to end hunger in Montana through food acquisition and distribution, education and advocacy. As a statewide food bank, MFBN solicits, sorts, repackages, warehouses, and distributes donated and purchased food to charitable programs that directly serve hungry Montanans. From a main warehouse and office in Missoula, MFBN distributes emergency food across the state through a network of nearly 200 Partner Agencies. MFBN is the only fully privileged Montana member of Feeding America, the national hunger fighting organization.

Each year the Montana Food Bank Network distributes approximately 8 million pounds of food around the state. MFBN partners with local emergency food programs to feed those who may otherwise go hungry, including women and children, the elderly, people with disabilities and the working poor.

Impact Information

data icon
This charity has reported a measure of cost-effectiveness: how much impact (per dollar) your donation will have on the charity's social outcome. The cost-effectiveness calculation was performed using protocols developed by ImpactMatters, an independent auditor of philanthropic impact.

For nonprofits that run multiple programs, we highlight the impact of one program below.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Program Name: Montana Food Bank Network
Program Activities
Montana Food Bank Network primarily collects, warehouses and distributes food to front-line organizations like food pantries and soup kitchens. It also manages smaller programs that provide groceries directly to beneficiaries.
Impact Statement
$1 provides a meal to a person in need.
Impact Assessment
5/5
Assessment Benchmark
Impact assessments of food distribution programs are based on the cost of a meal relative to the cost that a food-secure person incurs to buy a meal in that county. Programs receive a 5/5 assessment if they are less than 75% the cost of a meal and a 4/5 assessment if they are less than 125%. If a nonprofit reports impact but doesn't meet the threshold for cost-effectiveness, it earns a 3/5 assessment.
Methodology
ImpactMatters analyzed publicly available data to rate the cost-effectiveness of Montana Food Bank Network.
Data Source
Outcome data collected during the program. Montana Food Bank Network publicly reports the amount of food it provides.
Method for Attributing Outcomes
We assume that the distribution of a meal from one nonprofit's food distribution program does not diminish the amount of food distributed by any other (neighboring) food distribution program. This “counterfactual” assumption about the amount of food distributed in the absence of Montana Food Bank Network’s food distribution program implies that the benefit of a meal to a beneficiary in need constitutes a net gain; the gain is not offset by reductions in food provided to other beneficiaries in need. We therefore set the counterfactual to zero.
Details
Analysis conducted by ImpactMatters and published on November 22, 2019.
Few charities provide estimates of cost-effectiveness, but the measure is exactly what discerning donors need to make effective decisions about spending their philanthropic dollars. This charity has estimated cost-effectiveness using either the Guided Impact Reporting (G.I.R.) free app created by ImpactMatters or by undergoing a rigorous audit of its impact by ImpactMatters. The G.I.R. app guides the charity through a tightly scripted series of questions that generate an estimate of cost-effectiveness. The protocol takes all due account of estimates of counterfactual successes and other dictates of social science. Impact audits provide expert independent assessment of the charity's cost-effectiveness and evidence of effectiveness.
This impact information is current as of April 2020, when it was provided to us by ImpactMatters. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

four stars

95.00

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

100.00

This rating was published 03/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 95.4%
  Administrative Expenses 1.3%
  Fundraising Expenses 3.1%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.03
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.20
  Program Expenses Growth 16.2%
  Liabilities to Assets 3.5%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Montana Food Bank Network on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Montana Food Bank Network on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Montana Food Bank Network (MT) 96.46 four stars
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (CA) 88.81 three stars
Northeast Iowa Food Bank (IA) 97.17 four stars
United Food Bank (AZ) 87.91 three stars
City Harvest (NY) 87.30 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $18,977,264
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $146,076
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $300,931
Total Contributions $19,424,271
   Program Service Revenue $1,448,429
Total Primary Revenue $20,872,700
   Other Revenue $162,773
TOTAL REVENUE $21,035,473
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $20,172,932
   Administrative Expenses $291,079
   Fundraising Expenses $596,566
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $21,060,577
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-25,104
   
Net Assets $3,896,857

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Emergency Food Distribution $19,927,552 98.8%
Policy Advocacy and Outreach Program $245,380 1.2%

Ratings History
Montana Food Bank Network has received 5 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2019-06 03/01/2020 96.46 four stars
2018-06 04/01/2019 95.47 four stars
2017-06 04/01/2018 92.02 four stars
2016-06 08/01/2017 92.43 four stars
2015-06 09/01/2016 90.53 four stars
2015-06 08/01/2016 87.60 three stars
2014-06 06/01/2016 92.38 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-06 07/01/2015 94.69 four stars
2013-06 08/01/2014 95.20 four stars
2012-06 06/01/2013 95.08 four stars
2011-06 05/01/2012 97.82 four stars
2009-12 10/01/2011 96.36 four stars
2009-12 09/20/2011 83.57 three stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-12 03/01/2011 96.76 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 81-0421243
Name in IRS Master File MONTANA FOOD BANK NETWORK INC
NTEE Code K31
NTEE Classification Food Banks, Food Pantries
NTEE Type Food, Agriculture and Nutrition
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (560) Supplying money, goods or services to the poor
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date September, 1984
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2018
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$84,230 0.39% Gayle Carlson CEO

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Montana Food Bank Network (MT) 96.46 four stars
Northeast Iowa Food Bank (IA) 97.17 four stars
Harvesters: The Community Food Network (MO) 90.98 four stars
East Texas Food Bank (TX) 100.00 four stars
Arkansas Foodbank (AR) 90.22 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Montana Food Bank Network
5625 Expressway
Missoula, MT 59808
tel: (406) 721-3825
fax: (406) 542-3770
EIN: 81-0421243

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Mary Lehman
Chair

CEO

Gayle Carlson
Chief Executive Officer

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