Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation

What Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation does

The Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MTMC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Billings, Montana that funds MSF-certified motorcycle rider training and safety education programs across the state. The foundation does not deliver courses directly; instead, it provides financial subsidies and scholarships that reduce the cost of Basic Rider Courses, Basic RiderCourse 2, and Advanced RiderCourses offered by certified providers such as the Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety (MMRS) Program at Helena College. MTMC also publishes a library of 116+ free safety articles covering gear selection, defensive riding, licensing, group riding, and Montana-specific hazards (wildlife collisions, winter weather, remote terrain), and sponsors community rides and safety clinics from Billings to the Hi-Line.

The organization's revenue model is donation-driven. It accepts one-time and recurring gifts (starting at $25, which sponsors two riders) processed through Stripe, and operates the Montana Motorcycle Foundation Plate — an official Montana state specialty license plate sold for $50 with proceeds dedicated to rider education. MTMC maintains a strategic partnership with the Montana Department of Public Safety (DPS), which approves MSF curriculum statewide and effectively designates MTMC-funded courses as fulfillment of the state's motorcycle endorsement training requirement. Riders who complete the MSF Basic Rider Course also waive the Montana DMV riding skills test, and experienced riders completing the Advanced RiderCourse may qualify for insurer premium discounts of 10–20%. The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors and reports no parent entity, investor ownership, or institutional funding.

MTMC's product portfolio consists of four core offerings: (1) MSF Basic Rider Course funding, (2) community rides and events, (3) a free rider safety education resource library, and (4) the Foundation Plate specialty license program. Distribution occurs through the foundation's website (mtmcfoundation.org), channel partners (certified MSF providers), and a fulfillment relationship with the Montana DMV for the Foundation Plate. The organization does not develop proprietary technology — its technology footprint is limited to Stripe payment processing, a WordPress-style content site, and standard contact/CRM tooling. The foundation explicitly positions itself as independent from state government, the DMV, and DPS despite its operational integration with all three.

Name

Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Legal name

Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Website

https://mtmcfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Billings, Montana that funds MSF-certified motorcycle rider training, publishes free safety education resources, and operates the $50 Montana Foundation Plate to support rider safety programs statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rider Safety Education

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Motorsport Sanctioning Bodies (FIA/FIM/IMSA, etc.) (MPAKAFAH)

Keywords

• Motorcycle safety training
• Rider education programs
• Nonprofit safety foundation
• MSF basic rider course
• Community rider awareness

Headquarters

HQ city

Billings

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: MTMC receives tax-deductible donations from riders, families, businesses, and community partners. Donations are accepted as one-time or monthly recurring gifts via secure credit card processing through Stripe. Donations fund MSF-certified rider training programs, safety education resources, community events, and ongoing operations.
2. Foundation Plate Sales: The Montana Motorcycle Foundation Plate is an official Montana state license plate sold for $50 through MTMC. Every dollar in proceeds funds motorcycle rider education programs statewide. The $50 payment may be partially tax-deductible as a charitable contribution.
3. MSF Course Funding (Not Direct Revenue): MTMC provides financial support to MSF Basic Rider Courses offered by certified providers across Montana. The foundation funds course subsidies and scholarships for riders who cannot afford training, rather than operating courses directly. Course fees ($200–$350) are paid by riders to providers, not to MTMC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds MSF-certified Basic Rider Courses across Montana, delivers free rider safety education resources (116+ articles), sponsors community group rides and safety clinics, and sells the $50 Montana Motorcycle Foundation Plate whose proceeds support rider education programs statewide.

Product overview

The Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MTMC) operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering a portfolio of rider safety products and services centered on MSF-certified motorcycle training, community engagement, and safety education. The core offerings include: MSF Basic Rider Courses funded across Montana (DPS-approved, fulfills endorsement requirements), Community Rides & Events (group rides and safety clinics statewide), Rider Safety Education Resources (116+ free articles, gear guides, and Montana-specific hazard awareness), and the Montana Foundation Plate (a $50 official state specialty license plate with proceeds dedicated to rider education programs). These services are funded through donations, the Foundation Plate program, and are supported by a blog library of safety resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MSF Basic Rider Courses MSF-certified Basic Rider Course training funded by MTMC across Montana and approved by the Department of Public Safety. Completion fulfills the state motorcycle endorsement training requirement and waives the Montana DMV riding skills test. Course fees ($200–$350) are paid by riders to certified providers, with MTMC subsidizing qualifying riders.
• Community Rides & Events Community group rides and safety clinics sponsored by MTMC throughout Montana, from Billings to the Hi-Line region, building a network of informed, safety-conscious riders.
• Rider Safety Education Resources Free safety guides for Montana riders covering gear selection, licensing information, defensive riding techniques, and Montana-specific hazard awareness (wildlife collisions, winter storage, helmet laws, emergency kits, progressive skill development).
• Montana Motorcycle Foundation Plate Official Montana state specialty license plate sold for $50 by MTMC. Every dollar in proceeds funds motorcycle rider education programs statewide. Requires a Montana-registered vehicle and is issued by the Montana DMV with MTMC's partner fulfillment team managing the application paperwork. The $50 payment may be partially tax-deductible as a charitable contribution.

Quantifiable outcome

• Studies consistently show that MSF-trained riders have significantly lower crash rates than untrained riders
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Montana Department of Public Safety (DPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTMC partners with Montana's Department of Public Safety to support DPS-approved rider education programs statewide. DPS sets curriculum standards for motorcycle endorsement training and approves MSF courses. MTMC provides financial support to ensure riders have access to certified training across Montana.
• Montana Motorcycle Rider Safety (MMRS) Program at Helena CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MMRS program at Helena College offers certified MSF courses across Montana and is referenced by MTMC as a key training provider. MTMC and MMRS work together to provide accessible rider education statewide, with MMRS offering Basic RiderCourse, BRC2, and Advanced RiderCourse options.
• Montana DMVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Montana DMV issues the Montana Motorcycle Foundation Plate. MTMC facilitates purchases and ensures proceeds reach rider education programs. The DMV handles plate issuance while MTMC's partner fulfillment team manages the application paperwork.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP): The largest U.S. state motorcycle safety program, administering CMSP-certified rider training across California. Comparable to MTMC in mission (state-level rider safety training access) but operating at vastly greater scale and with state-government involvement.
• Team Oregon Motorcycle Safety Program: Oregon's state-level motorcycle rider training program delivering MSF-certified courses statewide. Closely comparable to MTMC's mission and operating model in a neighboring Pacific Northwest/Mountain West state with similar rural riding conditions.
• Washington Motorcycle Safety Program: Washington State DOT-administered motorcycle safety and training program. Operates MSF-certified courses statewide and is a state-government-run analog of MTMC's training-funding model.
• Idaho STAR Motorcycle Safety Program: Idaho's state-administered motorcycle rider training and education program. Directly comparable regional peer offering MSF-certified courses, sharing similar geographic challenges (rural terrain, wildlife hazards) with Montana.
• Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF): The national 501(c)(3) that develops and licenses the MSF Basic RiderCourse, BRC2, and Advanced RiderCourse curricula that MTMC funds. MSF is the upstream curriculum and certification authority on which MTMC's entire training model depends, making it the most directly comparable peer.

Regional players

• ABATE of Montana: Montana state chapter of ABATE (motorcycle rights and safety advocacy). Operates in the same Montana motorcycle community as MTMC and shares overlapping rider-safety messaging, though its primary mission is legislative advocacy rather than training funding.

Emerging players

• Ride Alive Motorcycle Safety Foundation: Smaller nonprofit focused on motorcycle safety awareness and rider education. Comparable mission to MTMC (motorcycle safety education) but at smaller scale and without the state-DMV/DPS institutional partnerships MTMC has built.

Broad incumbents

• American Motorcyclist Association (AMA): The largest U.S. motorcyclist membership organization, advocating for riders' rights and providing broader services (membership, racing, magazine) that overlap thematically with MTMC's rider-community engagement but on a national scale.
• Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF): National motorcycle rights and advocacy organization focused on federal legislation and rider protection. Operates in the same motorcyclist-ecosystem space as MTMC but as a national lobbying body rather than a state safety-training foundation.

Others

• Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC): National trade association representing motorcycle manufacturers, dealers, and distributors. Adjacent to MTMC through shared interest in rider safety and industry sustainability, but operates as an industry body rather than a safety-training nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation