2020: COVID, Campaign, and Gianforte Charitable Cash
The Gianforte Family Charitable Trust, also known as the Gianforte Family Foundation, has a lot of money to grant – more than $200 Million, as a matter of fact.
The Gianforte Family Charitable Trust’s most recently available public record on giving is their 2020 Form 990. A Form 990 is an annual report of nonprofit organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status filed with the IRS.
Taking a look at the Gianforte Family Foundation’s Form 990, the illustration below from Propublica Nonprofit Explorer summarizes 2020, showing the year ending with total assets nearing $208 million. Charitable disbursements were $10,187,195, which according to the IRS, includes all related costs “(including administrative expenses) to accomplish charitable, etc., purposes.” Trustees are Greg and Susan Gianforte and their son, Richard.
The Form 990 includes more information about Trustees, reporting “the average hours per week devoted to position.” In 2020, Greg reported 2 hours, Susan 4 hours and Richard 1 hour, with Susan receiving compensation at $12,000 annually. It is interesting to note that Greg Gianforte was also running for Governor of Montana in 2020 and won election in November of that year.
According to the Foundation’s 2020 Annual Giving Report, the geographic distribution of $9,742,042 granted to nonprofits favors Montana organizations.
Source: 2020 Annual Giving Report
Gianforte Family Foundation Form 990 Part XV, Supplemental Information, provides details on each grant recipient in 2020, such as the name, address and donation amount. Just Facts noticed there is a discrepancy in what the Gianforte Family Foundation reported in their Annual Giving Report and the IRS Form 990 total for Contributions, gifts, and grants.
Why did the Foundation under-report the giving total for grants in their 2020 Annual Report available for the public? What is missing?
Grant Total Gianforte Foundation 2020 Annual Report $9,742,042
Grant Total Gianforte Trust 2020 IRS Form 990 -$9,977,042
Foundation Annual Report Under-reported ($235,000)
We don’t know why the grants are not the same for the Gianforte Family Foundation’s 2020 Annual Report and their IRS non-profit Form 990. What we do know are these facts about 2020:
Fact: The Gianforte Charitable Trust IRS Form 990 includes two (2) donations to the Montana Family Institute (commonly referred to as the Montana Family Foundation). Snapshot of these two donations below:
Source: Propublica, Gianforte Family Foundation 2020 Form 990, page 11
Fact: The Montana Family Institute’s 2020 Form 990 includes a receipt of a noncash contribution valued at $240,000 for a residential building. Snapshot below:
Source: Montana Family Institute 2020 Form 990, Schedule M
Questions have been raised about the intention of the $240,000 real estate gift from the Gianforte Family Foundation to the Montana Family Institute as explained in these news articles:
Montana Dems accuse Lt. Gov. Juras, Montana Family Foundation of ethics violations Daily Montanan December 20, 2022, and
Complaint questions lieutenant governor's rental from nonprofit Bozeman Chronicle January 8, 2023.
At the time of the writing of this blog, the investigation is pending and will be updated at a later date.
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As we all know, 2020 was a challenging year because COVID affected all aspects of our personal and professional lives. The Foundation’s 2020 Giving Report explains how it modified its giving strategy by “initiated funding for food banks and churches to better minister to their communities”; “backed programs at the University of Montana and MSU to advance vaccines and telehealth”; and, collaborated with Relational Wisdom 360 and REBOOT Recovery “to fortify teams of partner nonprofits around the state, through timely, practical training tools.”
Source: Gianforte Family Foundation 2020 Giving Report
In a prior blog, Gianforte Foundation Giving & Family Philosophy, we talked about the Foundation’s conservative Christian values-based approach to giving. Read more about these two partners whose scope grew in 2020, the same year that Greg Gianforte was running a gubernatorial campaign:
Relational Wisdom 360 is a nonprofit based in Billings, MT.
Mission: to equip Christians to develop strong, enduring and attractive relationships that display the love of Jesus Christ and the transforming power of his gospel. Source: RW360’s websiteREBOOT Recovery is a nonprofit located in Pleasant View, Tenn..
Mission: Too many people never heal from trauma and it ends up controlling their lives. That's why we help people overcome trauma through faith based programs so they can embrace a brighter future. Source: REBOOT Recovery - GuideStar Profile
What’s next?
Our next blog will map out 2020 to show you where all the organizations who received Gianforte Family Foundation grants are located across the nation.
Sources:
REBOOT Recovery - GuideStar Profile
Propublica, Gianforte Family Foundation 2020 Form 990
Propublica, Montana Family Institute 2020 Form 990
Montana Dems accuse Lt. Gov. Juras, Montana Family Foundation of ethics violations Daily Montanan Dec 2022
Complaint questions lieutenant governor's rental from nonprofit Bozeman Chronicle Jan 2023
Gianforte Family Foundation 2020 Giving Report
