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Lakota Youth Development

EIN 46-0436638 · Herrick, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceWeak37 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LYD MISSION IS TO RECLAIM LAKOTA CULTURE, LANGUAGE AND SPIRITUALITY, AND PROMOTE EDUCATION AND HEALTHY LIFE STYLES FOR YOUTH THROUGH CULTURALLY BASED STRATEGIES AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.

Income
$814,699
Spending
$862,054
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
-2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
5

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

Financial health

Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $291,309 spent. WE HELP LAKOTA YOUTH RISE THROUGH RECLAIMING LAKOTA CULTURE, LANGUAGE AND SPIRITUALITY, WE PROMOTE EDUCATION AND HEALTHY LIFE STYLES FOR YOUTH THROUGH CULTURALLY BASED STRATEGIES. WE SUPPORT YOUTH TO RECLAIM THEIR CULTURE AND SKILLS THROUGH; EXPERIENTIAL CULTURAL CAMPS, WEEKEND YOUTH RETREATS, LAKOTA MODELED YOUTH LEADERSHIP SOCIETIES AND YOUTH LED SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND APPRENTICESHIPS.
  2. $174,027 spent. WE FULFILL OUR PURPOSE THROUGH A CONSCIOUS CONTINUUM OF DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR YOUTH. WE IMPLEMENT AFTERSCHOOL AND WEEKEND RETREAT SESSIONS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, IMMERSE THEM IN CULTURAL LIFE WAYS WITH OUR WOLAKOTA CAMP SERIES AND DEEPEN THEIR CULTURAL PRACTICES THROUGH MEMBERSHIP INTO YOUTH SOCIETIES. WE HELP THEM WITH CULTURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH YOUTH LED SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN WHICH THEY CONCEIVE, LEAD AND OPERATE WITH LAKOTA CULTURAL VALUES. THEY LEARN PRACTIAL BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS TO PREPARE THEM FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENCENCE AS YOUNG ADULTS IN THEIR COMMUNTITIES.
  3. $79,971 spent. THE NATIVE AMERICAN ADVOCACY PROGRAM ESTABLISHED THE MATO TASUNKA WAKINYAN OKALAKICIYE (BEAR HORSE THUNDER YOUTH SOCIETY) TO PROMOTE LAKOTA CULTURE TO YOUTH ON THE ROSEBUD SIOUX RESERVATION. SELECTED MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH- DRIVEN SOCIETY WILL LEARN ABOUT CULTURAL TOURISM, BEEKEEPING AND MEDICINAL HERBS SOCIAL ENTERPRISES THROUGH AN 18-MONTH APPRENTICESHIP. NAAP ALSO HOSTS VOULNTEER GROUPS THAT WISH TO ASSIST NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES BY WORKING WITH NATIVE YOUTH AND NONPROFIT STAFF TO IMPROVE YOUTH CAMP FACILITIES, GARDENS AND OUTDOOR EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS. IN TURN NAAP OFFERS CULTURAL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS SESSION, TOURS, TIPT STAYS AND NATURE HIKES WITH STORYTELLING TO HELP BREAK DOWN STEREOTYPES AND BUILD RELATIONS WITH OTHER POPULATIONS.
  4. THE NATIVE AMERICAN ADVOCACY PROGRAM ESTABLISHED THE MATO TASUNKA WAKINYAN OKALAKICIYE (BEAR HORSE THUNDER YOUTH SOCIETY) TO PROMOTE LAKOTA CULTURE TO YOUTH ON THE ROSEBUD SIOUX RESERVATION. SELECTED MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH- DRIVEN SOCIETY WILL LEARN ABOUT CULTURAL TOURISM, BEEKEEPING AND MEDICINAL HERBS SOCIAL ENTERPRISES THROUGH AN 18-MONTH APPRENTICESHIP. NAAP ALSO HOSTS VOULNTEER GROUPS THAT WISH TO ASSIST NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES BY WORKING WITH NATIVE YOUTH AND NONPROFIT STAFF TO IMPROVE YOUTH CAMP FACILITIES, GARDENS AND OUTDOOR EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS. IN TURN NAAP OFFERS CULTURAL EDUCATION AND AWARENESS SESSION, TOURS, TIPT STAYS AND NATURE HIKES WITH STORYTELLING TO HELP BREAK DOWN STEREOTYPES AND BUILD RELATIONS WITH OTHER POPULATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 2025.

    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 April 1999.

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