First Peoples Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO HONOR AND SUPPORT THE COLLECTIVE SPIRIT OF FIRST PEOPLES ARTISTS AND CULTURE BEARERS.
- Income
- $9.2 million
- Spending
- $7.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 15.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 30
- Highest pay
- $228,621, founder/pres
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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 52% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
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
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
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
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 (3)
- $3.1 million spent. TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS, AND RE-GRANTS: FIRST PEOPLES FUND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK INCLUDES SEVERAL SUB-PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREATIVE, LEADERSHIP, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS OF INDIVIDUALS UNDER OUR CATEGORY OF NATIVE ARTS ECOLOGY BUILDING GRANTS. THESE GRANTS PROVIDE FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORTING THEM TO ASSIST NATIVE ARTISTS TO GROW AS ENTREPRENUERS AND LEADERS IN THEIR LOCAL INDIGENOUS ARTS ECOSYSTEM. THROUGH THE INDIGENOUS ARTS ECOLOGY PROGRAM, FPF PARTNERS PRIMARILY WITH NATIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. THE COHORT-BASED PROGRAM BUILDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CRITICAL ROLE OF ARTISTS AND CULTURE BEARERS IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND HELPS BUILD CAPACITY TO BETTER SUPPORT ARTISTS WITH SERVICES, TRAINING, AND MENTORING. TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS, AND RE-GRANTS: FIRST PEOPLES FUND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK INCLUDES SEVERAL SUB-PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREATIVE, LEADERSHIP, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS OF INDIVIDUALS UNDER OUR CATEGORY OF NATIVE ARTS ECOLOGY BUILDING GRANTS. THESE GRANTS PROVIDE FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORTING THEM TO ASSIST NATIVE ARTISTS TO GROW AS ENTREPRENUERS AND LEADERS IN THEIR LOCAL INDIGENOUS ARTS ECOSYSTEM. THROUGH THE INDIGENOUS ARTS ECOLOGY PROGRAM, FPF PARTNERS PRIMARILY WITH NATIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. THE COHORT-BASED PROGRAM BUILDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CRITICAL ROLE OF ARTISTS AND CULTURE BEARERS IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND HELPS BUILD CAPACITY TO BETTER SUPPORT ARTISTS WITH SERVICES, TRAINING, AND MENTORING.
- $1.4 million spent. FIRST PEOPLES FUND IS A PRINCIPAL PARTNER IN INTERCULTURAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, ALSO KNOWN AS ILI, ALONG WITH THREE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. THESE FOUR CORE PARTNERS HAVE SHARED A COMMITMENT TO PURSUE SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS, CULTURE BEARERS, AND OTHER ARTS PROFESSIONALS AS CHANGE-MAKERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE INITIATIVE ANNUALLY SELECTS A COHORT OF ARTISTS AND ARTS ADMINISTRATORS FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND CONVENES THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR SHARED HISTORIES, BUILD NETWORKS, AND GAIN LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
- $943,392 spent. ARTIST IN BUSINESS LEADERSHIP: CULTURAL CAPITAL FELLOWSHIPS ARE SIMILAR PROGRAMS WHICH ARE GROUPED TOGETHER FOR REPORTING PURPOSES. CULTURAL CAPITAL IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR MASTER ARTISTS WHO HAVE BEEN PRACTICING THEIR ART FOR 10 YEARS OF MORE. ARTISTS; 1) SHARE A COMMITMENT TO TEACHING THEIR CRAFT IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO KEEP CULTURAL EXPRESSION ALIVE; 2) HAVE A PLAN TO DOCUMENT THEIR ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS; AND 3) SEEK WAYS TO SUSTAIN CULTURAL SHARING AS A WAY OF LIFE WITHIN THEIR TRIBAL COMMUNITY. GRANTS OF 10,000 OFFER ARTISTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THEIR ART - SHARING THEIR ARTISTRY WILL ALL WHO TO LEARN. EACH YEAR, CULTURAL FELLOWS TEACH AND SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. BENEFITS OF THE FELLOWSHIPS: FIRST PEOPLES FUND'S ARTIST IN BUSINESS LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP DOES NOT JUST HELP ARTISTS GROW A BUSINESS, IT HELPS INSPIRE THEM TO FULLY HONOR THEIR CULTURAL CREATIVITY AND GROW THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THEIR PEOPLE. ARTIST APPLICANTS FOR THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS MUST BE NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR A MEMBER OF A UNITED STATES TRIBAL NATION. EACH ARTIST RECEIVES INDIVIDUALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDANCE, AS WELL AS A GRANT TO OFFSET CAPITAL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH GROWING A BUSINESS. IMPACT OF THE FELLOWSHIP: OUR ARTIST ALUMNI TELL US THE PROGRAM DOES MORE THAN JUST SUPPORT AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT - IT STIMULATES A RENEWED ENERGY TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER TO CREATE NEW WORK. YEEGO ACTION PROVIDES SMALL GRANTS FOR ARTISTS ENCOUNTERING UNANTICIPATED COSTS REQUIRED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF A PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY, OR WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY AN EMERGENCY OR REGIONAL DISASTER. MONTHLY APPLICATION DEADLINES PROVIDE TIMELY ASSISTANCE WITH A QUICK TURN-AROUND. ARTIST IN BUSINESS LEADERSHIP: CULTURAL CAPITAL FELLOWSHIPS ARE SIMILAR PROGRAMS WHICH ARE GROUPED TOGETHER FOR REPORTING PURPOSES. CULTURAL CAPITAL IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR MASTER ARTISTS WHO HAVE BEEN PRACTICING THEIR ART FOR 10 YEARS OF MORE. ARTISTS; 1) SHARE A COMMITMENT TO TEACHING THEIR CRAFT IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO KEEP CULTURAL EXPRESSION ALIVE; 2) HAVE A PLAN TO DOCUMENT THEIR ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS; AND 3) SEEK WAYS TO SUSTAIN CULTURAL SHARING AS A WAY OF LIFE WITHIN THEIR TRIBAL COMMUNITY. GRANTS OF 10,000 OFFER ARTISTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THEIR ART - SHARING THEIR ARTISTRY WILL ALL WHO TO LEARN. EACH YEAR, CULTURAL FELLOWS TEACH AND SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. BENEFITS OF THE FELLOWSHIPS: FIRST PEOPLES FUND'S ARTIST IN BUSINESS LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP DOES NOT JUST HELP ARTISTS GROW A BUSINESS, IT HELPS INSPIRE THEM TO FULLY HONOR THEIR CULTURAL CREATIVITY AND GROW THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THEIR PEOPLE. ARTIST APPLICANTS FOR THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS MUST BE NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR A MEMBER OF A UNITED STATES TRIBAL NATION. EACH ARTIST RECEIVES INDIVIDUALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDANCE, AS WELL AS A GRANT TO OFFSET CAPITAL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH GROWING A BUSINESS. IMPACT OF THE FELLOWSHIP: OUR ARTIST ALUMNI TELL US THE PROGRAM DOES MORE THAN JUST SUPPORT AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT - IT STIMULATES A RENEWED ENERGY TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER TO CREATE NEW WORK. YEEGO ACTION PROVIDES SMALL GRANTS FOR ARTISTS ENCOUNTERING UNANTICIPATED COSTS REQUIRED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF A PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY, OR WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY AN EMERGENCY OR REGIONAL DISASTER. MONTHLY APPLICATION DEADLINES PROVIDE TIMELY ASSISTANCE WITH A QUICK TURN-AROUND.
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? 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 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 2003.
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.
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