Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Founded in 2021, we collaborate with Muwekma tribal members and allies to advance the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe's goals of resilience, cultural revitalization, community education, and efforts for access, ownership, and stewardship of ancestral lands.
- Income
- $69,415
- Spending
- $193,129
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 178% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (4)
- $41,077 spent. Cultural Revitalization: In 2024, MOPF supported Muwekma in appointing Tribal member Joey Torres as Culture Bearer to lead efforts in revitalizing and preserving Muwekma Ohlone cultural traditions, including mentoring and guiding tribal members in traditional practices such as song, dance, and regalia-making. Intertribal Cultural Exchange and Ceremonial Travel Joey participated in ceremonial journeys across Indigenous territories, including Shingle Springs, Nisqually, Round Valley, and Bear Ceremony. These exchanges involved singing, prayer, fishing, and cultural sharing with other tribal communities. Intertribal exchange is vital to Muwekma cultural revitalization. It restores relationships disrupted by colonization, reaffirms tribal presence, and ensures that songs, teachings, and ceremonial protocols are carried forward. Joey's participation strengthens kinship ties and offers youth and families direct access to living culture. To support this work, the Foundation offered travel stipends to tribal members traveling for ceremony, land stewardship, and community events. Reimbursement honored the time, energy, and cultural leadership of those involved. Mexica New Year Co-Hosting and Túupentak Construction at Emma Prusch Park The Foundation supported Muwekma in co-hosting the annual Mexica New Year celebration in partnership with local Indigenous organizers. This multi-day event included ceremonial dances, traditional foods, youth programming, and intergenerational teachings. Staff supported logistics, communications, and cultural protocol coordination, ensuring respectful representation and community engagement. The event welcomed an estimated 300-500 community members (Indigenous and non-indigenous), strengthening visibility and solidarity among Indigenous peoples in the region. As part of the celebration, the Foundation supported the construction of a tuupentak (sweat lodge) at Emma Prusch Park. Joey led the design and building process, integrating traditional knowledge and community labor. The tuupentak served as a sacred site for prayer, purification, and cultural grounding during Mexica New Year. Created and Performed Weekly Tribal-Only Cultural Education Programs The Foundation supported three concurrent weekly programs exclusively for Muwekma tribal members, each designed to strengthen cultural identity, language, and historical understanding through intergenerational learning. Chochenyo Language Classes (Wednesdays via Zoom): Led by Bernadette Quiroz, Language Revitalization Chair, this online class welcomes tribal members from age four through Elders. Participants learn Chochenyo vocabulary, pronunciation, and ceremonial phrases, contributing to the restoration of the Tribe's ancestral language. The program fosters connection across generations and supports long-term language reclamation. Muwekma University (Mondays via Zoom): Facilitated by Stanford Professor and MOPF Board Member Mike Wilcox, this weekly class explores Indigenous history in the United States, with a focus on the first Spanish contact with Muwekma Ohlone ancestors. While open to all ages, current attendance includes tribal members ages 12 and up. The program deepens historical understanding and affirms Muwekma presence in broader narratives of resistance, survival, and continuity. Ceremonial Dance Classes (Sundays in San Jose): Led by Culture Bearer Joey Iyolopixtli Torres, this in-person class serves tribal members from age four through their 50s. Participants learn ceremonial songs, dances, and regalia crafting. The class offers embodied cultural practice, strengthens kinship ties, and prepares youth to carry forward ceremonial responsibilities. Together, these programs support cultural revitalization by offering consistent opportunities for tribal members to learn, practice, and reclaim Muwekma lifeways in community. Supported Language Revitalization Chair Bernadette Qurioz to lead efforts in preserving, revitalizing, and promoting the Chochenyo language, including developing language learning resources and programs for tribal members. The Foundation supported Bernadette Quiroz, Language Revitalization Chair, in leading efforts to preserve, revitalize, and promote the Chochenyo language for Muwekma tribal members. This work included curriculum development, resource creation, and weekly instruction. In Spring 2024, Bernadette established a partnership with 7000 Languages, a nonprofit dedicated to Indigenous language learning. Through this collaboration, tribal members gained access to a custom Chochenyo curriculum supported by linguistics and IT teams. Members can now log in through a unique link, create accounts, and take self-paced Chochenyo courses online. Currently, the platform offers 15 structured assignments, designed to support foundational learning and cultural connection. Each Wednesday, Bernadette hosts a live Zoom class serving 20-25 tribal members weekly, ranging from young children to Elders. Participants ask questions from the online lessons, play language games, and build deeper relationships through shared learning. The program fosters intergenerational connection and supports the restoration of Muwekma identity through language.
- $18,990 spent. Community Education: The Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation expanded its Community Education Program in 2024 to increase public awareness and understanding of Muwekma history, language, and culture through land acknowledgements, presentations, and tabling at partner events. Program Leadership and Tribal Capacity: Julie Dominguez was appointed Chair of Community Education and recruited Corina Arellano plus three additional tribal members to lead outreach. Together they staffed presentations, land acknowledgements, and tabling across schools, universities, libraries, cultural centers, civic forums, and public events. The Foundation supported in the following ways 1) Provided tribal member stipends to compensate participants for time, travel, and cultural labor. 2) Purchased tabling supplies (table covers, banners, display materials) and printed brochures and handouts for distribution. 3) Managed invoicing, event coordination, scheduling, and follow-up. 4) Supplied briefing notes and event-specific guidance to support presenters and ensure consistent, audience-appropriate messaging. 2024 activity and impact: Formal requests received: 82 Requests completed: 47 Estimated total audience served by completed events: ~3,000-3,500 people. Audience-type breakdown: K-12 schools and youth assemblies: 12 events; per-event audiences ranged ~20-600. Colleges and university classes/events: 8 events; typical audiences 20-300. Libraries, museums, and cultural centers: 9 events; typical audiences 20-300. Health, civic, nonprofit, and workplace events (including Pride Parade and conferences): 10 events; typical audiences 50-2,000. Small community gatherings and invitational/intertribal events: 8 events; typical audiences 12-100
- $16,325 spent. Land Access: In 2024, the Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation supported strategic and ceremonial land access efforts across the Bay Area. This included light coordination around potential access to SFPUC lands in the Sunol region, contributing to early-stage planning for future Tribal Village development. We also facilitated cultural access to the Guadalupe River Trail area, enabling Culture Bearer Joseph Iyolopixtli Torres to gather willow branches for Tupentak ceremonial use-an effort deeply tied to cultural revitalization and intergenerational learning. Additionally, we partnered with the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy to support native plant consultation and cultural education, strengthening relationships with local ecological stewards. These activities reflect our commitment to restoring Indigenous presence on ancestral lands through respectful collaboration, cultural continuity, and long-term visioning,
- $9,725 spent. Other
Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 August 2022.
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 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.