Global Peace Train
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Global Peace Train (GPT) delivers resources to underserved communities and tells their stories to help others understand diverse cultures. Our focus in 2024 is with the Lakota people of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota - a rural, low income population whose cultures and traditions are threatened by tribal elders' passing. Through the Ghost Dance project, GPT shares Lakota wisdom, values, and history through technologically innovative and immersive storytelling. Through Tribal Traditions, GPT fosters the livelihoods of Lakota artists by marketing unique, handmade star quilts that exemplify the link Lakota traditions of honoring ancestors and remembering ties to the earth.
- Income
- $63,292
- Spending
- $85,400
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 17
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
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 61% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% 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
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $43,293 spent. Ghost Dance is an interactive educational program designed for theaters, art venues, film festivals, schools, universities, and museums. The world is at risk of losing the connection to precious Indigenous wisdom as tribal elders leave us. We are building a digital library of such content before it is too late. The Ghost Dance project includes a SAG-AFTRA film (98% complete), a behind-the-scenes documentary about making the film (20% shot), and a multi part virtual reality (VR) experience (early production) that allows people to step inside the story and visit the Pine Ridge Reservation from a VR headset. Being a SAG production allowed us to select high quality actors from the Screen Actors Guild and hold the production to a professional standard overall. We gathered a professional team, made our way through thousands of auditions to secure a fantastic cast, and shot the film across Colorado, Nebraska, and South Dakota for 22 days during 2022-2024. The expedition involved a dedicated group of volunteers, crew, and cast members ranging from 16 to 40 individuals each day. In autumn 2023, we finalized a rough cut of the narrative film, which currently stands at a 60-minute runtime. We hosted 4 community previews of the initial edits of the film to gather feedback about the gaps in the story and how we can make the film stronger. Still to be completed are additional pickup shots and the anticipated large opening scene which will require several additional shoot days. The resulting feature-length production will delve deeper into the rich tapestry of the narrative, reaching a wider audience and making an even greater impact in preserving and promoting American Indian culture. The production provides professional filmmaking opportunities for over 50 locals from Pine Ridge Reservation and more than 20 volunteers from outside the reservation. This program fosters cross-cultural education by introducing the crew to Lakota culture and traditions, while offering the Lakota participants hands-on experience in professional filmmaking.
- $15,162 spent. Tribal Traditions is GPT's ecommerce website dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship among the Lakota people of the Pine Ridge Reservation and celebrating the Native tradition of hand-sewn, unique quilts incorporating star designs. Symbolizing the morning star, these quilts honor Lakota ancestors and remember eternal ties to Lakota people and the earth. The finest quilters and artists from Pine Ridge handcraft these quilts while training a new generation of quilters to carry on this cherished tradition. Tribal Traditions is a vehicle to share this beauty with the larger, non-Native world and to financially empower Lakota Grandmothers and artists on the Reservation. Supported by Tribal Traditions, Native leaders have the opportunity to develop, organize and run a business that helps educate the world about Lakota wisdom and simultaneously preserve their culture. Tribal Traditions has orchestrated the production of more than 130 quilts that were hand made in the homes of women on Pine Ridge Reservation and used to share the Lakota tradition of honor that the star quilts represent. Additionally, we offer direct family support for Lakota families on Pine Ridge Reservation to pay for heating, medical, electrical, communications, travel, etc.
- $26,945 spent. International grants- Global Peace Train provides scholarship support for young people aged 3-22 through Project Elimu. The Kenyan NGO provides afterschool arts and sports education, pays school fees, and maintains a safe space for young people in the Kibera slum. Additionally, we provided a grants to several other small nonprofits and individuals for projects related to education, art, and entrepreneurship.
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 November 2009.
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.