Association on American Indian Affairs Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOUNDED IN 1922, THE ASSOCIATION ASSISTS AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE NATIONS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE FULL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CIVIC EQUALITY, AND TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS. THE ASSOCIATION IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSISTING OF PROMINENT NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM SUCH FIELDS OF LAW, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICES, AND IS FUNDED BY ITS MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 33.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $225,008, chief execut
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 33.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 57% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 56% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $537,190 spent. CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY: CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY MEANS SIMPLY RETURNING CONTROL OVER THE THINGS THAT MAKE US WHO WE ARE AS NATIVE PEOPLES. OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY, COLONIAL POWERS HAVE FORCIBLY REMOVED US FROM OUR HOMELANDS, LOOTED OUR GRAVES AND SACRED PLACES, OUTLAWED OUR LANGUAGES AND RELIGIONS, AND KIDNAPPED OUR CHILDREN. THE ASSOCIATION'S CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY PROGRAM WORKS TO DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE - SUCH AS FEDERAL, STATE AND NATIVE NATION LAWS AND POLICIES THAT WILL SUPPORT THE RETURN OF OUR STOLEN LANDS, ANCESTORS, RELIGIOUS PRACTICES, LANGUAGES, IDENTITY, AND BRINGING HOME OUR CHILDREN WHO DIED AT BOARDING SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, THE ASSOCIATION DEVELOPS TRAINING, STRATEGIES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO BUILD CAPACITY WITHIN NATIVE NATIONS, AND WORK TO CHANGE PERSPECTIVES OF THOSE WHO WISH TO HOLD ONTO OUR CULTURE WITHOUT FREE, PRIOR AND INFORMED CONSENT. CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY: CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY MEANS SIMPLY RETURNING CONTROL OVER THE THINGS THAT MAKE US WHO WE ARE AS NATIVE PEOPLES. OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY, COLONIAL POWERS HAVE FORCIBLY REMOVED US FROM OUR HOMELANDS, LOOTED OUR GRAVES AND SACRED PLACES, OUTLAWED OUR LANGUAGES AND RELIGIONS, AND KIDNAPPED OUR CHILDREN. THE ASSOCIATION'S CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY PROGRAM WORKS TO DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE - SUCH AS FEDERAL, STATE AND NATIVE NATION LAWS AND POLICIES THAT WILL SUPPORT THE RETURN OF OUR STOLEN LANDS, ANCESTORS, RELIGIOUS PRACTICES, LANGUAGES, IDENTITY, AND BRINGING HOME OUR CHILDREN WHO DIED AT BOARDING SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, THE ASSOCIATION DEVELOPS TRAINING, STRATEGIES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO BUILD CAPACITY WITHIN NATIVE NATIONS, AND WORK TO CHANGE PERSPECTIVES OF THOSE WHO WISH TO HOLD ONTO OUR CULTURE WITHOUT FREE, PRIOR AND INFORMED CONSENT.
- $312,375 spent. NEXT GENERATIONS: THE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN PROVIDING GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO STRENGTHEN AND BUILD OUR NEXT GENERATION OF ADVOCATES AND WISDOM KEEPERS. THE ASSOCIATION IS THE OLDEST SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDER TO NATIVE STUDENTS SINCE 1947; AND HAVE BEEN PROVIDING FUNDING FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMING SINCE 1963. MAINTAINING AND HEALING OUR FAMILIES IS ALSO PARAMOUNT TO OUR NEXT GENERATIONS PROGRAM. THE ASSOCIATION BEGAN ITS ADVOCACY IN INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ISSUES IN THE 1960S AND ITS RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY DIRECTLY LED TO THE ENACTMENT OF THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT OF 1978 - WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER ATTACK BY DEEP POCKETS. THROUGH LITIGATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, THE ASSOCIATION IS FIGHTING TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF NATIVE FAMILIES. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO IS WORKING TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE RESOURCES IN OUR YOUTH JUSTICE PROGRAMS TO KEEP YOUTH IN SCHOOL AND OUT OF DETENTION AND INCARCERATION. NEXT GENERATIONS: THE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN PROVIDING GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO STRENGTHEN AND BUILD OUR NEXT GENERATION OF ADVOCATES AND WISDOM KEEPERS. THE ASSOCIATION IS THE OLDEST SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDER TO NATIVE STUDENTS SINCE 1947; AND HAVE BEEN PROVIDING FUNDING FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMMING SINCE 1963. MAINTAINING AND HEALING OUR FAMILIES IS ALSO PARAMOUNT TO OUR NEXT GENERATIONS PROGRAM. THE ASSOCIATION BEGAN ITS ADVOCACY IN INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ISSUES IN THE 1960S AND ITS RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY DIRECTLY LED TO THE ENACTMENT OF THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT OF 1978 - WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER ATTACK BY DEEP POCKETS. THROUGH LITIGATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, THE ASSOCIATION IS FIGHTING TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF NATIVE FAMILIES. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO IS WORKING TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE RESOURCES IN OUR YOUTH JUSTICE PROGRAMS TO KEEP YOUTH IN SCHOOL AND OUT OF DETENTION AND INCARCERATION.
- $230,214 spent. BECOME AN ALLY: THE ASSOCIATION ON AMERICAN INDIAN AFFAIRS HAS OVER 100 YEARS OF PROVIDING MEANINGFUL PUBLIC EDUCATION ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT NATIVE COUNTRY AND DOES SO THROUGH ITS BECOME AN ALLY PROGRAM. THE ASSOCIATION BELIEVES THAT A SOCIETY THAT UNDERSTANDS NATIVE PEOPLES, THEIR SOVEREIGN NATIONS AND DIVERSE CULTURES WILL MAKE BETTER DECISIONS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ECONOMY, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND HOW WE CAN ALL EXIST TOGETHER ON ONE PLANET. THE BECOME AN ALLY PROGRAM IS ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL SUPPORT ALLYSHIP, EDUCATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR WORLD AND EACH OTHER. THIS PROGRAM UTILIZES OUR VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO DELIVER PUBLIC EDUCATION, CREATE PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE, AND ENCOURAGE ACTION FROM OUR SUPPORTERS ABOUT NATIVE NATION ISSUES. BECOME AN ALLY IS OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATION ARM THAT WORKS TO LIFT UP NATIVE COUNTRY BY SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAM SUCCESSES AND HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT OUR VISION, MISSION AND GOALS. BECOME AN ALLY INCLUDES ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATION'S 100 YEARS OF HISTORY, OUR INDIAN AFFAIRS JOURNAL THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED SINCE THE 1930S, OUR INTERNSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, MURDERED AND MISSING INDIGENOUS RELATIVES, AND RED HOOP TALK VIDEO PODCAST, AMONG OTHER PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES. BECOME AN ALLY: THE ASSOCIATION ON AMERICAN INDIAN AFFAIRS HAS OVER 100 YEARS OF PROVIDING MEANINGFUL PUBLIC EDUCATION ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT NATIVE COUNTRY AND DOES SO THROUGH ITS BECOME AN ALLY PROGRAM. THE ASSOCIATION BELIEVES THAT A SOCIETY THAT UNDERSTANDS NATIVE PEOPLES, THEIR SOVEREIGN NATIONS AND DIVERSE CULTURES WILL MAKE BETTER DECISIONS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ECONOMY, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND HOW WE CAN ALL EXIST TOGETHER ON ONE PLANET. THE BECOME AN ALLY PROGRAM IS ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT WILL SUPPORT ALLYSHIP, EDUCATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR WORLD AND EACH OTHER. THIS PROGRAM UTILIZES OUR VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO DELIVER PUBLIC EDUCATION, CREATE PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE, AND ENCOURAGE ACTION FROM OUR SUPPORTERS ABOUT NATIVE NATION ISSUES. BECOME AN ALLY IS OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATION ARM THAT WORKS TO LIFT UP NATIVE COUNTRY BY SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAM SUCCESSES AND HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT OUR VISION, MISSION AND GOALS. BECOME AN ALLY INCLUDES ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATION'S 100 YEARS OF HISTORY, OUR INDIAN AFFAIRS JOURNAL THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED SINCE THE 1930S, OUR INTERNSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, MURDERED AND MISSING INDIGENOUS RELATIVES, AND RED HOOP TALK VIDEO PODCAST, AMONG OTHER PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1957.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
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