Lakota Communications Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
COMMUNITY RADIO STATION
- Income
- $377,381
- Spending
- $428,121
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 18.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 18
- Highest pay
- $38,112, '24 exec dir
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (1)
- $276,816 spent. KILI BROADCASTS COVERS 30,0000 SQUARE MILES AND BROADCASTS TO THE LAKOTA PEOPLE LIVING IN THE PINE RIDGE, CHEYENNE RIVER AND ROSEBUD RESERVATIONS; RAPID CITY, SD; THE SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS AND THE PANHANDLE OF NEBRASKA. THE BROADCASTS SEEK TO PRESERVE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE AND INSTILL PRIDE IN THE PEOPLE'S UNIQUE HERITAGE BY BROADCASTING TRIBAL COUNCIL MEETINGS, SEMINARS AND FORUMS,SPORTS, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, ELECTION COVERAGE, SHOWS ON HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES,AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS PREVALENT ON THE RESERVATION. KILI RADIO CONSIDERS ITSELF THE "VOICE OF THE LAKOTA NATION- AND IS ON THE AIR 20 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. COMMITTTED TO BEING A STRONG COMMUNITY RADIO STATION, PROGRAMMING INCLUDES NEWS AND INFORMATION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS BROADCASTING, CULTURAL CELEBRATION AND ENTERAINMENT WITH A VARIETY OF MUSIC FORMATS INCLUDING TRADITIONAL AND INDIAN CONTEMPORARY. KILI BROADCASTS COVERS 30,0000 SQUARE MILES AND BROADCASTS TO THE LAKOTA PEOPLE LIVING IN THE PINE RIDGE, CHEYENNE RIVER AND ROSEBUD RESERVATIONS; RAPID CITY, SD; THE SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS AND THE PANHANDLE OF NEBRASKA. THE BROADCASTS SEEK TO PRESERVE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE AND INSTILL PRIDE IN THE PEOPLE'S UNIQUE HERITAGE BY BROADCASTING TRIBAL COUNCIL MEETINGS, SEMINARS AND FORUMS,SPORTS, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, ELECTION COVERAGE, SHOWS ON HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH RELATED ISSUES,AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS PREVALENT ON THE RESERVATION. KILI RADIO CONSIDERS ITSELF THE "VOICE OF THE LAKOTA NATION- AND IS ON THE AIR 20 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. COMMITTTED TO BEING A STRONG COMMUNITY RADIO STATION, PROGRAMMING INCLUDES NEWS AND INFORMATION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS BROADCASTING, CULTURAL CELEBRATION AND ENTERAINMENT WITH A VARIETY OF MUSIC FORMATS INCLUDING TRADITIONAL AND INDIAN CONTEMPORARY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on January 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2016.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.