Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Crow Canyon Archaeological Center

EIN 84-0631786 · Cortez, 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

CROW CANYON ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER EMPOWERS PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS BY MAKING THE HUMAN PAST ACCESSIBLE AND RELEVANT THROUGH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION, AND AMERICAN INDIAN KNOWLEDGE.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
14.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
59
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$237,897, president /

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $2.6 million spent. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION: CROW CANYON CONDUCTS ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FOCUSING ON THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLES WHO INHABITED THE CANYONS AND MESAS OF THE MESA VERDE REGION IN SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO. SINCE 1983, ASSISTED BY STUDENTS AND CITIZEN SCIENTISTS, CROW CANYON HAS CONTRIBUTED TO IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENTS IN SOUTHWESTERN ARCHAEOLOGY. THE ORGANIZATION EMPLOYS INNOVATIVE INVESTIGATIVE METHODS, ENGAGES INDIGENOUS SCHOLARS AND DESCENDANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE RESEARCH AND INTERPRETIVE PROCESS, AND SHARES FINDINGS THROUGH BOTH PRINT AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS. THE CENTER'S CURRENT RESEARCH INITIATIVE IS THE NORTHERN CHACO OUTLIERS PROJECT, FOCUSED ON THE HAYNIE SITE NORTHEAST OF CORTEZ, COLORADO. THIS MULTI-COMPONENT ANCESTRAL VILLAGE INCLUDES TWO PUEBLO II PERIOD (A.D. 950 1150) GREAT HOUSES. RESEARCH AT THE HAYNIE SITE IS CONTRIBUTING TO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF ANCIENT COMMUNITY LIFE, RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, MIGRATION PATTERNS, AND HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIPS IN THE REGION. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION: CROW CANYON CONDUCTS ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FOCUSING ON THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLES WHO INHABITED THE CANYONS AND MESAS OF THE MESA VERDE REGION IN SOUTHWESTERN COLORADO. SINCE 1983, ASSISTED BY STUDENTS AND CITIZEN SCIENTISTS, CROW CANYON HAS CONTRIBUTED TO IMPORTANT ADVANCEMENTS IN SOUTHWESTERN ARCHAEOLOGY. THE ORGANIZATION EMPLOYS INNOVATIVE INVESTIGATIVE METHODS, ENGAGES INDIGENOUS SCHOLARS AND DESCENDANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE RESEARCH AND INTERPRETIVE PROCESS, AND SHARES FINDINGS THROUGH BOTH PRINT AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS. THE CENTER'S CURRENT RESEARCH INITIATIVE IS THE NORTHERN CHACO OUTLIERS PROJECT, FOCUSED ON THE HAYNIE SITE NORTHEAST OF CORTEZ, COLORADO. THIS MULTI-COMPONENT ANCESTRAL VILLAGE INCLUDES TWO PUEBLO II PERIOD (A.D. 950 1150) GREAT HOUSES. RESEARCH AT THE HAYNIE SITE IS CONTRIBUTING TO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF ANCIENT COMMUNITY LIFE, RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, MIGRATION PATTERNS, AND HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIPS IN THE REGION.
  2. $577,399 spent. CAMPUS SERVICES: CROW CANYON PROVIDES LODGING, FOOD SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, AND RELATED CAMPUS AMENITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS IN ITS EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS. THE CENTER OPERATES A 210-ACRE RURAL CAMPUS DESIGNED TO OFFER A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS, SCHOLARS, AND LIFELONG LEARNERS.
  3. $552,404 spent. CULTURAL EXPLORATIONS: CROW CANYON OFFERS SMALL-GROUP TRAVEL SEMINARS THAT FOSTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ANCESTORS. THESE PROGRAMS ENGAGE INDIGENOUS ADVISORS AND SCHOLARS, PROMOTING CULTURAL APPRECIATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF NONRENEWABLE CULTURAL RESOURCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 1973.

    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.