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Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations

EIN 20-0679235 · Evanston, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AND SHARE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT OF NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLES THROUGH THE COLLECTION, PRESERVATION, AND INTERPRETATION OF THEIR TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY ART AND MATERIAL CULTURE.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$555,246
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
8
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$105,475, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $156,824 spent. EXHIBITIONS AND GENERAL ADMISSION - ALMOST QUARTERLY, VISITORS CAN EXPLORE NEW INSPIRING EXHIBITS. THE MUSEUM RESEARCHES, DESIGNS AND DISPLAYS TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS ON NATIVE AMERICAN ART, CULTURE, AND HISTORY ALL TIED TO CURRENT AFFAIRS IN INDIAN COUNTRY. THE MUSEUM UTILIZES ITS OWN COLLECTION AND PIECES ON LOAN FROM NATIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTS, AND COLLECTORS. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS WHO ASSIST STAFF IN THE CONSTRUCTION, MOUNT- MAKING, AND INSTALLATION OF THE EXHIBITS. WHILE THIS IS A CORE ACTIVITY OF THE MUSEUM, THROUGH BUDGET CONSCIENCE INGENUITY THIS EXPENSE REMAINS LOW.
  2. $63,220 spent. COLLECTIONS - CENTRAL TO THE MUSEUM'S MISSION IS TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN ART AND MATERIAL CULTURE TO TELL THE STORIES OF AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLES FOR THIS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. SINCE 1977, THE COLLECTION HAS GROWN FROM 3,000 TO OVER 10,000 OBJECTS AND OVER 3,000 BOOKS REPRESENTING SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S BEST AMERICAN INDIAN TEXTILES, BASKETRY, BEADWORK, VISUAL ARTS, JEWELRY, AND SCULPTURE. THE MUSEUM PRIDES ITSELF IN THE DIVERSITY OF ITS COLLECTION COVERING TRIBES AND BANDS FROM THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. EXPENSES INCLUDE COLLECTIONS INSURANCE, STAFF TIME TO PROCESS, DOCUMENT, INVENTORY, AND RE-HOUSE THE COLLECTION, AND THE PURCHASE OF SHELVING UNITS, SUPPLIES, AND COLLECTIONS DATABASE SOFTWARE UPGRADES.
  3. $156,528 spent. PROGRAMS & EVENTS - THE MUSEUM IS A BUSTLING CENTER FOR LEARNING AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES WITH A DIVERSE RANGE OF PROGRAMS FROM ACADEMIC LECTURES, ARTIST-LED WORKSHOPS AND MUSIC AND DANCE DEMONSTRATIONS TO DEEPEN THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLES AND CULTURE. THE KIDS CRAFT MORNINGS, STORYTELLERS, DOCENT-LED TOURS FOR SCHOOL-AGE AND ADULT GROUPS AND ACTIVITY TABLES DEMONSTRATES THE MUSEUM'S REPUTATION AS A FAMILY FRIENDLY PLACE. THE MUSEUM ALSO OFFERS RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS GEARED TO ASSIST TEACHERS IN DISPELLING STEREOTYPES ABOUT NATIVE AMERICA PEOPLES AND CULTURE. OUR WEBSITE, LOAN BOX PROGRAM- OFFERING HANDS-ON OBJECTS AND REPRODUCTIONS, AND CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS BRING THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE INTO THE CLASSROOM.
  4. $20,960 spent. THE MUSEUM SHOP SELLS ITEMS DIRECTLY FROM AMERICAN INDIAN ARTISTS OR APPROVED VENDORS, MANY NATIVE AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESSES. AS A MEMBER OF THE INDIAN ARTS & CRAFTS ASSOCIATION WE SELL AUTHENTIC ITEMS IN THE STORE FOLLOWING OUR MISSION TO PROMOTE AND SHARE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLES THROUGH THEIR TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY ART AND MATERIAL CULTURE. BY BUYING HAND-MADE JEWELRY, BASKETS OR BOOKS ON NATIVE CULTURES, VISITORS CAN TAKE HOME AND SHARE AMERICAN INDIAN ART AND CULTURE BEYOND THE MUSEUM'S WALLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.