Breath of My Heart Birth Place
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BREATH OF MY HEART BIRTHPLACE EMBODIES COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND HEALING TO SUPPORT ALL FAMILIES LIVING WITHIN THE TEWA BASIN, AND PROVIDES SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE BIRTH AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES, WHILE SEEDING THE PROLIFERATION OF INDIGENOUS MIDWIFERY.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 8.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 12
- Highest pay
- $122,320, organization
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 260% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $1.2 million spent. IN 2024, NAVI PIN HAA UN MU OR BREATH OF MY HEART BIRTHPLACE (BMH) COMPLETED ITS THIRD YEAR OF RESTRUCTURING AS AN INDIGENOUS-LED ORGANIZATION UNDER A CO-DIRECTOR MODEL. THE RAPID GROWTH IN OUR BUDGET AND TEAM HAS BEEN A BYPRODUCT OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL FOCUS ON INCREASED CAPACITY AND EXPANDED SERVICES. OUR INTENTION IS STRATEGIC GROWTH ROOTED IN A COMMUNITY- AND PROVIDER-CENTERED MODEL THAT CONTINUES TO SANCTIFY OUR CONNECTION TO THE INTEGRITIES AND LIFEWAYS THAT WE COLLECTIVELY HOLD. IN THE LAST YEAR, WEVE SUPPORTED THE ONGOING INTEGRATION OF OUR PERINATAL COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER AND THE ROLES RELATED SERVICES. NOW, ALL OF OUR CLIENTS RECEIVE A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR MEDICAID APPLICATION AS PART OF THE INTAKE PROCESS. ADDITIONALLY, BMH COLLABORATED IN SUCCESSFUL POLICY AND ADVOCACY WORK WITH SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO LEGISLATIVE WORK SUPPORTING DOULA REIMBURSEMENT, MIDWIFE PAY PARITY, AND BIRTH CENTER FACILITY FEE PAY PARITY. BREATH OF MY HEART INCREASED CAPACITY THROUGH FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF OUR INTERNAL STRUCTURE. WE BEGAN WORK TO REVISE OUR INTERNAL POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND BOARD BY LAWS TO ENHANCE ROLE CLARITY AND TO BETTER SUPPORT A POSITIVE WORKPLACE CULTURE. WE HIRED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT STAFF, INCLUDING A MEDICAL BILLER, A CLINICAL DIRECTOR ASSISTANT, AND A FOOD DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANT. WE ARE CONTINUING TO RECRUIT AN ADDITIONAL THIRD MIDWIFE AND OUR STUDENT MIDWIFE APPRENTICE PROGRAM IS ALSO PROGRESSING AS WE FINALIZE OUR STUDENT HANDBOOK AND STIPEND POLICIES. IN 2024, WE MAINTAINED ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND INCREASED CAPACITY, INCLUDING INCREASING OUR HOURS OF NO COST DIRECT SERVICES INCLUDING OUR SAME DAY APPOINTMENT CLINIC. EXPANDED ACCESS ASSISTS IN THE PROVISION OF PREGNANCY TESTING, MEDICAID PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATION, AND PREGNANCY SERVICES. WE PROVIDE EARLY AND OPEN ACCESS TO PREGNANCY CARE WITH PROVIDERS IN RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR ENSURING EARLY ACCESS TO PRENATAL CARE. WE CONTINUE TO COORDINATE REFERRALS FOR CARE THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR SCOPE AND MAINTAIN A BODY FEEDING RATE OF 100% INITIATED FEEDING AT BIRTH. OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN RESPONSE TO FOOD ACCESS ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE REGULAR DISTRIBUTION TO OVER 35 FAMILIES PER WEEK WITH HALF OF THOSE DISTRIBUTIONS DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES HOMES. WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE ACCESS TO SEVERAL LOCAL FARMERS FOR FRESH PRODUCE. WE ARE PROVIDING POSTPARTUM FOOD AND HERBAL SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMING ECONOMIES AND NUTRITION THROUGH TRADITIONAL FOODS. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE DIAPERS AND BABY SUPPLIES FOR YOUNG PARENTS. THIS SERVICE ENSURES ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL ITEMS AND REDUCES THEIR NEED TO SHOP FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF CASH-FLOW PROBLEMS. OUR YOUNG PARENT ADVOCATE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO YOUNG PARENTS BOTH DIRECTLY AND IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATES. THE PROGRAM IS COMPLETING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROJECT TO INFORM HOW BEST TO STRUCTURE SUPPORTING YOUNG PARENTS WITHIN BMH PROGRAMS. THE YOUNG PARENT ADVOCATE WORKS CLOSELY WITH OUR PERINATAL COMMUNITY HEALTHWORKER TO INDIVIDUALIZE YOUNG FAMILIES' NEEDS AS BOTH CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OUR POLICY ADVOCACY WORK CONTINUES, WITH RESPONSES TO THE CHANGING MEDICAID AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LANDSCAPE. THROUGH REGULAR STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OTHER COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS, WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR MEDICAID REFORM TO BE INCLUSIVE OF FAIR AND EQUITABLE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR MIDWIVES AND DOULAS. WE REMAIN MOBILIZED AND READY TO ADVOCATE FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES ON LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS ALONGSIDE COALITIONAL COLLABORATORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. WE ARE GROUNDED IN OUR LOCAL BIRTHING ECOLOGIES AND CONTINUE TO NURTURE THEIR CONTINUANCE. IN THE LAST YEAR, WE ESTABLISHED A COMMUNITY HERBAL APOTHECARY THAT ALLOWED US TO INCREASE OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, PEER SUPPORTS, AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS. WE ARE WORKING TO CREATE A ROBUST NETWORK OF PROVIDERS FOR BIRTHING AND PARENTING FAMILIES, THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF TRADITIONAL NETWORKS. IN 2023-2024, WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN AND AS A RESULT WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE OUR PROPERTY, DEBT FREE, AT THE END OF 2024. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE FUNDS TO BEGIN WORK ON VITAL FACILITY UPGRADES THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR GROWING PROGRAMS AND STAFF. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT WIN THAT SHORES OUR FINANCIAL SOLVENCY. THE WORK AHEAD IS TO IMPLEMENT CRITICAL LONG TERM STRATEGIES TO SUSTAIN STAFF AND PROGRAMS WHILE CONTINUING TO EXPAND OUR CAPACITY TO INCREASE OUR SERVICES. NAVI PIN HAA UN MU CONTINUES TO CENTER THOSE WE SERVE THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND/OR ARE SEEKING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE OUT OF HOSPITAL BIRTHING OPTIONS AND REPRODUCTIVE AND INFANT CARE. WE RECOGNIZE THE INTERGENERATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF NURTURING FAMILY UNITY AS A WHOLE. WE ARE DOING TRANSFORMATIVE, LIFE AFFIRMING WORK THAT BUILDS A BELOVED COMMUNITY BY HONORING BIRTH AS A VITAL PART OF OUR SOVEREIGN RIGHTS. OUR FUTURE VISION SEEKS TO CREATE STRONG RELATIONS AND SUPPORT FOR MIDWIVES AND BIRTHWORK, INCREASE OUR SERVICES AND CAPACITY TO SEED BIRTH CENTERS, AND INCREASE MIDWIFERY CARE IN TRIBAL AND IN LAND-BASED RURAL COMMUNITIES. IN 2024, NAVI PIN HAA UN MU OR BREATH OF MY HEART BIRTHPLACE (BMH) COMPLETED ITS THIRD YEAR OF RESTRUCTURING AS AN INDIGENOUS-LED ORGANIZATION UNDER A CO-DIRECTOR MODEL. THE RAPID GROWTH IN OUR BUDGET AND TEAM HAS BEEN A BYPRODUCT OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL FOCUS ON INCREASED CAPACITY AND EXPANDED SERVICES. OUR INTENTION IS STRATEGIC GROWTH ROOTED IN A COMMUNITY- AND PROVIDER-CENTERED MODEL THAT CONTINUES TO SANCTIFY OUR CONNECTION TO THE INTEGRITIES AND LIFEWAYS THAT WE COLLECTIVELY HOLD. IN THE LAST YEAR, WEVE SUPPORTED THE ONGOING INTEGRATION OF OUR PERINATAL COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER AND THE ROLES RELATED SERVICES. NOW, ALL OF OUR CLIENTS REC
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
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2015 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2015.
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 December 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 2015.
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.