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Southwestern Association for Indian Arts Inc

EIN 85-0212504 · Santa Fe, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BRINGING NATIVE ARTS TO THE WORLD BY INSPIRING ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, FOSTERING EDUCATION, AND CREATING MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
40
Volunteers
219
Highest pay
$110,000, executive di

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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)
  1. $955,610 spent. THE SANTA FE INDIAN MARKET IS THE LARGEST EXHIBITION OF INDIAN ART IN THE WORLD. THE ANNUAL MARKET PROMOTES INDIAN ART AND CULTURE THROUGH EXHIBITION AND SALES OF ART. OVER 175,000 PEOPLE ATTEND THE EVENT ANNUALLY. INDIAN MARKET HOSTS OVER 1,050 NATIVE ARTISTS FROM 49 STATES AND CANADA, INCLUDING ADULTS AND YOUTH, IN THE TWO-DAY WEEKEND EVENT.
  2. $177,313 spent. SWAIA FELLOWSHIP AND AWARDS PROGRAMS HELP NATIVE ARTISTS TO REFINE AND PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN THEIR ART WHILE ALSO PROMOTING NATIVE CULTURAL BELIEFS THAT INFLUENCE THEIR WORK. THE AWARDS PROGRAM GRANTS RIBBONS AND CASH PRIZES IN OVER 100 CATEGORIES OF ART, WITH THE "BEST OF SHOW" PRIZE BEING HIGHLY COVETED AND INSTRUMENTAL IN FORWARDING CAREERS OF RECEIPIENTS. IN 2024, MORE THAN 1100 ARTIST ENTRIES WERE RECEIVED FOR THE COMPETITION WITH NEARLY 73,000 IN AWARD MONIES. THE FELLOWSHIP AWARD PROGRAM GIVES SMALL GRANTS TO SEVEN ADULTS AND TWO YOUTH NATIVE ARTISTS WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED THROUGH AN APPLICATION AND JURY PROCESS. THE FELLOWSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS ALSO RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY WITH ESTABLISHED SWAIA ARTISTS, PROMOTION IN SWAIA ADS, MAGAZINE ARTICLES AND PRESS STORIES, AND SPECIAL HONORING CEREMONIES. SWAIA FELLOWSHIP AND AWARDS PROGRAMS HELP NATIVE ARTISTS TO REFINE AND PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN THEIR ART WHILE ALSO PROMOTING NATIVE CULTURAL BELIEFS THAT INFLUENCE THEIR WORK. THE AWARDS PROGRAM GRANTS RIBBONS AND CASH PRIZES IN OVER 100 CATEGORIES OF ART, WITH THE "BEST OF SHOW" PRIZE BEING HIGHLY COVETED AND INSTRUMENTAL IN FORWARDING CAREERS OF RECEIPIENTS. IN 2024, MORE THAN 1100 ARTIST ENTRIES WERE RECEIVED FOR THE COMPETITION WITH NEARLY 73,000 IN AWARD MONIES. THE FELLOWSHIP AWARD PROGRAM GIVES SMALL GRANTS TO SEVEN ADULTS AND TWO YOUTH NATIVE ARTISTS WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED THROUGH AN APPLICATION AND JURY PROCESS. THE FELLOWSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS ALSO RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY WITH ESTABLISHED SWAIA ARTISTS, PROMOTION IN SWAIA ADS, MAGAZINE ARTICLES AND PRESS STORIES, AND SPECIAL HONORING CEREMONIES.
  3. $49,839 spent. WINTER INDIAN MARKET BRINGS 150 OF THE BEST OF THE INDIAN MARKET ARTISTS TO SANTA FE FOR A HOLIDAY WEEKEND EVENT JUST BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. SPECIAL PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ENTERTAINMENT ARE GEARED TOWARD EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPOSURE TO NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURE. IN 2023, OVER 2,400 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE TWO-DAY EVENT.

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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 June 1971.

    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 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.