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Indian Land Tenure Foundation

EIN 41-2014273 · Little Canada, MN

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE INDIAN LAND TENURE FOUNDATION (ILTF) IS TO SEE THOSE LANDS WITHIN THE ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES OF EVERY RESERVATION AND OTHER AREAS OF HIGH SIGNIFICANCE WHERE TRIBES RETAIN ABORIGINAL INTERS ARE IN INDIAN OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT.

Income
$21.5 million
Spending
$13.0 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
46.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
15
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$212,603, president

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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 46.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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. $3.4 million spent. GENERAL PROGRAM:THE INDIAN LAND TENURE FOUNDATION (ILTF) CONTINUES TO REACH OUT TO NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BROADEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEX ISSUES OF LAND OWNERSHIP IN INDIAN COUNTRY. AMONG THESE ACTIVITIES ARE GRANT-MAKING, PRESENTING AT CONFERENCES AND OTHER GATHERINGS, DISTRIBUTION OF OUR RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS, OUTREACH THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND PROGRAM UPDATE REPORTS AS WELL AS THROUGH THE FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE. THE FOUNDATION TAKES AN ACTIVE ROLE WORKING WITH NATIVE NATIONS ADDRESSING ISSUES BY HOSTING REGIONAL MEETINGS, MEETING WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS, AND OTHER OUTREACH TO TRIBAL LEADERS. THE 2021 ONLINE OUTREACH CONTINUED DURING 2022 THROUGH ONGOING WEBINARS AND POSTED CONTENT TO REACH TRIBAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR A CONSTITUENCY THAT APPRECIATES THE CONVENIENCE OF THIS FORMAT.SPECIFIC OUTREACH EFFORTS INCLUDE OFFERING CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE) COURSES AND THE TRIBAL LAND PROFESSIONALS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, ESTATE PLANNING AND WILL WRITING, DIRECTLY ADDRESSING FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP ISSUES ON ALLOTTED LANDS, CARBON CREDIT MARKETS; AND DEVELOPING AND PRESENTING LESSONS OF OUR LAND CURRICULUM INFORMATION TO TEACHERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENTS, AND TRIBAL ELDERS, LEADERS, AND OTHER CITIZENS.
  2. $7.3 million spent. NATIONAL INDIAN CARBON COALITION:THE NATIONAL INDIAN CARBON COALITION (NICC) WORKS TO BUILD CAPACITY FOR INDIGENOUS-LED CARBON SEQUESTRATION PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE TRIBAL NATIONS, ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGES & CORPORATIONS, NATIVE HAWAIIAN ORGANIZATIONS, AND FIRST NATIONS IN CANADA. NICC HAS RECEIVED PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS TO ESTABLISH THE REVOLVING PROJECT FUND, WHICH ADVANCES OUR EFFORTS SIGNIFICANTLY TOWARDS BUILDING NICC'S LONGER-TERM SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS PROJECTS. NICC CONDUCTS ALL OF THE SUPPORTING WORK ON INDIGENOUS LANDS AS THE PROJECT PROPONENT AND CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH THE INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATION FOR A FORTY (40) YEAR DURATION. THIS REMOVES THE SIGNIFICANT BURDEN OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT FROM THE INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATION, THUS ASSURING LONG-TERM BENEFITS TO INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DEMAND FOR CARBON PROJECTS ON INDIGENOUS LANDS AND THIS FUNDING WILL ALLOW NICC TO BUILD OUR INTERNAL CAPACITY TO RESPOND IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS POSSIBLE. NICC IS A TRUSTED RESOURCE, AND A CRITICAL BRIDGE THAT ENABLES THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS ON INDIGENOUS LANDS THAT MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAPPEN DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL, TIME AND CAPACITY INVESTMENT NEEDED TO SECURE AND DEVELOP PROJECTS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THESE PROJECTS WILL BE TRACKED USING AN EFFICIENT, TRANSPARENT SYSTEM, ALONG WITH A ROBUST FOREST CERTIFICATION.
  3. $1.1 million spent. NATIVE NATION REBUILDING:ILTF ESTABLISHED A DESIGNATED FUND FOR THE NATIVE GOVERNANCE CENTER (NGC), A 501(C)(3), THAT FOCUSES ON TRAINING AND INFORMING TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ON BUILDING THE FOUNDATION OF NATION BUILDING THROUGH POLICY AND GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS. NATIVE NATION REBUILDING FUND MAKES DISTRIBUTIONS THAT SUPPORT NGC AND ITS WORK ON THE MANAGEMENT OF RESERVATION PLANNING AND LANDS. THE NGC AND ILTF ARE PLANNING SEVERAL JOINT EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE REACH OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS IN 2024.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as delinquent as of December 31, 1990. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 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.