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Forge Project Association

EIN 93-2518698 · Ancram, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FORGE PROJECT IS A NATIVE-LED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MANDATE IS TO CULTIVATE AND ADVANCE INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP IN ARTS AND CULTURE. THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR PURPOSES WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND EMPOWERS NATIVE CULTURE WORKERS AND PROMOTES BROADER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF INDIGENOUS CONTEMPORARY CULTURE AND KNOWLEDGE. LOCATED ON THE HOMELANDS OF THE MOH-HE-CON-NUCK IN NEW YORK STATE, THE CORPORATION'S MAIN ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ANNUAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS AND GRANTS FOR INDIGENOUS CULTURE WORKERS, AN EXPANDING CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS ART COLLECTION AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH AND LENDING, REGULAR PUBLICATIONS ON INDIGENOUS ART AND CULTURE, PUBLIC CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, AND GATHERINGS CENTERED AROUND CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS EXPRESSION.

Income
$7.3 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
8
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$188,230, executive director & chief curator

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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 83% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (2)
  1. $738,347 spent. COLLECTION, EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER PROGRAMSFORGE PROJECT STEWARDS A COLLECTION OF 180 PIECES OF CONTEMPORARY ART WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE WORK OF LIVING INDIGENOUS ARTISTS. THE COLLECTION IS DISPLAYED ON A ROTATING BASIS ON SITE AND IS AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH AS WELL AS LOAN FOR OFF-SITE EXHIBITIONS.FROM THE OUTSET, THE FORGE PROJECT COLLECTION WAS INTENDED AS A WORKING COLLECTION, WITH LOANS TO MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, AND CULTURAL CENTERS TAKING PLACE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER ITS FOUNDING IN 2021, LOANING TO 20 DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS WORLDWIDE IN 2024. THE PURPOSE OF THE LENDING PROGRAM IS TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR MAINSTREAM ART COLLECTIONS AND COLLECTING. AMONG ITS VALUES, THE LENDING PROGRAM ENDEAVORS TO: EXPERIMENT WITH NEW MODELS FOR LOANS THROUGH CO-CUSTODIANSHIP AGREEMENTS THAT ENABLE SELF-DETERMINATION FOR THE ARTISTS, LEVERAGE FORGE'S POSITION TO ADVOCATE FOR FAIR USE AND FAIR PAY ON BEHALF OF THE ARTISTS, AND RETHINK CONVENTIONAL APPROACHES TO TERMINOLOGY AND TAXONOMY, INCLUDING IN DATABASE CATEGORIZATION AND EXHIBITION COPY.PUBLIC PROGRAMS: FORGE PROJECT HOSTS AN ARRAY OF PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR THE WIDER PUBLIC BOTH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE TOTALLING 15+ ANNUALLY. THIS INCLUDES 6+ PERFORMANCES, ARTIST TALKS, AND ACADEMIC PANELS WHICH ARE ALSO FILMED FOR LATER USE FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. A DOZEN IN-PERSON ONLY EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY MEALS, LAND STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOPS, AND EDUCATIONAL ONSITE TOURS ENGAGE ALL AGES IN DEEP ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORK OF FORGE PROJECT.ADDITIONAL RELATIONAL PROGRAMS: IN ADDITION TO THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FORGE PROJECT IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATING GATHERINGS BY AND FOR NATIVE PEOPLE. THIS WORK INCLUDES AN INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS ART CRITICISM RESIDENCY PROGRAM WHICH TAKES PLACE AT FORGE PROJECT OVER SEVERAL WEEKS WITH PROFESSIONAL FACULTY. SMALLER INCUBATOR TYPE PROJECTS ARE HOSTED ON EMERGENT TOPICS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL.EDITORIAL: FORGING IS A DIGITAL-FIRST JOURNAL FOR CRITICALLY IMAGINING NATIVE FUTURES PRODUCING 12 EDITIONS ANNUALLY. ITS EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO CHANGING THE WAY WE STUDY AND INTERPRET INDIGENOUS SURVIVANCE IN THE FACE OF SETTLER COLONIALISM, WITH A FOCUS ON ENGAGING, HIGHLIGHTING, AND LEARNING FROM NATIVE VOICES. THE EDITORIAL PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTS 4-6 WRITERS AND RESEARCHERS ANNUALLY TO WORK FOR A WEEK ONSITE AT FORGE PROJECT WITH UNFETTERED ACCESS TO OUR LIBRARY AND RESEARCH TOOLS.LAND: FORGE PROJECT STEWARDS 60 ACRES OF YOUNG FOREST AND FORMER HAYFIELDS OR LAWN AND IS IN ACTIVE REGENERATION OF THAT LAND, FOCUSING ON 5-10 ACRES A YEAR FOR ACTIVE REMEDIATION. THIS WORK IS DONE WITH A COLLABORATIVE TEAM OF BOTH NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE ADVISORS AND IS MAINTAINED THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DURING THE POPULAR SEASONAL MEADOW WORK DAYS.GENERAL OPERATING & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE: FORGE PROJECT IS RUN BY 8 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WHO ALSO TAKE ON ALL PROGRAM FACILITATION AND ADMINISTRATION IN SUPPORT OF DOZENS OF ARTISTS, ACADEMICS, AND OTHER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. ORGANIZATIONAL OVERHEAD ALSO INCLUDES THE OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE OF FOUR BUILDINGS ACROSS THE THREE PROPERTIES, ALL OF WHICH SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONAL MANDATE OF SUPPORTING NATIVE LEADERS IN ARTS AND CULTURE.
  2. $34,285 spent. FORGE PROJECT FELLOWS REPRESENT A BROAD DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL PRACTICES, PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH, ORGANIZING MODELS, AND GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXTS THAT HONOR INDIGENOUS PASTS AS WELL AS BUILD NATIVE FUTURES. TWO OF THE FELLOWSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO ENROLLED TRIBAL MEMBERS, FIRST- AND SECOND-LINE DESCENDANTS OF THE STOCKBRIDGE-MUNSEE BAND OF MOHICAN INDIANS IN RECOGNITION OF THE PEOPLES ON WHOSE HOMELANDS FORGE PROJECT IS SITUATED AND TO ENCOURAGE SITE-SPECIFIC AND RELATIONAL PROJECTS. FOUR FELLOWSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO INDIGENOUS LEADERS IN ARTS AND CULTURE ACROSS DISCIPLINES IN THE US AND CANADA.EACH OF THE SIX FORGE PROJECT FELLOWS RECEIVES A TOTAL OF $25,000 TOWARD THEIR PRACTICE AND HAS ACCESS TO THE FORGE PROJECT SITE, LIBRARIES, AND LENDING COLLECTION OF LIVING INDIGENOUS ARTISTS DURING A RESIDENCY STAY OF UP TO THREE WEEKS. FELLOWS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THEIR WORK TO THE LOCAL FORGE PROJECT AUDIENCE ON SITE AS WELL AS A WIDER INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE VIA FILM AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.