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Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Inc

EIN 26-1595870 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 83 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURES FOUNDATION ADVANCES EQUITY AND CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE, FOCUSING ON THE POWER OF ARTS AND COLLABORATION TO STRENGTHEN NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND PROMOTE POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE WITH AMERICAN INDIAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLES IN THE US.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
30.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
20
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$185,361, president & ceo

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 90% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 83 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

    14 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $1.6 million spent. SHIFT: TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE + INDIGENOUS ARTS SUPPORTS NATIVE ARTISTS, CURATORS, AND ARTIST COLLECTIVES IN CREATING AND PRESENTING INNOVATIVE, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROJECTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL-CHANGE ISSUES. SHIFT FOCUSES ON EFFORTS GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY CULTURAL ASSETS, RESILIENCE, AND STRENGTHS, DRAWING INCREASED ATTENTION TO NATIVE COMMUNITIES, PERSPECTIVES, AND CHALLENGES WHILE SHIFTING NARRATIVES OF INVISIBILITY, MISUNDERSTANDING, AND MISAPPROPRIATION. SHIFT PROVIDES MULTI-YEAR SUPPORT, INCLUDING $100,000 TWO-YEAR AWARDS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PROJECT EVALUATION, DOCUMENTATION, AND MARKETING SUPPORT.
  2. LIFT: EARLY CAREER SUPPORT FOR NATIVE ARTISTS SUPPORTS EMERGING NATIVE ARTISTS TO DEVELOP NEW WORK, REFINE THEIR CRAFT, ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS, AND ESTABLISH THEIR PLACE AS VITAL CREATIVE VOICES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES ARTISTS TO UPLIFT COMMUNITIES, ADVANCE POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE, POINT COURAGEOUSLY TOWARD ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND FOSTER COMMUNAL MEANING-MAKING. THROUGH THEIR PROJECTS, LIFT ARTISTS ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES AROUND CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, HEALING AND WELL-BEING, AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE. LIFT PROVIDES $15,000 ON-YEAR AWARDS, ARTIST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MENTORSHIP, PROJECT EVALUATION, DOCUMENTATION, AND COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING SUPPORT.
  3. $134,507 spent. WE CONTINUE OUR INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE SMALL AWARDS SUPPORTING NATIVE ARTISTS, CULTURE BEARERS, AND ORGANIZATIONS IN PRESENTING THEIR WORK THROUGH EXHIBITIONS, EVENTS, GATHERINGS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC-FACING PROGRAMS.

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 November 6, 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 2008.

    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 November 4, 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.