First Alaskans Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TRUE TO IDENTITY, HERITAGE, AND VALUES, ALASKA NATIVES ARE INFORMED AND ENGAGED IN LEADING THE DECISIONS THAT SHAPE THE FUTURE. OUR WORK IS CENTERED ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, POLICY AND ADVOCACY, AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS/COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGY
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 7.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $183,747, president/ce
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 81% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 57% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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)
- $992,022 spent. ALASKA NATIVE POLICY CENTER THE ALASKA NATIVE POLICY CENTER AMPLIFIES ALASKA NATIVE VOICES, PERSPECTIVES, AND LEADERSHIP ON ISSUES IMPACTING OUR PEOPLES AND COMMUNITIES. THE GOAL OF THE WORK IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLES WHILE HONORING OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS STEWARDS OF OUR UNIQUE LANDS, LANGUAGES, AND CULTURE. THROUGH ADVOCACY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ANPC DRIVES SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CHANGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLES AND ALL ALASKANS. GUIDED BY OUR COMMUNITIES AND COMMITMENT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT OUR WAYS OF KNOWING AND BEING, OUR CULTURES, AND OUR DEEP CONNECTIONS TO LAND, WATER, AIR, ANIMALS, AND EACH OTHER ENDURE. ALASKA NATIVE POLICY CENTER THE ALASKA NATIVE POLICY CENTER AMPLIFIES ALASKA NATIVE VOICES, PERSPECTIVES, AND LEADERSHIP ON ISSUES IMPACTING OUR PEOPLES AND COMMUNITIES. THE GOAL OF THE WORK IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLES WHILE HONORING OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS STEWARDS OF OUR UNIQUE LANDS, LANGUAGES, AND CULTURE. THROUGH ADVOCACY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ANPC DRIVES SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CHANGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLES AND ALL ALASKANS. GUIDED BY OUR COMMUNITIES AND COMMITMENT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS, WE STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT OUR WAYS OF KNOWING AND BEING, OUR CULTURES, AND OUR DEEP CONNECTIONS TO LAND, WATER, AIR, ANIMALS, AND EACH OTHER ENDURE.
- $813,053 spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP CONTINUUM (ILC) THE INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP CONTINUUM IS ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT EVERY PERSON HOLDS LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL. WE INVEST IN ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLES BY CREATING LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT STRENGTHEN IDENTITY, CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. OUR PROGRAMS PREPARE EMERGING LEADERS TO ENGAGE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKING WITH A FOUNDATION IN ALASKA NATIVE WORLDVIEWS SHAPED OVER 10,000 YEARS. THROUGH CULTURALLY GROUNDED CURRICULUM AND EXPERIENCES, WE PERPETUATE NATIVE KNOWLEDGE, UPHOLD OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO OTHERS, AND FOSTER STEWARDSHIP OF OUR HOMELANDS.
- $417,129 spent. ELDERS AND YOUTH CONFERENCE THE ANNUAL STATEWIDE ELDERS & YOUTH CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER ALASKA NATIVE ELDERS AND YOUTH TO CELEBRATE WHO WE ARE, STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS, AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE ACROSS GENERATIONS. THIS GATHERING CREATES SPACE TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS FOR CHALLENGES FACING OUR COMMUNITIES, EXPLORE CREATIVITY, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING OF ALL ALASKANS. ELDERS & YOUTH IS A LIVING EXPRESSION OF OUR VALUES, ENSURING CULTURAL CONTINUITY AND COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR THE FUTURE.
- $154,149 spent. FIRST ALASKANS MAGAZINE FIRST ALASKANS MAGAZINE OFFERS IN-DEPTH STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES FROM ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLES. EACH ISSUE EXPLORES TOPICS SUCH AS SELF-GOVERNANCE, EDUCATION, INDUSTRY, LEADERSHIP, AND ALASKA NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURE. THROUGH THE LENS OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE, THE LAND'S ORIGINAL PEOPLES, WE TELL THE STORY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHY IT MATTERS, AND HOW IT IMPACTS ALL ALASKANS.
- FIRST ALASKANS MAGAZINE FIRST ALASKANS MAGAZINE OFFERS IN-DEPTH STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES FROM ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLES. EACH ISSUE EXPLORES TOPICS SUCH AS SELF-GOVERNANCE, EDUCATION, INDUSTRY, LEADERSHIP, AND ALASKA NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURE. THROUGH THE LENS OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE, THE LAND'S ORIGINAL PEOPLES, WE TELL THE STORY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHY IT MATTERS, AND HOW IT IMPACTS ALL ALASKANS.
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 March 1991.
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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