Center Pole's mission is to build knowledge, justice, opportunity, prosperity, and sovereignty in Native communities and to preserve and protect indigenous knowledge and ways.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
95¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$54K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2022 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $40K a year · 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
95%
of spending
Looks good: 95% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$54K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.5 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $724K
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$10K
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.9M
-11% vs prior year
Spent
$3.3M
To programs
95%
Net assets
$253K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.9M
FY2022▼ -11%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.5M
FY2021$3.3M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$1.7M
Expenses
$3.3M
FY2022▼ -1%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.8M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$3.3M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$1.7M
Net assets
$253K
FY2022▼ -63%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$772K
FY2021$675K
FY2022$253K
FY2023$295K
FY2024$278K

From the FY2022 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2022 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jun 2012.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

95 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 95% · $3.1M Management & general 5% · $173K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

5 people listed on the 990; $54K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$54,000Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Peggy Wellknown Buffalo’s $56K as Executive Director is at the 6th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3868 $1–10M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Peggy Wellknown Buffalo$56,500$58,500$54,000$45,750$39,600

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Empowers Native communities with knowledge, justice, opportunity, prosperity, and sovereignty, preserving indigenous wisdom.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.1M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Other Activities

Household items received from a school that discontinued operations were distributed to those in need. These items included bedroom furniture, school supplies, washers, dryers, sports equipment, office supplies, office furniture, household items, vehicles, frozen food, equipment, tools, and machinery.

$1.8Mprogram expense
02

Food Sovereignty/Healthy Food Systems/Sustainability

Establishment of a healthy foods hub allowing greater food access in the rural reservation "food desert." The hub includes a food bank, a healthy foods cafe, a food recovery project rescuing about 440,000 lbs.

$1.2Mprogram expense
03

Social Enterprise/Workforce Training

Reservation youth, young adults and families are trained in workforce, business skills and life skills at our social enterprises that include a coffee roasting business, a community radio station, a resale shop, a cafe and gift shop andcultural tourism projects.

$133Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Windward FundFY2024$75K
Novo FoundationFY2024$50K
Creative WestFY2024$17K
Total grants receivedfrom 8 funders$724K
See all 8 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8K
Money outPt IX
$3.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.1M
Managementcol C$173K
Owns and owesPt X
$253K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$147K
Total assetsLn 16$263K
LiabilitiesLn 26$10K
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.9M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$2.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$2.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$147K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$147K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$102K
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$263K
LiabilitiesLn 26$10K
Net assetsLn 32$253K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54
VolunteersI 6213
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$528K$147K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$136K$102K
Total assetsLn 16$678K$263K
LiabilitiesLn 26$3K$10K
Net assetsLn 32$675K$253K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$54K$54K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$82K$77K$5K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$13K$12K$619
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$3K$3K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$6K$6K$710
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$105K$5K$101K
Information technologyLn 14$8K$2K$6K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$19K$4K$16K
TravelLn 17$63K$56K$8K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$29K$6K$23K
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$33K$33K
InsuranceLn 23$10K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.9M$2.9M
All other expensesLn 24e$17K$17K$917
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.3M$3.1M$173K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $1.7M$1.7M−$17K$278K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.5M$1.5M$42K$295K 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $2.9M$3.3M−$422K$253K 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.3M$3.4M−$97K$675K 990 PDF
FY2020 $4.5M$3.8M$693K$772K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,899,664 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,270,241$2,892,145
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,936$7,519
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,272,177$2,899,664
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $122,915$149,009
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,246,437$3,172,780
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,369,352$3,321,789
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$97,175−$422,125
Part VI · Governance 4 of 4 board members independent, 4 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members4
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,899,664 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,892,145
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$2,631,187
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,892,145
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,519$7,519
VIII-3 Investment income$0
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $7,519$2,899,664
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,321,789 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $54,000$54,000
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $76,867 · Management $5,468$82,335
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefits$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $12,055 · Management $619$12,674
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $2,900$2,900
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $5,789 · Management $710$6,499
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $4,648 · Management $100,644$105,292
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $2,317 · Management $5,520$7,837
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $3,700 · Management $15,502$19,202
IX-17 TravelPrograms $55,708 · Management $7,520$63,228
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $5,578 · Management $23,123$28,701
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $33,398$33,398
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $9,724$9,724
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,878,533$2,878,533
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $16,549 · Management $917$17,466
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,149,142 · Management $172,647 · Fundraising $0$3,321,789
Part X · Balance sheet $262,819 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $528,024$146,531
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $14,000$14,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $135,686$102,288
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $677,710$262,819
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,837$10,071
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,837$10,071
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $374,873$252,748
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $674,873$252,748
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $677,710$262,819
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $252,748 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,899,664
XI-2 Total expenses$3,321,789
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$422,125
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$674,873
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$252,748

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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