Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The Organization's mission is to inspire development of educational, cultural, physical, and spiritual well-being among the Navajo.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- -5.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $77,317, executive director
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: 21 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 163% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 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, 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)
- $349,414 spent. Navajo Mission Preparatory School serves local children where more than half of Navajo children, living in Northern Arizona, entering school for the first time are experiencing poverty and early learning gaps. Navajo Mission Preparatory School provides lap top access to students as another way to learn, as only 27% of their peers across Navajo Nation have access to computers or any type of digital learning. The school provides cutting edge learning environment for students.
- $303,600 spent. Navajo Lutheran Mission serves a life-saving, life-giving, and much more to a community Rock Point. Many of the residence are either unemployed or underemployed. Food Bank distributed over 500,000 pounds of food to over 2000 individuals who reside in Rock Point. Some travel as far as 65 miles to get a food box. The Mission also received donated blankets and handed them to community members for extra warmth during the winter season.
- $25,988 spent. Hozho Caf? provided 18,500 meals in 2024 for people who may not have the necessary resources to prepare a well balanced meal. The caf? is open 5 days per week, with people coming as far as 45 miles to pick up a warm healthy meal.
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 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 December 2024.
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 February 1964.
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.