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First Nations Development Institute

EIN 54-1254491 · Longmont, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE ADVANCES AND PROMOTES THE DIRECT PARTICIPATION OF TRIBES, TRIBAL MEMBERS, AND OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE FULL USE OF THE ECONOMY.

Income
$56.4 million
Spending
$30.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
17.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
69
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$319,833, president

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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 June 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 (5)
  1. $7.3 million spent. NATIVE ARTS, LANGUAGE, AND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE NATIVE ARTS, LANGUAGE, AND KNOWLEDGE PROGRAM, WE DIRECTLY SUPPORT TRIBES AND NATIVE-LED ORGANIZATIONS BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL RESOURCES, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. WE FOCUS OUR WORK IN FIVE STRATEGIC IMPACT AREAS: NATIVE LANGUAGES, NATIVE ARTS, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE HOLDERS, AND BUILDING CAPACITY OF NATIVE NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $5.3 million spent. NATIVE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS INVESTMENTS FIRST NATIONS WORKS TO STRENGTHEN FOOD SYSTEMS IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES, IMPROVE HEALTH AND NUTRITION, AND BUILD LASTING FOOD SECURITY. WE PROVIDE TRIBES AND NATIVE-LED ORGANIZATIONS FINANCIAL RESOURCES, TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND COALITION BUILDING IN THE AREAS OF NATIVE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, FOOD SECURITY, FOOD ECONOMIES, AND FOOD NETWORKS.
  3. $10.3 million spent. STEWARDING NATIVE LANDS THE STEWARDING NATIVE LANDS PROGRAM SUPPORTS TRIBES AND NATIVE-LED ORGANIZATIONS BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL RESOURCES, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY, ALONG WITH TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH SITE VISITS, CONFERENCES, CONVENINGS, WORKSHOPS, WEBINARS, AND PEER-LEARNING COHORTS. OUR WORK TARGETS FIVE STRATEGIC AREAS: CLIMATE, COMMUNITY PATHWAYS, ENVIRONMENTAL SOVEREIGNTY AND JUSTICE, STEWARDSHIP, AND THE EXPANSION OF NATIVE OWNERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP OVER TRIBAL HOMELANDS.
  4. $3.7 million spent. CALIFORNIA TRIBAL FUND FIRST NATIONS INVESTS IN THE VIABILITY AND VISIBILITY OF CALIFORNIA TRIBAL NATIONS AND COMMUNITIES, FOCUSING ON TRIBAL CONTROL AND PROTECTION OF ANCESTRAL LANDS, WATER, FOOD SYSTEMS, AND CULTURE. WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CALIFORNIA TRIBES AND NATIVE-LED ORGANIZATIONS, AND WORK TO RAISE AWARENESS OF CALIFORNIA NATIVE COMMUNITIES, THE SOCIO- ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT, AND INDIGENOUS NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY FOR NATIVE ECONOMIC JUSTICE FIRST NATIONS PROVIDES NATIVE COMMUNITIES, POLICY MAKERS, AND FUNDERS RESEARCH, TOOLS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE NATIVE ECONOMIC JUSTICE. WE DELIVER FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO TRIBES AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRIBES AND NATIVE-LED ORGANIZATIONS SURROUNDING ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO LEAD AND SUPPORT RESEARCH TO ELEVATE NATIVE STRENGTHS AND COUNTER INVISIBILITY AND MISINFORMATION.
  5. CALIFORNIA TRIBAL FUND FIRST NATIONS INVESTS IN THE VIABILITY AND VISIBILITY OF CALIFORNIA TRIBAL NATIONS AND COMMUNITIES, FOCUSING ON TRIBAL CONTROL AND PROTECTION OF ANCESTRAL LANDS, WATER, FOOD SYSTEMS, AND CULTURE. WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CALIFORNIA TRIBES AND NATIVE-LED ORGANIZATIONS, AND WORK TO RAISE AWARENESS OF CALIFORNIA NATIVE COMMUNITIES, THE SOCIO- ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT, AND INDIGENOUS NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY FOR NATIVE ECONOMIC JUSTICE FIRST NATIONS PROVIDES NATIVE COMMUNITIES, POLICY MAKERS, AND FUNDERS RESEARCH, TOOLS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE NATIVE ECONOMIC JUSTICE. WE DELIVER FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO TRIBES AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TRIBES AND NATIVE-LED ORGANIZATIONS SURROUNDING ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO LEAD AND SUPPORT RESEARCH TO ELEVATE NATIVE STRENGTHS AND COUNTER INVISIBILITY AND MISINFORMATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1984.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.