We provide financial support for tribal citizens seeking higher education and support them in obtaining undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. We partner with tribes, the federal government, foundations, corporations, and individuals to ensure the growth and sustainability of scholarships.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 274 volunteers and 31 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.6M a year · 17% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
Looks good: 90% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.2M
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $26.7M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
13
named funders · $2.8M
Looks good: 13 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.0M
10% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 10% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$15.9M
+2% vs prior year
Spent
$19.1M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$27.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$15.9M
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.5M
FY2021$29.5M
FY2022$10.6M
FY2023$13.0M
FY2024$15.6M
FY2025$15.9M
Expenses
$19.1M
FY2025▲ +23%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.7M
FY2021$10.2M
FY2022$11.2M
FY2023$12.7M
FY2024$15.6M
FY2025$19.1M
Net assets
$27.5M
FY2025▼ -7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$7.2M
FY2021$30.3M
FY2022$25.9M
FY2023$27.1M
FY2024$29.5M
FY2025$27.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1973.

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

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $17.3M Management & general 7% · $1.3M Fundraising 3% · $609K

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

19 people listed on the 990; $1.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$319,591Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Strategic Partnerships
$177,038Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Scholarship Operations
$157,450Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Staff
$151,219Pt VII · Sec A
Controller
$135,040Pt VII · Sec A
Human Resources Manager
$116,252Pt VII · Sec A
$100,482Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Angelique Albert’s $320K as CEO is at the 68th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M education 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Angelique Albert$319,591$290,571$263,812$268,088$150,826$152,307
Sara Labarge$177,038$143,224————
Christa Moya$157,450$125,473————
Erin Griego$151,219—————
Elisa Phillips$135,040—————
Angela Burnside$116,252—————
Christa Moya- Dir of Financial Aid———$105,855$100,927—
Sandra Boham$100,482—————

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.

See Native Forward Scholars Fund executive salaries →

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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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Funds higher education for Native Americans and Alaska Natives, supporting degree attainment.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $17.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Award and disbursement of scholarship funds to tribal citizens across the united states; primarily those seeking graduate and professional degrees. In the 2024-2025 academic year, 1,252 students were supported at various levels.

$11.4Mprogram expense
02

Provides a student support service and resource program that engages high school, undergraduate and graduate students. Along with these services, the native forward website hosts the web resource center which issues a comprehensive list of education and career planning resources for all STUDENTS.STUDENT support services:one of native…

$5.8Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 13 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $50.9M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$11,439,556
Unitemized GrantFY2023$11,028,613
Unitemized GrantFY2022$8,623,852
Unitemized GrantFY2021$7,750,709
Unitemized GrantFY2020$6,667,735
Unitemized GrantFY2019$5,414,597

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$15.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2K
Money outPt IX
$19.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$17.3M
Managementcol C$1.3M
Fundraisingcol D$609K
Owns and owesPt X
$27.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.7M
Total assetsLn 16$30.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$10.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$20K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$106K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2K
Investment incomeLn 3$1.0M
Gains on assetsLn 7$130K
Total revenueLn 12$15.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$14K
SavingsLn 2$1.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$26.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M
Other assetsLn 15$41K
Total assetsLn 16$30.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.0M
Net assetsLn 32$27.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 531
VolunteersI 6274
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M$1.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$26.7M$26.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$32.4M$30.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.9M$3.0M
Net assetsLn 32$29.5M$27.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$11.4M$11.4M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$365K$73K$219K$73K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.6M$2.9M$474K$270K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$170K$135K$22K$13K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$249K$198K$32K$18K
Payroll taxesLn 10$329K$262K$43K$24K
Legal feesLn 11b$4K$3K$557$317
Accounting feesLn 11c$50K$50K
Investment management feesLn 11f$43K$43K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$984K$783K$128K$73K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$105K$84K$14K$8K
Office expensesLn 13$457K$364K$59K$34K
Information technologyLn 14$162K$129K$21K$12K
OccupancyLn 16$457K$363K$59K$34K
TravelLn 17$264K$210K$34K$20K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$251K$199K$33K$19K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$54K$43K$7K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$11K$9K$1K$819
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$93K$74K$12K$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$19.1M$17.3M$1.3M$609K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $15.9M$19.1M−$3.2M$27.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $15.6M$15.6M−$18K$29.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $13.0M$12.7M$317K$27.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $10.6M$11.2M−$600K$25.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $29.5M$10.2M$19.3M$30.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $7.5M$7.7M−$234K$7.2M 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 J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $15,944,902 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $14,839,529$15,319,212
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $19,630$2,227
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $737,533$1,036,657
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$39,684−$413,194
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $15,557,008$15,944,902
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $11,028,613$11,439,556
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,681,674$4,757,695
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,864,519$2,935,088
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $15,574,806$19,132,339
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$17,798−$3,187,437
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $15,944,902 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$105,500
VIII-1e Government grants$9,957,795
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,255,917
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$20,365
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$15,319,212
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,227$2,227
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $906,434$906,434
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $130,223$130,223
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$413,194−$413,194
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,227 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $623,463$15,944,902
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $19,132,339 across 19 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $11,439,556$11,439,556
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $73,097 · Management $219,292 · Fundraising $73,097$365,486
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,900,624 · Management $474,362 · Fundraising $270,052$3,645,038
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $135,079 · Management $22,090 · Fundraising $12,576$169,745
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $197,860 · Management $32,358 · Fundraising $18,421$248,639
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $261,640 · Management $42,788 · Fundraising $24,359$328,787
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $3,403 · Management $557 · Fundraising $317$4,277
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $50,250$50,250
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $43,266$43,266
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $782,712 · Management $128,003 · Fundraising $72,872$983,587
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $83,699 · Management $13,688 · Fundraising $7,793$105,180
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $363,935 · Management $59,348 · Fundraising $33,883$457,166
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $129,088 · Management $21,111 · Fundraising $12,018$162,217
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $363,299 · Management $59,413 · Fundraising $33,824$456,536
IX-17 TravelPrograms $210,271 · Management $34,387 · Fundraising $19,576$264,234
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $199,383 · Management $32,607 · Fundraising $18,563$250,553
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $42,883 · Management $7,013 · Fundraising $3,992$53,888
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $8,799 · Management $1,439 · Fundraising $819$11,057
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $73,910 · Management $12,087 · Fundraising $6,880$92,877
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $17,269,238 · Management $1,254,059 · Fundraising $609,042$19,132,339
Part X · Balance sheet $30,469,970 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,096,492$13,592
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $900,862$1,721,383
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,757,564$10,981
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $505,175$593,577
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $56,702$119,257
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,296,232$1,259,514
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $26,725,570$26,710,630
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $27,588$41,036
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $32,366,185$30,469,970
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $393,867$504,392
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,691,218$1,713,121
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $780,806$799,160
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,865,891$3,016,673
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $21,502,903$17,622,336
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $7,997,391$9,830,961
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $29,500,294$27,453,297
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $32,366,185$30,469,970
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $27,453,297 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$15,944,902
XI-2 Total expenses$19,132,339
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$3,187,437
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$29,500,294
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,140,440
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$27,453,297

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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