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Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art Inc

EIN 31-1139447 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE EITELJORG MUSEUM EXPLORES THE INTERSECTION OF THE ARTS, HISTORIES AND CULTURES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT BY SHARING THE DIVERSE STORIES OF THE AMERICAN WEST AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA.

Income
$13.6 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
30.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
87
Volunteers
261
Highest pay
$300,186, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 177% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $6.8 million spent. EXHIBITIONSIN FISCAL-YEAR 2025, EXHIBITION-RELATED PROGRAMMING ENRICHED EACH MAJOR SHOW. FOR ACTS OF FAITH: RELIGION AND THE AMERICAN WEST, AUDIENCES WERE CAPTIVATED BY A LIVE DANCE PERFORMANCE FEATURING JOTI SINGH AND ZENON, BRINGING MOVEMENT AND CONTEMPORARY EXPRESSION INTO DIALOGUE WITH THE EXHIBITION'S THEMES. THE OPENING OF ALFRED JACOB MILLER: REVISITING THE RENDEZVOUS IN SCOTLAND AND TODAY WAS EQUALLY COMPELLING, HIGHLIGHTED BY A GALLERY TALK WITH GUEST CURATOR KAREN MCWHORTER AND INDEPENDENT SCHOLAR GREGORY HINTON, WHO OFFERED INSIGHTFUL PERSPECTIVES ON MILLER'S LEGACY AND THE EXHIBITION'S TRANSATLANTIC CONTEXT.LARGE CROWDS GATHERED FOR RAVEN AND THE BOX OF DAYLIGHT, ESPECIALLY FOR A GALLERY TALK AND PRESENTATION BY SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST PRESTON SINGLETARY (TLINGIT). VISITORS WERE INSPIRED NOT ONLY BY HIS INCREDIBLE GLASS WORK BUT ALSO BY HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THE MEDIUM THEMSELVES THROUGH ADDITIONAL GLASS WORKSHOPS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL STUDIO HOT BLOWN GLASS. THE SPRING EXHIBITION RADICAL STITCH OPENED WITH AN ENERGETIC WEEKEND OF PROGRAMMING THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER TWO GUEST CURATORS AND SIX FEATURED ARTISTS. THROUGH GALLERY TOURS, LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS, AND A LIVELY PANEL DISCUSSION, VISITORS GAINED FIRSTHAND INSIGHT INTO THE CREATIVE PROCESSES AND CULTURAL NARRATIVES EMBEDDED IN THE WORKS ON VIEW.IN MAY, THE NEWLY RENOVATED LILLY COMMUNITY GALLERY REOPENED WITH AN EXHIBITION FEATURING MEMBERS OF THE WATERCOLOR SOCIETY OF INDIANA, UNDERSCORING THE MUSEUM'S COMMITMENT TO LOCAL ARTISTS.THE ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM EXPANDED ITS REACH BOTH WITHIN THE MUSEUM AND THROUGHOUT THE BROADER COMMUNITY. EPHRAIM ANDERSON (NAVAJO), GLENDA MCKAY (COOK INLET REGION ATHABASCAN), AND BOBBY SILAS (HOPI) ENGAGED GUESTS THROUGH DEMONSTRATIONS, CONVERSATIONS, AND WORKSHOPS. THEIR IMPACT EXTENDED BEYOND THE MUSEUM WALLS TO INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON, PURDUE UNIVERSITY WEST LAFAYETTE, THE BONER COMMUNITY CENTER, HAUGHVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY, AND WORKSHOPS HOSTED AT THE INDIANAPOLIS ART CENTER. MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE COFFEE AND CONVERSATION PROGRAMS PROVED ESPECIALLY POPULAR, AND ARTISTS PROVIDED EXCITING WORKSHOPS FOR VISITING SCHOOL GROUPS AND ADULT LEARNERS ALIKE. A BRIEF BUT IMPACTFUL RESIDENCY WITH DANTE BISS GRAYSON CULMINATED IN THE MUSEUM'S FIRST-EVER FASHION SHOW, MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM PARTNERS PURDUE NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER AND THE INDIANA NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION. THAT EVENT MARKED AN EXCITING EXPANSION INTO NEW CREATIVE FORMATS AND CELEBRATED INDIGENOUS DESIGN AND EXPRESSION.
  2. $431,215 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMSFISCAL YEAR 2025 WAS A DYNAMIC AND DEEPLY ENGAGING YEAR OF PROGRAMMING, MARKED BY VIBRANT EXHIBITIONS, MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUDIENCES TO CONNECT WITH MUSEUM'S MISSION. COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS AND FREE DAYS DREW LARGE AUDIENCES AND STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. THE MUSEUM HOSTED ITS FIRST FREE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY FEATURING PROGRAMMING THAT WELCOMED MORE THAN 500 VISITORS WHILE DA DE MUERTOS FESTIVITIES ATTRACTED NEARLY 4,000 ATTENDEES. SIGNATURE ANNUAL PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO THRIVE AND NEW INITIATIVES EXPANDED THE MUSEUM'S REACH AND BROADENED AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT. THE ANNUAL LEON JETT LECTURE FEATURED MONICA RICKERT-BOLTER, A CHICAGO-BASED VISUAL ARTIST OF POTAWATOMI, AFRICAN AMERICAN AND GERMAN DESCENT. A COLLABORATION WITH THE INDY FOLK SERIES LED TO A KERRY & ASPEN PERFORMANCE AND RELATED SONGWRITING WORKSHOP. FEATURED PROGRAMMING ON FOOD SOVEREIGNTY WELCOMED SPECIAL GUEST CHEF LORETTA ODEN (CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION), SPARKING IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CULTURE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND INDIGENOUS FOODWAYS WHILE ENGAGING GUESTS IN A SHARED CULINARY EXPERIENCE.THE MUSEUM ALSO MAINTAINED A STRONG PRESENCE AT COMMUNITY FAIRS AND FESTIVALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING INDY PRIDE, THE PROPYLAEUM PORCH PARTY, INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, FIESTA INDIANAPOLIS, KOKOMO POWWOW, AND INDIANA BLACK EXPO.ROUNDING OUT THE YEAR, BOOK CLUB DISCUSSIONS, ARTIST AND CURATOR TALKS, GUIDED TOURS, HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS, AND SENSORY-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCES ENSURED THAT PROGRAMMING REMAINED ACCESSIBLE, INCLUSIVE, AND RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY INTERESTS.
  3. $320,320 spent. FESTIVALS AND EVENTSTHE MUSEUM HOSTED ITS 33RD ANNUAL INDIAN MARKET & FESTIVAL ON JUNE 21-22, 2025. NEARLY 130 AMERICAN INDIAN, FIRST NATIONS, AND ALASKA NATIVE ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENT. MORE THAN 30 ARTISTS WERE FIRST-TIME PARTICIPANTS, REFLECTING EXPANDED RECRUITMENT EFFORTS TO BROADEN REPRESENTATION AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIGENOUS ARTISTS.THE MARGOT L. ECCLES BEST OF SHOW AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO WADE PATTON (OGLALA LAKOTA) FOR HIS MICRON INK DRAWING RED CLOUD. PURCHASE PRIZE AWARDS WERE PRESENTED TO WADE PATTON (OGLALA LAKOTA), KANDI MCGILTON (TS'MSYEN (TSIMSHIAN)), DON JOHNSTON (QAGAN TAYAGUNGIN), AND HOLLIS CHITTO (MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAW, LAGUNA PUEBLO, ISLETA PUEBLO), RESULTING IN THE ACQUISITION OF FIVE WORKS FOR THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION. RIBBONS AND CASH PRIZES TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $55,000 WERE AWARDED TO ARTISTS ACROSS MULTIPLE DIVISIONS.ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDED TWO FULL DAYS OF PERFORMANCES BY INDIGENOUS ENTERPRISE, AN INTERTRIBAL DANCE TROUPE WHO HAVE PERFORMED AT VENUES INCLUDING THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, THE MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE, AND PRE-GAME FESTIVITIES FOR THE 2023 SUPER BOWL. AWARD-WINNING STORYTELLER AMY BRUTON BLUEMEL (CHICKASAW NATION) ENTERTAINED AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, AND ARTIST HOLLIS CHITTO DEMONSTRATED TRADITIONAL BEADWORK TECHNIQUES.WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE MARGOT L. ECCLES FUND, THE MUSEUM IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS, INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OF AN ACCESSIBILITY RAMP FOR THE FRONT LAWN, INSTALLATION OF A PERMANENT SOUND SYSTEM, EXPANSION OF NATIVE FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENDORS, AND THE INTRODUCTION OF "SIGNATURE SIPS," A BEVERAGE STATION HIGHLIGHTING INDIGENOUS-OWNED BUSINESSES. THE EVENT ALSO LAUNCHED UPDATED BRANDING, REUSABLE MARKETING MATERIALS, AND WAYFINDING SIGNAGE AS PART OF A BROADER MUSEUM-WIDE MARKETING INITIATIVE.DESPITE HIGH TEMPERATURES, NEARLY 4,000 VISITORS ATTENDED THE TWO-DAY FESTIVAL. ATTENDEES PURCHASED ARTWORK DIRECTLY FROM ARTISTS, EXPERIENCED LIVE PERFORMANCES AND STORYTELLING, PARTICIPATED IN ART-MAKING ACTIVITIES, ENJOYED NATIVE FOOD OFFERINGS, AND VISITED MUSEUM GALLERIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 August 1985.

    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.