Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival is to foster the restoration and revival of indigenous California languages so that they may be retained as a permanent part of the living cultures of Native California.
- Income
- $447,194
- Spending
- $434,901
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 15 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 28
- Highest pay
- $65,000, executive dir.
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. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% 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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
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
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, 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 (6)
- $148,675 spent. Master Apprentice Language Learning Program (MAP) is our core program. We supported Master Apprentice teams who are working on distinct Indigenous languages of California. Mentor(s) work with the team to guide and advise them through the program. The masters and apprentices are supported with grant funding to participate in the program, which is intended to cover supplies needed for their work together. They also are supported with travel expenses to attend our workshops which occur in different areas of California. In 2024-25 the Program reached 14 Masters and 21 Apprentices, and supported 1 full-time and two part-time staff.
- $80,611 spent. Family Language Program: This is an extension of the Master Apprentice program that supports families with approaches to language immersion and provides them with a mentor and training. Families receive care packages and travel expenses to help them attend our immersion workshops and other events to support to their familys success. In this tax year, we supported 15 families from Central California up to the Northern border.
- $54,545 spent. Breath of Life Archive Institute for California Indigenous Languages and extended projects: This is our biennial event that takes place over a week at UC Berkeley in which attendees spend a week searching the archives for linguistic documentation (recordings, documents, pictures, etc.) and work with linguists to learn how to use the materials for language teaching. This past year, we had over 80 attendees during the course of the week and supported them with scholarships to cover lodging and meals at the University. This past year, we also extended the program to include supportive services through the (1) Online Breath of Life Symposium, a series of monthly presenters in online Zoom meetings, and held 4 in the fiscal year to about 20 participants per session, (2) Breath of Life Continued Group Support, a mentorship program for 4 Team Leads to receive mentorship and monthly stipends to work on language projects with their language teams, this support 4 team leads but estimated 20-30 additional members of their teams, (3) Breath of Life Cohorts Research Grant Program, which supported 5 teams with $2000 travel grants to help them return to UC Berkeley archives and continue their work.
- $10,380 spent. Seeds of Language mini grants program: We offer mini grants to complete small, independent language projects covering purchase of language supplies and equipment, printing expenses, tuition for language classes. Amounts can be between $100-$750. This year we awarded 16 recipients with Seeds of Language mini grants.
- $4,607 spent. Other programs, services, and projects: Support for instructors of Karuk Language, support for Karuk Language program, services to the North Fork Rancheria for language video documentation of Mono speakers of Mono, and collaborations with local Native organizations for program outreach and recruitment. All of which support our organizations mission to support language and cultural survival.
- $1,350 spent. Young Leadership Development Conference (YLDC): Our newest program launched this year with the goal of engaging more youth ages 16-24. We started a committee of youth to take the lead, and they held a planning retreat as well as monthly meetings to plan the rest of the program activities and the committee is supported by AICLS staff with guidance and travel expenses to relevant events and activities to support their leadership growth. . We engage with youth through social media content and an upcoming youth mentorship program.
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
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 2025.
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 October 2004.
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.