Sand Creek Massacre Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Sand Creek Massacre Foundation is the non-profit partner of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, furthering its educational purposes and contributing to lifelong learning about the massacre. By supporting initiatives that encourage exploration of its relevance to our contemporary world, we seek to minimize the chances of similar atrocities from ever happening again. The Foundation's work honors the legacy of those who were lost, those who seek healing, and those who continue to be affected by this and other atrocities.
- Income
- $556,067
- Spending
- $114,280
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 44.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $13,750, executive director
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 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 44.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 79% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 655% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
- $57,770 spent. Center for Sand Creek Massacre Studies (CSCMS): The CSCMS is a developing publicly accessible centralized database of archival documents gathered from institutions throughout Colorado and the nation. In 2025, grant funding for the CSCMS was used to support the lead archivist and assistant archival technicians working on the project, digitizing of several major archival collections, and outreach to local, tribal and national audiences about the developing accessibility to and uses of the database. In addition, the foundation is compiling a separate but related genealogical database of multiple generations of Cheyenne and Arapaho descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre for genealogical research purposes.
- $11,032 spent. National Park Service Employee Housing: The foundation received grant funding for the purchase of a historic house in Eads, Colorado, the service community to the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, to provide rental housing for National Park Service employees. When rehabilitation is completed, likely in 2028, the house will generate revenue for the foundation.
- $15,997 spent. Sand Creek Massacre Memorial: Through extensive outreach, partnerships and fundraising, the foundation has raised funds to complete a major project to install a monument to the Sand Creek Massacre on the grounds of the Colorado State Capitol. Ground breaking and initial installation will take place in November, 2026.
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
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 2025.
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 June 2020.
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.
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.