School for Advanced Research
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMANITY THROUGH A UNIQUE ALCHEMY OF CREATIVE PRACTICE AND SCHOLARLY RESEARCH IN NATIVE AMERICAN ARTS, ANTHROPOLOGY, AND RELATED DISCIPLINES. ITS VISION IS TO BE A NEXUS OF SCHOLARS AND ARTISTS,CREATIVE THINKERS AND CURIOUS LEARNERS, WHERE WE EXCHANGE IDEAS, BRING LIFE TO HISTORY, EXPLORE THE PRESENT, AND BROADEN PERSPECTIVES IN PURSUIT OF A MORE INFORMED AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY.
- Income
- $8.8 million
- Spending
- $5.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 65.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 28
- Highest pay
- $255,525, president em
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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 65.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2531 of 31 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
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
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 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 (3)
- $1.6 million spent. SCHOLAR PROGRAMS: DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, JASON DE LEN, A FORMER SAR WEATHERHEAD FELLOW, EARNED THE 2024 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTION FOR SOLDIERS AND KINGS: SURVIVAL AND HOPE IN THE WORLD OF HUMAN SMUGGLING, A BOOK WITH ROOTS IN WORK CREATED DURING HIS TIME AT SAR AND A PROFOUND TESTAMENT TO THE RIGOROUS AND HEARTFELT SCHOLARSHIP THAT SAR SUPPORTS. NOT ONLY DOES DE LEN'S RECOGNITION UNDERSCORE THE CALIBER OF OUR FELLOWSHIPS (HE JOINS TWO OTHER SAR SCHOLARS WHO RECEIVED THE SAME HONOR IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS), BUT WE WERE ALSO HONORED TO BRING HIM BACK TO CAMPUS AS OUR MELLON LECTURE SPEAKER IN FEBRUARY 2025, SHOWING HOW SCHOLARSHIP CULTIVATED AT SAR CAN CIRCLE BACK TO INFORM, ENRICH, AND INSPIRE PUBLIC AUDIENCES. FELLOWS ADVANCED PROJECTS SPANNING SOVEREIGNTY, MIGRATION, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND THE MAKING OF MEANING ACROSS ART AND DAILY LIFE. SCHOLARS EXPANDED THEIR THINKING THROUGH SAR'S CATHERINE MCELVAIN LIBRARY RESOURCES. THE RESULT IS VISIBLE: NEW BOOKS IN PROGRESS, NEW COLLABORATIONS UNDERWAY, AND NEW WAYS TO THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT QUESTIONS OF OUR TIME. SCHOLAR PROGRAMS: DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, JASON DE LEN, A FORMER SAR WEATHERHEAD FELLOW, EARNED THE 2024 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTION FOR SOLDIERS AND KINGS: SURVIVAL AND HOPE IN THE WORLD OF HUMAN SMUGGLING, A BOOK WITH ROOTS IN WORK CREATED DURING HIS TIME AT SAR AND A PROFOUND TESTAMENT TO THE RIGOROUS AND HEARTFELT SCHOLARSHIP THAT SAR SUPPORTS. NOT ONLY DOES DE LEN'S RECOGNITION UNDERSCORE THE CALIBER OF OUR FELLOWSHIPS (HE JOINS TWO OTHER SAR SCHOLARS WHO RECEIVED THE SAME HONOR IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS), BUT WE WERE ALSO HONORED TO BRING HIM BACK TO CAMPUS AS OUR MELLON LECTURE SPEAKER IN FEBRUARY 2025, SHOWING HOW SCHOLARSHIP CULTIVATED AT SAR CAN CIRCLE BACK TO INFORM, ENRICH, AND INSPIRE PUBLIC AUDIENCES. FELLOWS ADVANCED PROJECTS SPANNING SOVEREIGNTY, MIGRATION, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND THE MAKING OF MEANING ACROSS ART AND DAILY LIFE. SCHOLARS EXPANDED THEIR THINKING THROUGH SAR'S CATHERINE MCELVAIN LIBRARY RESOURCES. THE RESULT IS VISIBLE: NEW BOOKS IN PROGRESS, NEW COLLABORATIONS UNDERWAY, AND NEW WAYS TO THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT QUESTIONS OF OUR TIME.
- $1.4 million spent. THE INDIAN ARTS RESEARCH CENTER (IARC): THE IARC'S WORK THIS YEAR REINFORCED THE POWER OF ORIENTING COLLECTIONS CARE AROUND COMMUNITY. THE INDIGENOUS COLLECTIONS CARE (ICC) GUIDE, A PROJECT BORN FROM A GROWING INTEREST IN PRIORITIZING AND PRIVILEGING INDIGENIZED PRACTICES ON ALL LEVELS OF MUSEUM WORK, PARTICULARLY IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF COLLECTIONS, PROGRESSED TO THE FINAL VETTING STAGE THIS YEAR, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE TRIBAL AND MUSEUM VOICES ACROSS THE FIELD. THIS EVENTUAL COMPANION TO THE WIDELY USED GUIDELINES FOR COLLABORATION AND STANDARDS FOR MUSEUMS WITH NATIVE AMERICAN COLLECTIONS, ILLUSTRATES A CLEAR AIM FOR THE IARC'S CONTINUED WORK: CENTER STEWARDSHIP AROUND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND NEEDS, AND MAKE THAT STANDARD PRACTICE ACCESSIBLE TO PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AROUND THE WORLD. ON THE PUBLIC STAGE, GROUNDED IN CLAY: THE SPIRIT OF PUEBLO POTTERY CONTINUED ITS NATIONAL TOUR, FOLLOWING A CELEBRATED NEW YORK PRESENTATION BY THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART AND THE VILCEK FOUNDATION WITH AN OPENING AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON (OCTOBER 2024-JANUARY 2025) AND A RUN AT THE SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM (MARCH- SEPTEMBER 2025). THE EXHIBITION'S CURRICULUM AND PODCAST LAUNCHED ALONGSIDE, EXTENDING LEARNING TO CLASSROOMS AND HOMES. THE EXHIBITION RECEIVED A LISTING AS ONE OF THE TOP TEN OF THE YEAR BY ART FORUM. THE WORK OF NATIVE ARTIST FELLOWS AT SAR THIS YEAR (KEVIN ASPAAS, LYNDA TELLER PETE, AND SHERIDAN MACKNIGHT) PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES OF "TRADITION," CHALLENGED HOW WE UNDERSTAND AMERICAN ART, AND DEMONSTRATED HOW COMMUNITIES CAN MORE ACTIVELY UTILIZE COLLECTIONS. ALL THREE HIGHLIGHTED THE INDELIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN ART, CULTURE, AND LANGUAGE. AND, LIKE OUR SCHOLAR ALUMNI, OUR ARTIST FELLOWS CONTINUE TO PROVE THAT TIME HERE AT SAR CAN BE TRANSFORMATIVE IN WAYS THAT INSPIRE CONTINUED CREATIVE PATHS, ONES THAT LEAD TO NATIONAL AND GLOBAL RECOGNITION. THIS YEAR, 2008 RONALD AND SUSAN DUBIN FELLOW JEFFREY GIBSON REPRESENTED THE UNITED STATES AT THE VENICE BIENNALE, AS JUST ONE SUCH EXAMPLE. THE INDIAN ARTS RESEARCH CENTER (IARC): THE IARC'S WORK THIS YEAR REINFORCED THE POWER OF ORIENTING COLLECTIONS CARE AROUND COMMUNITY. THE INDIGENOUS COLLECTIONS CARE (ICC) GUIDE, A PROJECT BORN FROM A GROWING INTEREST IN PRIORITIZING AND PRIVILEGING INDIGENIZED PRACTICES ON ALL LEVELS OF MUSEUM WORK, PARTICULARLY IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF COLLECTIONS, PROGRESSED TO THE FINAL VETTING STAGE THIS YEAR, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE TRIBAL AND MUSEUM VOICES ACROSS THE FIELD. THIS EVENTUAL COMPANION TO THE WIDELY USED GUIDELINES FOR COLLABORATION AND STANDARDS FOR MUSEUMS WITH NATIVE AMERICAN COLLECTIONS, ILLUSTRATES A CLEAR AIM FOR THE IARC'S CONTINUED WORK: CENTER STEWARDSHIP AROUND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND NEEDS, AND MAKE THAT STANDARD PRACTICE ACCESSIBLE TO PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AROUND THE WORLD. ON THE PUBLIC STAGE, GROUNDED IN CLAY: THE SPIRIT OF PUEBLO POTTERY CONTINUED ITS NATIONAL TOUR, FOLLOWING A CELEBRATED NEW YORK PRESENTATION BY THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART AND THE VILCEK FOUNDATION WITH AN OPENING AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON (OCTOBER 2024-JANUARY 2025) AND A RUN AT THE SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM (MARCH- SEPTEMBER 2025). THE EXHIBITION'S CURRICULUM AND PODCAST LAUNCHED ALONGSIDE, EXTENDING LEARNING TO CLASSROOMS AND HOMES. THE EXHIBITION RECEIVED A LISTING AS ONE OF THE TOP TEN OF THE YEAR BY ART FORUM. THE WORK OF NATIVE ARTIST FELLOWS AT SAR THIS YEAR (KEVIN ASPAAS, LYNDA TELLER PETE, AND SHERIDAN MACKNIGHT) PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES OF "TRADITION," CHALLENGED HOW WE UNDERSTAND AMERICAN ART, AND DEMONSTRATED HOW COMMUNITIES CAN MORE ACTIVELY UTILIZE COLLECTIONS. ALL THREE HIGHLIGHTED THE INDELIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN ART, CULTURE, AND LANGUAGE. AND, LIKE OUR SCHOLAR ALUMNI, OUR ARTIST FELLOWS CONTINUE TO PROVE THAT TIME HERE AT SAR CAN BE TRANSFORMATIVE IN WAYS THAT INSPIRE CONTINUED CREATIVE PATHS, ONES THAT LEAD TO NATIONAL AND GLOBAL RECOGNITION. THIS YEAR, 2008 RONALD AND SUSAN DUBIN FELLOW JEFFREY GIBSON REPRESENTED THE UNITED STATES AT THE VENICE BIENNALE, AS JUST ONE SUCH EXAMPLE.
- $504,401 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS & EVENTS: OVER THE COURSE OF 12 DAYS, THIS YEAR'S HUMANITIES FESTIVAL: FOOD FOR THOUGHT OFFERED AUDIENCES MEANS TO EXPLORE FOOD AS CULTURE, MEMORY, AND POWER. ARCHAEOLOGIST CHELSEA FISHER REVEALED HOW SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES OF THE PAST MAY HOLD SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE. MICHAELA DESOUCEY STIRRED DEBATE WITH HER TALK ON THE POLITICS OF FOIE GRAS, WEAVING ETHICS, PLEASURE, AND IDENTITY INTO ONE FRAUGHT MEAL. AT REUNITY RESOURCES, MEMBERS WALKED THROUGH ROWS OF LIVING CROPS BEFORE SITTING DOWN TO A FARM-TO-TABLE LUNCH, BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN LEARNING AND SAVORING. AND WHEN KATHLEEN MERRIGAN MODERATED A PANEL WITH A RANCHER, ORGANIC FARMER/HYDROLOGIST, AND NATIVE PERMACULTURE EXPERT AND ARTIST, THE RESULT WAS PART SCIENCE, PART STORYTELLING, PART COMMUNITY RECKONING WITH WATER AND LAND. THE SUMMER ALSO INCLUDED THE LAUNCH OF SAR'S SUMMER SERIES FEATURING MUSIC AT DUSK CONCERTS AS WELL AS 4 DOG DAYS EVENTS WHERE SAR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC WERE INVITED TO BRING THEIR DOG TO CAMPUS TO SOCIALIZE WITH OTHER DOG OWNERS, ATTEND TALKS ON CANINE HISTORY AND BEHAVIOR AS WELL AS MEET OTHER DOGS. PUBLIC PROGRAMS & EVENTS: OVER THE COURSE OF 12 DAYS, THIS YEAR'S HUMANITIES FESTIVAL: FOOD FOR THOUGHT OFFERED AUDIENCES MEANS TO EXPLORE FOOD AS CULTURE, MEMORY, AND POWER. ARCHAEOLOGIST CHELSEA FISHER REVEALED HOW SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES OF THE PAST MAY HOLD SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE. MICHAELA DESOUCEY STIRRED DEBATE WITH HER TALK ON THE POLITICS OF FOIE GRAS, WEAVING ETHICS, PLEASURE, AND IDENTITY INTO ONE FRAUGHT MEAL. AT REUNITY RESOURCES, MEMBERS WALKED THROUGH ROWS OF LIVING CROPS BEFORE SITTING DOWN TO A FARM-TO-TABLE LUNCH, BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN LEARNING AND SAVORING. AND WHEN KATHLEEN MERRIGAN MODERATED A PANEL WITH A RANCHER, ORGANIC FARMER/HYDROLOGIST, AND NATIVE PERMACULTURE EXPERT AND ARTIST, THE RESULT WAS PART SCIENCE, PART STORYTELLING, PART COMMUNITY RECKONING WITH WATER AND LAND. THE SUMMER ALSO INCLUDED THE LAUNCH OF SAR'S SUMMER SERIES FEATURING MUSIC AT DUSK CONCERTS AS WELL AS 4 DOG DAYS EVENTS WHERE SAR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC WERE INVITED TO BRING THEIR DOG TO CAMPUS TO SOCIALIZE WITH OTHER DOG OWNERS, ATTEND TALKS ON CANINE HISTORY AND BEHAVIOR AS WELL AS MEET OTHER DOGS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1942.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.