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Four Winds American Indian Council

EIN 36-4612758 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceFair53 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Works for the physical, spiritual, political, community, economic and social liberation of all indigenous peoples and lands through community support, political education, grassroots organizing and advocacy

Income
$165,663
Spending
$183,024
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
18.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$48,000, exec dir chair

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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $96,506 spent. Four Winds American Indian Council has developed a survival supply program for unhoused relatives in the Denver metro area. Houselessness plagues indigenous Peoples across the United States at a rate larger than any other group per capita.There are large numbers of unhoused Native relatives in relocation cities, which Denver is a part of. Four Winds American Indian Council orders essential supplies like sleeping bags, tents,heaters, tarps,gloves, hats, MREs and backpacks to help relatives who live outside, specifically during the winter months, and distributes them to individuals. We have also a request form that unhoused folks can fill out and submit themselves. Four winds keeps 25-30 survival packs to distribute to unhoused community members.Four Winds nurtures the community in various and powerful ways, particularly by providing a low-barrier space for community organizations and programs to operate. Lakota Way Healing Center, a Four Winds community partner, uses the building to provide cultural, arts, and healing programs. Lakota Way Healing Center serves urban Native American men, women, and children to find support, re-discover lost cultural connections, and begin to heal from addictions.Four Winds American Indian Council is an American Indian "liberated zone" located in the heart of Denver, Colorado in the original territories of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute Nations. By "liberated zone" we mean that Four Winds is a facility where Indigenous Peoples are free to use the buildings for Native empowerment. Four Winds is one place in Denver where Native people can speak their languages, participate in their ceremonies, honor the lives of passed loved ones, strategize and organize for their liberation, and rebuild an empowered community. To us, a "liberated zone" is much more than a physical place, it is a philosophy. As such, we have several means of supporting our community in addition to our work to educate and spiritually enrich our community. This support takes the form of direct and indirect financial assistance with funeral expenses and the cost of travel back to reservation communities when funerals or ceremonies take place there, or when unexpected hardship strikes a family or individual in our community. We also recognize that our work for liberation is intimately braided with the liberation of our Indigenous nations themselves, so we often transport and distribute donations of toys, clothing and other goods to children and families living in reservation communities during the holidays. As part of our liberated zone, we also make supplies available for unsheltered Native Americans living on Denver's streets and have, at times, provided safe haven camping space or allowed people to stay on our property overnight. We call this our Homeless Survival Program internally and with partners, but it is a small service that makes up a piece of the larger work of cultivating a liberated zone for our community

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2010.

    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 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 October 2014.

    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.