Montana Land Reliance
2010 Financial Results

Creation of MLR Foundation an important step forward

Two thousand ten saw the implementation of an important piece of The Montana Land Reliance’s (MLR) long-term plan with the implementation of the Montana Land Reliance Foundation (MLR Foundation). This 509(a)(3) support organization to MLR, in July became the repository for MLR’s invested assets. This separate organization provides an additional layer of protection for invested funds and provides annual grants to MLR for appropriate support of MLR activities.

The General Fund and the Land Acquisition Fund, neither of which have invested assets, remain the operating accounts for MLR. Donations continue to be made to MLR and those designated for particular funds or purposes are passed through to the MLR Foundation.

As a result of this transition, 2010 provided unique challenges in terms of measuring financial growth. That said, there is no arguing that 2010 was an outstanding year.

Through the gifts of MLR’s family of friends, MLR operated in the black in 2010, and interest income in the MLR Foundation provided $454,250 to help fund the stewardship of MLR’s 751 easements and support outreach programs across Montana.

The value of invested assets transferred from MLR to the MLR Foundation grew by over $1.3 million; $13,191,727 at the end of 2009 to $14,503,609 at the end of 2010.

At the same time, MLR invested in the land, spending more than $400,000 from its Land Acquisition Fund to make strategic bargain purchases that resulted in more than 6,000 acres of important conservation that preserved the farm and ranch heritage of landscapes under immediate threat.

The tables below shows the MLR Foundation and MLR account balances at the end of 2010, as well as a brief description of how the funds entrusted to MLR and the MLR Foundation are used to further the mission of The Montana Land Reliance.

MLR FOUNDATION

Land Protection Fund $8,809,046 The corpus is available to defend and protect land already under easement; income is used for stewardship projects, monitoring easements, and completing easements for donors who cannot cover these costs.

Education & Outreach Fund $3,353,059 Income finances conservation education and outreach to landowners and the public.

Eastern Montana Fund $1,045,986 Income finances outreach and land conservation in the eastern portion of the state.

Amy Eaton Royer Glacier/Flathead Fund $836,113 Income finances outreach and land conservation in northwestern Montana.

Conservation Fund $334,285 A permanent, irrevocable endowment designed to accept planned gifts from individuals or direct gifts from corporations, partnerships, or estates.

Traditions Fund $125,120 Provides an income stream for bargain purchases of conservation easements.

MONTANA LAND RELIANCE

General Fund $674,901 Pays the day-to-day expenses that finance our operation.

Land Acquisition Fund $407,742 Provides a source of funding for “bridge” or option purchases of threatened property and select bargain purchases of conservation easements.