The Montana Land Reliance
The mission of the Montana Land Reliance (MLR) is to partner with landowners to provide permanent protection for private lands that are significant for agricultural production, fish and wildlife habitat, and open space.
The Montana Land Reliance at a glance
In short: The Montana Land Reliance gave $274K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $137K), mostly in Montana. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $274,223
- -91.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $137,112
- -91.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $137,112
- Total assets
- $36,860,365
- +8.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Montana (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Montana Land Reliance funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Montana Land Reliance Foundation ($248K). Together the top 2 received $274K.
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 7 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Montana Land Reliance gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−16%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $166K (2022) to $3.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $274K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Land Reliance Foundation Helena, MT | Sch I, STMT 1 | $247,973 |
| Ruby Habitat Foundation Sheridan, MT | Sch I, STMT 1 | $26,250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $36,860,365 | $26,137,405 | $23,197,893 | $274,223 | 2 | $1,610,623 |
| 2023 | $33,839,729 | $37,886,901 | $17,659,737 | $3,323,467 | 2 | $12,457,547 |
| 2022 | $13,663,260 | $13,399,553 | $13,912,399 | $165,985 | 1 | $282,548 |
| 2021 | $13,853,510 | $21,937,428 | $16,197,066 | $324,853 | 1 | $151,818 |
| 2020 | $8,429,136 | $7,515,997 | $6,321,148 | $473,375 | 1 | $84,642 |
About The Montana Land Reliance
Based on IRS filings
The Montana Land Reliance is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Helena, MT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $36.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $274K. Net investment income was $1.6M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Montana Land Reliance is led by Shane Colton, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 16 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Shane Colton
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jordan Vana
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$83K (2020) → $112K (2024)
Kendall Van Dyk
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$93K (2020) → $129K (2024)
Katie Stokes
Managing Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$82K (2022) → $107K (2024)
Caroline Kurtz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Montague
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Vermillion
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Leuschen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George S. Olsen
Director
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Sorenson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirsten Feldman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Berg
Director
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Pribyl
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Errol Rice
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phil Rostad
Secretary-Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Taya R. Cromley PhD
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Jerry Townsend (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Allen Bjergo (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Judy Tureck (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ken Wilson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lois Delger-Demars (2020–2021) — Managing Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $129K, to Kendall Van DYK (Managing Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Montana Land Reliance
How much does The Montana Land Reliance give each year?
The Montana Land Reliance gave $274K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.3M across 2 grants.
How large is The Montana Land Reliance?
The Montana Land Reliance reported $36.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $26.1M.
What is The Montana Land Reliance?
The Montana Land Reliance is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Helena, MT. It holds $36.9M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does The Montana Land Reliance operate?
The Montana Land Reliance has awarded grants in Montana.
What is The Montana Land Reliance's EIN?
The Montana Land Reliance's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0369262. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 8, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Montana Land Reliance funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Montana Land Reliance's focus areas in our free grants database
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The Montana Land Reliance down — hundreds of funders to go?