Alutiiq Heritage Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OPERATING THE ALUTIIQ MUSEUM AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY, PRESERVING AND SHARING THE HERITAGE AND CULTURE OF THE ALUTIIQ PEOPLE, RESEARCHING THE CULTURAL HISTORY AND DISSEMINATING THE RESULTS TO THE PUBLIC.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 51%
- Reserves
- 12.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 55
- Highest pay
- $147,468, executive di
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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 81% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1551% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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, 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)
- $564,711 spent. MUSEUM: THE FOUNDATION OPERATES A MUSEUM AND STORE THAT SEEKS TO PRESERVE THE HERITAGE FOR THE NATIVE CULTURE AND ALUTIIQ COMMUNITIES. THE MUSEUM SUPPORTS LOCAL ARTISTS AS WELL AS CREATING EXHIBITS THAT ARE DISPLAYED IN THE MUSEUM AND THROUGHOUT KODIAK. ADDITIONALLY, THE MUSEUM CARES FOR OVER 250,000 OBJECTS RELATED TO ALUTIIQ HERITAGE AND HISTORY IN ITS STATE-CERTIFIED AND NATIONALLY-ACCREDITED REPOSITORY.
- $453,049 spent. EDUCATION: ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE IS ESSENTIAL FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. UNDERSTANDING LOCAL CULTURES AND HISTORY CAN HELP PEOPLE CONFRONT DIFFICULT ISSUES, ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION, AND CONSIDER MANY PERSPECTIVES. OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS EXPLORE ALUTIIQ CULTURE AND PROVIDE AN HONEST VIEW OF THE FORCES THAT HAVE SHAPED TODAYS ALUTIIQ COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE. THE FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO CREATING RESPECT AND ENTHUSIASM FOR ALUTIIQ TRADITIONS AMONG PEOPLE OF ALL HERITAGES. WE PROVIDE RESOURCES TO TEACHERS, HANDS ON HERITAGE EXPERIENCES, TRANSLATION SERVICES,AND MAINTAIN A LIBRARY.
- $168,770 spent. ARCHAEOLOGY: THE KODIAK ARCHIPELAGO HAS A RICH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD WITH HUNDREDS OF SETTLEMENTS, CAMPS, AND SPECIAL PURPOSE SITES THAT PRESERVE DEEP ALUTIIQ HISTORY. FOUNDATION ARCHAEOLOGISTS WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRIBES, LANDOWNERS, AND RESEARCHERS TO PRESERVE ALUTIIQ HISTORY BY STUDYING AND PROTECTING THIS RECORD.
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 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 2025.
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 August 1997.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Heritage Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 23-7327730. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.