Barbareno Ventureno Band of Mission Indians
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The specific objective and purpose of the Barbareo/Ventureo Band of Mission Indians is to bring the Chumash Indian people together for the purposes of educational development and community involvement. The means of providing such education includes, but is not limited to, art, storytelling, music, dance, and other art forms.
- Income
- $124,126
- Spending
- $60,380
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 36.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 10
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 87% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 36.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 (4)
- $29,894 spent. Water and Land Stewardship - This program consists of: 1. Stewardship and protection of a conservation easement at Caada Larga, preserving ancestral Chumash territory and its ecological and cultural resources for current and future generations. Safeguards ancestral landscape, supports ecological health, and maintains a place for cultural connection and traditional practice.2. Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy - In partnership with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, BVBMI developed training materials in cultural resource management. Tribal members trained through this program engage in active protection and monitoring work across ancestral territory.Trained tribal members protect our collective ancestral sites, artifacts, and landscapes, ensuring that Chumash cultural heritage is preserved on the land for future generations.Number of persons served: All 190 enrolled BVBMI tribal members benefit from the protection of shared ancestral resources; a smaller group of trained members carries out the on-the-ground stewardship work.3. Saticoy Property - Ongoing maintenance and stewardship of tribal lands at Saticoy. The Tribe is developing the property as a multi-purpose site supporting community, cultural, economic, and health-related activities. A central initiative is the establishment of a food forest cultivating traditional and nutritious foods on ancestral land.The property provides a place for cultural practice, intergenerational gathering, food sovereignty, and environmental stewardship, advancing Chumash community well-being on ancestral territory.Number of persons served: All 190 enrolled BVBMI tribal members, along with neighboring community members who participate in shared land-water stewardship and food-forest activities.
- $10,922 spent. Capacity Building - Purpose: BVBMI engaged a professional governance consultant to guide a comprehensive rewrite of the Tribes Constitution and Bylaws, and to draft a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that links and defines the relationship between these two governing documents. Capacity in this context refers to organizational capacity the internal infrastructure, governance documents, staff, systems, and tools that enable the Tribe to operate effectively and pursue its mission.Benefit to the Chumash community: Modernized governance documents strengthen tribal self-governance, decision-making, accountability, and long-term operational effectiveness. This foundational work supports every other program the Tribe undertakes.Number of persons served: All 190 enrolled BVBMI tribal members.
- $6,000 spent. Librado Scholarship - Purpose: Provides financial assistance to BVBMI tribal members pursuing educational goals. Eligible programs include four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, vocational and trade schools, and certification programs under consideration.Benefit to the Chumash community: Reduces financial barriers to higher education and skilled-trade training for tribal members, supporting individual advancement and the long-term economic and professional capacity of the Chumash community.Number of persons served: Available to all 190 enrolled BVBMI tribal members; 3 scholarships were awarded in the 2025/2026 cycle.
- $5,810 spent. Reviving Chumas Traditions Purpose: BVBMI first revival of Chumash traditions is constructing a tomol, the traditional Chumash plank canoe the first tomol built by the Tribe in nearly 180 years. The project encompasses construction, traditional knowledge transmission, and eventual ceremonial use.Benefit to the Chumash community: Although only a few tribal members are active in the construction and rowing of the tomol, the project serves as a powerful point of cultural pride, revitalization, and identity for the entire Tribe and the broader Chumash community.Number of persons served: All 190 enrolled BVBMI tribal members benefit culturally; a crew of 612 tribal members is directly engaged in building and rowing the tomol
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 October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on August 15, 2011.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.