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First Americans Museum Foundation

EIN 73-1554119 · Oklahoma City, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SERVE AS A DYNAMIC CENTER PROMOTING AWARENESS AND EDUCATING THE BROADER PUBLIC ABOUT THE UNIQUE CULTURES, DIVERSITY, HISTORY, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND RESILIENCE OF THE FIRST AMERICAN NATIONS IN OKLAHOMA TODAY.

Income
$15.4 million
Spending
$8.5 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
15.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 45%
Employees
110
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$154,442, asst. secretary/deputy director

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 95% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. WINIKO REUNIONS - "WINIKO: LIFE OF AN OBJECT" EXHIBIT, LOCATED IN THE MEZZANINE GALLERY OF THE SOUTH WING OF FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM, BRINGS MORE THAN 100 CULTURAL OBJECTS FROM OKLAHOMA'S 39 TRIBES BACK TO THE STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A CENTURY. DRAWING FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN, THE EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS THE DEEP CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF NATIVE OBJECTS AND THE STORIES THEY CARRY ACROSS GENERATIONS. CURATED BY AN ALL-NATIVE TEAM IN COLLABORATION WITH TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES AND KNOWLEDGE KEEPERS, WINIKO INVITES VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE THESE MATERIALS THROUGH INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES WHILE EXPLORING THE EVOLVING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND MUSEUMS. THE EXHIBIT ALSO CELEBRATES THE HOMECOMING OF THESE HISTORIC OBJECTS THROUGH REUNIONS WITH DESCENDANTS OF THEIR ORIGINAL MAKERS AND OWNERS.
  2. INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY - TO CELEBRATE THE RESILIENCY AND VIBRANCY OF GLOBAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AT FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM
  3. FAM CAMPS - FAM CAMPS AT FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM PROVIDE HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE YOUTH AGES 612 THROUGH ACTIVITIES CENTERED ON FIRST AMERICAN CULTURES, HISTORIES, AND VALUES. WITH CAMPERS, INSTRUCTORS, AND STAFF REPRESENTING MORE THAN 30 TRIBAL NATIONS, THE CAMPS CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO LEARN RESPECTFULLY ABOUT DIFFERENT TRADITIONS AND PERSPECTIVES. FAM CAMPS EMPHASIZE CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING BY ADDRESSING STEREOTYPES, TEACHING PROPER RESPECT FOR CULTURAL ITEMS AND PRACTICES, AND ENCOURAGING CURIOSITY THROUGH LEARNING AND DISCUSSION. EACH CAMP SESSION IS GROUNDED IN THE "FOUR RS" -- RESPECT, RECIPROCITY, RELATIONSHIP, AND RESPONSIBILITY -- WHICH GUIDE CAMPERS IN BUILDING POSITIVE CONNECTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM.
  4. $6.4 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDING WHAM AT FAM

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 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 June 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 May 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.