Mending Wings
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Mending Wings exists to empower and heal Native youth through leadership development, cultural retention and revitalization programs, spirituality and our ways of life.
- Income
- $385,807
- Spending
- $407,199
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $51,525, president
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
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
- $149,837 spent. S.L.A.M. (Students Learning about Missions) Program - This program offers youth groups, college groups and families an opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture for a week and learn a different model of service and learning trips. Groups are invited to the Yakama Reservation as learners and listeners where we hope that healing happens between people groups.
- $58,411 spent. 4-1 Youth Group & Youth Council - A mid-week gathering for teens that is full of good food, fun games & prizes and impactful, inter-active teachings meant for Native youth on the Yakama Reservation in the 21st century. Youth Council is a program where Native teens are developed as leaders as they plan, develop and implement many of the activities and teachings for our various programs.
- $120,552 spent. Dancing Our Prayers - DOP are teams of Native teens who travel locally, regionally and nationally sharing their culture, spirituality and way of life. The youth and staff of Mending Wings drum & dance in full regalia, perform drama, give testimony and speak on conciliation issues between Native and non-Native America.
- $9,320 spent. Guys & Girls Night - A great program that is filled with food, fun and games. Teens participate in drug & alcohol-free events like skating, sledding, Get Air, movies, swimming, etc.
- $7,115 spent. Footprints of Our Elders - Cultural revitalization and retention classes where Native youth learn drum songs, how to dance traditional dances, our language, how to gather bark for cedar bark baskets, how to gather tule to make tule mats, bead-working and many other cultural learning activities.
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 May 2006.
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.