Sealaska Heritage Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT, PERPETUATE, AND ENHANCE THE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TRADITIONS FOR THE TLINGIT, HAIDA AND TSIMSHIAN TRIBES OF SOUTHEAST ALASKA NATIVES. THE INSTITUTE ENCOURAGES AND PROMOTES THE PRESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THEIR TRADITIONAL CULTURE, TRIBAL ORGANIZATION, AND LIFESTYLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR YOUTH AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND PROMOTES EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TLINGIT, HAIDA AND TSIMSHIAN PEOPLE.
- Income
- $28.6 million
- Spending
- $22.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 8.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 74%
- Employees
- 116
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $432,455, president
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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 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 (5)
- $12.0 million spent. CULTURAL EDUCATION WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT NATIVE CHILDREN DO BETTER ACADEMICALLY WHEN THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE--WHEN THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR HISTORY, LANGUAGE, AND CULTURE. SEALASKA HERITAGE WORKS WITH UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TRIBES, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND THE LOWER 48 TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT SOUTHEAST ALASKA NATIVE CULTURES, AS EVALUATIONS HAVE SHOWN THAT INTEGRATING CULTURE INTO SCHOOLS HAS IMPROVED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS ITS AWARD-WINNING BABY RAVEN READS, SHI ALSO PROMOTES EARLY LITERACY IN ALASKA NATIVE CHILDREN, PUBLISHES CHILDREN'S BOOKS, OFFERS SUMMER CAMPS, AND OPERATES A NATIVE LANGUAGE PROGRAM. SHI ALSO DEVELOPS TEACHING MATERIALS, INCLUDING BOOKS AND CURRICULUM RESOURCES, AND PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TRAIN TEACHERS TO USE OUR MATERIALS AND ON CULTURAL ORIENTATION. SEALASKA HERITAGE INSTITUTE PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS TO ALASKA NATIVE STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. CULTURAL EDUCATION WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT NATIVE CHILDREN DO BETTER ACADEMICALLY WHEN THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE--WHEN THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR HISTORY, LANGUAGE, AND CULTURE. SEALASKA HERITAGE WORKS WITH UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TRIBES, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND THE LOWER 48 TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT SOUTHEAST ALASKA NATIVE CULTURES, AS EVALUATIONS HAVE SHOWN THAT INTEGRATING CULTURE INTO SCHOOLS HAS IMPROVED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS ITS AWARD-WINNING BABY RAVEN READS, SHI ALSO PROMOTES EARLY LITERACY IN ALASKA NATIVE CHILDREN, PUBLISHES CHILDREN'S BOOKS, OFFERS SUMMER CAMPS, AND OPERATES A NATIVE LANGUAGE PROGRAM. SHI ALSO DEVELOPS TEACHING MATERIALS, INCLUDING BOOKS AND CURRICULUM RESOURCES, AND PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TRAIN TEACHERS TO USE OUR MATERIALS AND ON CULTURAL ORIENTATION. SEALASKA HERITAGE INSTITUTE PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS TO ALASKA NATIVE STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.
- $2.9 million spent. LANGUAGE AND CULTURE SEALASKA HERITAGE INSTITUTE PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE PROGRAMS: OUR ANCESTORS' ECHOES AND LANGUAGE SCHOLARS PROGRAMS, TLINGIT CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY PROGRAM, BABY RAVEN READS PROGRAM, SOUTHEAST REGIONAL LANGUAGE COMMITTEE, AND NATIVE LANGUAGE TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION OF AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDINGS. SEALASKA HERITAGE INTEGRATES LANGUAGE IN ITS VARIETY OF YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING LATSEEN ARTS ACADEMY, STEAM ACADEMIES, RUNNING CAMPS, AND VOICES ON THE LAND PERFORMING ARTS CAMPS. IT PUBLISHES CURRICULUM AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO PERPETUATE AND ENHANCE THE TLINGIT, HAIDA, AND TSIMSHIAN LANGUAGES. SEALASKA HERITAGE'S CULTURAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE: CELEBRATION, NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH AND PERIODIC LECTURE SERIES, ITS EXTENSIVE BOX OF KNOWLEDGE PUBLICATION SERIES, VISITING SCHOLARS PROGRAM, ITS ROTATING AND PERMANENT EXHIBIT, ETHNOGRAPHIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, AND ITS ARCHIVE AND COLLECTIONS HOUSED IN SHI'S STATE-OF-THE-ART WALTER SOBOLEFF BUILDING. SEALASKA HERITAGE DEVELOPS AND OVERSEES SCIENTIFIC AND PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS SHI'S MISSION. THESE PROJECTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT TLINGIT, HAIDA, AND TSIMSHIAN CULTURES AND HISTORY. LANGUAGE AND CULTURE SEALASKA HERITAGE INSTITUTE PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE PROGRAMS: OUR ANCESTORS' ECHOES AND LANGUAGE SCHOLARS PROGRAMS, TLINGIT CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY PROGRAM, BABY RAVEN READS PROGRAM, SOUTHEAST REGIONAL LANGUAGE COMMITTEE, AND NATIVE LANGUAGE TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION OF AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDINGS. SEALASKA HERITAGE INTEGRATES LANGUAGE IN ITS VARIETY OF YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING LATSEEN ARTS ACADEMY, STEAM ACADEMIES, RUNNING CAMPS, AND VOICES ON THE LAND PERFORMING ARTS CAMPS. IT PUBLISHES CURRICULUM AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO PERPETUATE AND ENHANCE THE TLINGIT, HAIDA, AND TSIMSHIAN LANGUAGES. SEALASKA HERITAGE'S CULTURAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE: CELEBRATION, NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH AND PERIODIC LECTURE SERIES, ITS EXTENSIVE BOX OF KNOWLEDGE PUBLICATION SERIES, VISITING SCHOLARS PROGRAM, ITS ROTATING AND PERMANENT EXHIBIT, ETHNOGRAPHIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, AND ITS ARCHIVE AND COLLECTIONS HOUSED IN SHI'S STATE-OF-THE-ART WALTER SOBOLEFF BUILDING. SEALASKA HERITAGE DEVELOPS AND OVERSEES SCIENTIFIC AND PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS SHI'S MISSION. THESE PROJECTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT TLINGIT, HAIDA, AND TSIMSHIAN CULTURES AND HISTORY.
- $2.6 million spent. ART SEALASKA HERITAGE INSTITUTE OPERATES NUMEROUS PROGRAMS TO PERPETUATE NORTHWEST COAST ART-- ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE ART FORMS IN THE WORLD. THE GOALS ARE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE ARTISTS' PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; EXPAND DEMAND FOR NATIVE ARTS THROUGH DEVELOPING NATIVE ARTS MARKETS; PROVIDE NATIVE ARTS CROSS-CULTURAL EDUCATION AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC; ADVOCATE FOR ARTISTS' ACCESS TO TRADITIONAL MATERIALS; AND, RESEARCH, PRESERVE, AND PERPETUATE NORTHWEST COAST ART. SHI OPERATES THE SEALASKA HERITAGE ARTS CAMPUS, (ATNAN HT) IN JUNEAU, AND PARTNERS WITH UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA SOUTHEAST AND INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS TO OFFER HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN NWC ARTS, INCLUDING IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL NWC ARTS CLASSES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: TOOL MAKING, FORMLINE DESIGN, SCULPTURAL DESIGN, METAL ENGRAVING, CHASING AND REPOUSS, BASKETRY, WOOLEN WEAVING, SPRUCE ROOT GATHERING AND PROCESSING, BUSINESS LITERACY FOR ARTISTS), ON CAMPUS, IN SE ALASKA, AND BEYOND. SHI OFFERS OPTIONAL COLLEGE CREDITS FOR ALL ELIGIBLE COURSES AND IS DEVELOPING THE SEALASKA HERITAGE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT TO OFFER A VALUABLE NON-COLLEGE CREDIT CREDENTIAL. THE INSTITUTE HOSTS TOURS, PERFORMANCES, TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES AND ARTIST MARKETS ON CAMPUS, AND OFFERS MENTOR-APPRENTICESHIPS, ARTISTS RESIDENCIES, AND INTERNSHIPS REGIONALLY. IT IS ALSO BUILDING ITS PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM WITH FOCUS ON RETAINING AND STRENGTHENING THE ART OF ORATORY AND PRODUCING A BRAND NEW TLINGIT OPERA. THE INSTITUTE IS BUILDING ON TRADITIONAL ECONOMIES AND THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES THAT ARE ABUNDANT AND READILY AVAILABLE IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA TO REVITALIZE TRADITIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS PRODUCTION: WE CALL THIS THE "SUSTAINABLE ART PROGRAM." SHI PURCHASES RAW MATERIALS FROM NATIVE HUNTERS, SUPPORTS THE TRAINING OF NEW ARTISTS THROUGH MENTOR- APPRENTICESHIPS, AND PRODUCES ARTS-RELATED CURRICULUM RESOURCES AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS TO SUPPORT CONTINUING EDUCATION. ART SEALASKA HERITAGE INSTITUTE OPERATES NUMEROUS PROGRAMS TO PERPETUATE NORTHWEST COAST ART-- ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE ART FORMS IN THE WORLD. THE GOALS ARE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE ARTISTS' PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; EXPAND DEMAND FOR NATIVE ARTS THROUGH DEVELOPING NATIVE ARTS MARKETS; PROVIDE NATIVE ARTS CROSS-CULTURAL EDUCATION AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC; ADVOCATE FOR ARTISTS' ACCESS TO TRADITIONAL MATERIALS; AND, RESEARCH, PRESERVE, AND PERPETUATE NORTHWEST COAST ART. SHI OPERATES THE SEALASKA HERITAGE ARTS CAMPUS, (ATNAN HT) IN JUNEAU, AND PARTNERS WITH UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA SOUTHEAST AND INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS TO OFFER HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN NWC ARTS, INCLUDING IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL NWC ARTS CLASSES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: TOOL MAKING, FORMLINE DESIGN, SCULPTURAL DESIGN, METAL ENGRAVING, CHASING AND REPOUSS, BASKETRY, WOOLEN WEAVING, SPRUCE ROOT GATHERING AND PROCESSING, BUSINESS LITERACY FOR ARTISTS), ON CAMPUS, IN SE ALASKA, AND BEYOND. SHI OFFERS OPTIONAL COLLEGE CREDITS FOR ALL ELIGIBLE COURSES AND IS DEVELOPING THE SEALASKA HERITAGE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT TO OFFER A VALUABLE NON-COLLEGE CREDIT CREDENTIAL. THE INSTITUTE HOSTS TOURS, PERFORMANCES, TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES AND ARTIST MARKETS ON CAMPUS, AND OFFERS MENTOR-APPRENTICESHIPS, ARTISTS RESIDENCIES, AND INTERNSHIPS REGIONALLY. IT IS ALSO BUILDING ITS PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM WITH FOCUS ON RETAINING AND STRENGTHENING THE ART OF ORATORY AND PRODUCING A BRAND NEW TLINGIT OPERA. THE INSTITUTE IS BUILDING ON TRADITIONAL ECONOMIES AND THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES THAT ARE ABUNDANT AND READILY AVAILABLE IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA TO REVITALIZE TRADITIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS PRODUCTION: WE CALL THIS THE "SUSTAINABLE ART PROGRAM." SHI PURCHASES RAW MATERIALS FROM NATIVE HUNTERS, SUPPORTS THE TRAINING OF NEW ARTISTS THROUGH MENTOR- APPRENTICESHIPS, AND PRODUCES ARTS-RELATED CURRICULUM RESOURCES AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS TO SUPPORT CONTINUING EDUCATION.
- $2.1 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, TRADITIONAL CELEBRATIONS AND THE SEALASKA HERITAGE RETAIL STORE.
- OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, TRADITIONAL CELEBRATIONS AND THE SEALASKA HERITAGE RETAIL STORE.
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 1982.
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.
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