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American Indian College Fund

CharityWatch report issued
November 2023

C+
CharityWatch Grade
This rating has been downgraded from B+ due to the charity having 3.1 years worth of available assets in reserve.
 
72%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$13
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Large Asset Reserves

CharityWatch reduces the grade of any charity that has available assets equal to three to five years of operating expenses. Charities with "years of available assets" of more than five years receive an "F" grade regardless of other measurements. In CharityWatch's view, a reserve of less than three years is reasonable and does not affect a charity's grade. These reductions in grades are based solely on the charities' asset reserves as compared to budget. The CharityWatch definition of "years of available assets" includes funds currently available for the charity's use, including investments that the charity has set aside as a reserve but could choose to spend if it wanted to do so. American Indian College Fund's letter grade rating has been downgraded because it has 3 or more years of available assets.

See Our Process to learn more about how CharityWatch considers a charity’s asset reserves and the High Asset List for a list of charities whose ratings have been reduced due to high assets.

Contact Information

American Indian College Fund
8333 Greenwood Blvd
Denver, CO 80221

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

Invests in Native students and tribal college education to transform lives and communities.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2023

Program Percentage: 72%

The percentage of American Indian College Fund's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$46,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $13

How many dollars American Indian College Fund spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$81,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
American Indian College Fund Audited Financial Statements 52-1573446
American Indian College Fund IRS Form 990 52-1573446
Entity: American Indian College Fund
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 52-1573446
Entity: American Indian College Fund
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 52-1573446

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
American Indian College Fund
meets governance benchmarks.
 
American Indian College Fund
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Cheryl Crazy Bull President/CEO $403,289
2 Tamela A. Miller-Carlson CFO $236,301
3 Nancy Jo Houk Chief Marketing & Development Officer $227,358
1
Name: Cheryl Crazy Bull
Title: President/CEO
Compensation: $403,289
2
Name: Tamela A. Miller-Carlson
Title: CFO
Compensation: $236,301
3
Name: Nancy Jo Houk
Title: Chief Marketing & Development Officer
Compensation: $227,358

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

According to the American Indian College Fund audit of June 30, 2023 (Note 9 re: Donated Services and In-Kind Contributions):

"...During the year ended June 30, 2023, we received donated television airtime and magazine and newspaper print space, with a total estimated value of $3,389,194 to broadcast and publish our public service announcements."

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the American Indian College Fund audit of June 30, 2023 (Note 11, Related Party Transactions):

"Certain members of our Board of Trustees also serve as tribal college presidents. Those colleges are eligible, along with all other tribal colleges, to receive scholarship and other direct funding awards from the College Fund. Typically, awards are distributed on an objective or equal basis among all the tribal colleges. During the fiscal year ended 2023, approximately $6 million was distributed to tribal colleges whose presidents also serve as Trustees for the College Fund.

"During the year ended June 30, 2023, a member of our Board of Trustees served as an executive and owner of a company from which we purchased approximately $1.8 million of advertising, social media, and consulting services. In addition, during the year ended June 30, 2023, various members of the Board of Trustees made contributions to the College Fund totaling approximately $115k."

According to the American Indian College Fund tax filing of June 30, 2023, IRS Form 990, Schedule L, Part IV, Business Transactions Involving Interested Persons:

Vladimir Jones was paid $1,781,981 by American Indian College Fund. The "Relationship between Interested Person and Organization" is reported as "Entity owned more than 35% by a Board Member" The "Description of Transaction" is reported as "Provided consulting, social media, and advertising services"