Trickster Art Gallery
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Trickster's mission is to increase the visibility of Native American traditions, honor veteran contributions, and advance contemporary cultural arts through community engagement and education.
- Income
- $902,971
- Spending
- $582,868
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 4.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 63%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $76,923, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 92% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 30, 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 (2)
- $503,876 spent. Native American Veterans Programs - The Gallery and the Native culture have a deep respect for veterans, especially of Native American origin. The Gallery is dedicated to educating the population about the role that Native veterans have played in the United States' military history and is working to increase their recognition. The Chicago area has the third largest off-reservation native population in the United States, with over 104,000 self-identified people in Illinois of Native descent. Since native people make up the largest percentage of any race volunteering for military service, it is important for them to be recognized and given the respect they deserve within the community.
- Art Gallery and Exhibitions - The Gallery teaches dramatically the culture of modern American Indians. Contemporary American Indian art becomes the medium bringing the American Indian culture to life, using present-day artistic venues. The Gallery is multi-cultural and highlights artistic contributions of other-Americans as well those of American Indians. Through rotating exhibits of paintings, sculpture, pottery, workshops on dance and music and other visual media, the Gallery creates mutual cultural awareness through an artistic exchange. In bringing together present-day art from the two cultures, living traditions emerge showing how much exists in common between American Indians and other Americans.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.