Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND.

Totals

Total revenue: $24,661,367
Total expenses: $21,341,008
Contributions and grants received: $20,114,536
Grants paid: $0
Program service revenue: $531,103
Investment income: $3,945,485
Other revenue: $70,243
Total assets, end of year: $92,169,287
Total liabilities, end of year: $3,143,392
Net assets or fund balances, end of year: $89,025,895
Program services expenses (Part IX): $14,086,193
Management and general expenses: $2,842,799
Fundraising expenses: $4,412,016
Program service expenses (Part III): $14,086,193

Program services were 66.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

1a · Federated campaigns

$559
1e · Government grants (contributions)

$3,192,564
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

$16,921,413
1g · Noncash contributions included above

$88,173
2a · Program service revenue: LEGAL FEES

total $531,103 · related or exempt $531,103
2f · All other program service revenue

total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
3 · Investment income

total $1,611,524 · excluded $1,611,524
5 · Royalties

total $305 · excluded $305
6c · Rental income or loss

real property $0 · personal property $0
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

securities $15,201,914
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

securities $12,867,953
7c · Gain or loss

securities $2,333,961 · other assets $0
7d · Net gain or loss

total $2,333,961 · excluded $2,333,961
11a · Other revenue: OTHER MISC REVENUE

total $49,354 · related or exempt $49,354
11b · Other revenue: REIMBURSEMENTS

total $15,434 · related or exempt $15,434
11c · Other revenue: HONORARIUMS

total $5,150 · related or exempt $5,150
11d · All other revenue

total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
11e · Other revenue, total

$69,938

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

total $1,369,736 · program services $598,980 · management and general $463,043 · fundraising $307,713
7 · Other salaries and wages

total $9,557,103 · program services $7,980,932 · management and general $961,940 · fundraising $614,231
8 · Pension plan contributions

total $444,524 · program services $361,913 · management and general $54,773 · fundraising $27,838
9 · Other employee benefits

total $987,640 · program services $776,176 · management and general $83,778 · fundraising $127,686
10 · Payroll taxes

total $709,781 · program services $514,195 · management and general $119,612 · fundraising $75,974
11b · Fees: legal

total $16,391 · management and general $16,391
11c · Fees: accounting

total $45,603 · management and general $45,603
11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

total $37,400 · fundraising $37,400
11f · Fees: investment management

total $442,788 · management and general $442,788
11g · Fees: other

total $1,316,503 · program services $1,316,503 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0
13 · Office expenses

total $1,136,499 · program services $479,885 · management and general $207,376 · fundraising $449,238
14 · Information technology

total $582,551 · program services $240,444 · management and general $185,684 · fundraising $156,423
16 · Occupancy

total $782,772 · program services $688,847 · management and general $63,638 · fundraising $30,287
17 · Travel

total $771,215 · program services $535,563 · management and general $130,487 · fundraising $105,165
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

total $25,903 · program services $16,752 · fundraising $9,151
20 · Interest

total $5,173 · management and general $5,173
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

total $474,292 · program services $319,691 · management and general $54,469 · fundraising $100,132
23 · Insurance

total $56,874 · program services $49,762 · management and general $4,843 · fundraising $2,269
24a · Other expenses: MAILING, PRINTING & PRODUCTION EXPENSES

total $2,361,352 · fundraising $2,361,352
24b · Other expenses: LIBRARY

total $195,428 · program services $185,070 · management and general $3,201 · fundraising $7,157
24c · Other expenses: CLIENT CASES LITIGATION EXPENSES

total $21,480 · program services $21,480
24d · Other expenses: 0
24e · All other expenses

total $0 · program services $0 · management and general $0 · fundraising $0

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

beginning of year $3,053,102 · end of year $3,384,037
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

beginning of year $776,165 · end of year $4,133,577
3 · Pledges and grants receivable

beginning of year $7,478,868 · end of year $7,232,886
4 · Accounts receivable

beginning of year $258,665 · end of year $170,806
5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

beginning of year $447,753 · end of year $504,612
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

$13,453,523
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

$1,816,128
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

beginning of year $11,926,782 · end of year $11,637,395
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

beginning of year $51,333,988 · end of year $55,581,678
12 · Investments: other securities

beginning of year $7,372,449 · end of year $8,243,830
13 · Investments: program-related

beginning of year $0
15 · Other assets

beginning of year $1,467,508 · end of year $1,280,466
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

beginning of year $1,640,908 · end of year $1,403,269
22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

beginning of year $58,885 · end of year $48,800
25 · Other liabilities

beginning of year $1,828,535 · end of year $1,691,323
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

beginning of year $70,051,126 · end of year $77,321,604
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

beginning of year $10,535,826 · end of year $11,704,291

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND HOLDS GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE. WE FIGHT TO PROTECT NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS, RESOURCES, AND LIFEWAYS THROUGH LITIGATION, LEGAL ADVOCACY, AND LEGAL EXPERTISE. AS ESTABLISHED BY NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND'S (NARF) FIRST BOARD OF DIRECTORS, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Activities or mission (Part I)

CONSTRUCT THE FOUNDATIONS NECESSARY TO EMPOWER TRIBES SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THEIR NATIVE TRADITIONS, ENFORCE THEIR TREATY RIGHTS AND PROTECT THEIR SOVEREIGNTY.

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Expenses $13,417,723 · Revenue $601,041
National Indian Law Library In 1972, NARF founded the National Indian Law Library (NILL) to serve the research needs of NARF attorneys. NILL's resources are also available to the public however, and hundreds of research requests are received weekly. The library houses a unique and valuable collection of federal Indian and tribal law materials and provides specialized legal research assistance. It also provides online bulletins to keep advocates aware of the latest legal developments and most recent news in Indian law. Researchers around the world have access to the resources of the National Indian Law Library through online access to our library catalog (https://nill.softlinkliberty.net/liberty). The catalog contains information on over 18,000 titles held in the NILL collection. Copies of most resources can be delivered to researchers in a timely way and many catalog records provide links to free resources that are available on the internet. NILL's collection includes catalog records for approximately 7,000 articles, 4,500 books, and 1400 tribal law resources. Many of these items are freely available online and are easily accessed via a link in the catalog record. NILL is the only library serving the public with extensive expertise and resources relating to Indian law, providing services that other libraries are unable to provide. One critical resource provided during FY2025 was in the many public presentations and training NILL Staff provided to the public, librarians, judges, court employees, law students, and other researchers on how to conduct Federal Indian Law and Tribal Law research.

Expenses $668,470

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

Kenneth KahnKENNETH KAHN

VICE-CHAIRMAN

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Lacey HornLACEY HORN

CHAIRWOMAN

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Camille KalamaCAMILLE KALAMA

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Gayla HosethGAYLA HOSETH

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Geoffrey BlackwellGEOFFREY BLACKWELL

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Jamie AzureJAMIE AZURE

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Lori StinsonLORI STINSON

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Louie UngaroLOUIE UNGARO

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Michael PetoskeyMICHAEL PETOSKEY

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Rebecca Crooks-StrattonREBECCA CROOKS-STRATTON

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Rebecca MilesREBECCA MILES

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Rhonda PitkaRHONDA PITKA

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Robert MiguelROBERT MIGUEL

BOARD MEMBER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
Donald RagonaDONALD RAGONA

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$239,636

From this org

$205,078

From related orgs

$0

Other

$34,558

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$202,030

Bonus

$0

Other

$3,048

Deferred

$9,292

Nontaxable benefits

$25,266

Filer's total

$239,636
John EchohawkJOHN ECHOHAWK

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$344,810

From this org

$309,749

From related orgs

$0

Other

$35,061

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$307,895

Bonus

$0

Other

$1,854

Deferred

$21,729

Nontaxable benefits

$13,332

Filer's total

$344,810
Mary Miles

Corporate Secretary (BEGIN 02/2025)

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

40
Matthew CampbellMATTHEW CAMPBELL

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$311,800

From this org

$271,273

From related orgs

$0

Other

$40,527

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$271,033

Bonus

$0

Other

$240

Deferred

$16,150

Nontaxable benefits

$24,377

Filer's total

$311,800
Michael KennedyMICHAEL KENNEDY

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Total calculated

$267,093

From this org

$222,618

From related orgs

$0

Other

$44,475

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$221,034

Bonus

$0

Other

$1,584

Deferred

$16,621

Nontaxable benefits

$27,854

Filer's total

$267,093
Sarah Trujillo PalaciosSARAH TRUJILLO PALACIOS

CORPORATE SECRETARY (END 02/2025)

Total calculated

$190,966

From this org

$156,408

From related orgs

$0

Other

$34,558

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$156,408

Bonus

$0

Other

$0

Deferred

$9,292

Nontaxable benefits

$25,266

Filer's total

$190,966
Brett SheltonBRETT SHELTON

ATTORNEY

Total calculated

$305,204

From this org

$273,688

From related orgs

$0

Other

$31,516

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$272,104

Bonus

$0

Other

$1,584

Deferred

$16,120

Nontaxable benefits

$15,396

Filer's total

$305,204
David GoverDAVID GOVER

ATTORNEY

Total calculated

$299,462

From this org

$267,046

From related orgs

$0

Other

$32,416

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$266,494

Bonus

$0

Other

$552

Deferred

$15,820

Nontaxable benefits

$16,596

Filer's total

$299,462
Melody McCoyMELODY MCCOY

ATTORNEY

Total calculated

$321,500

From this org

$258,728

From related orgs

$0

Other

$62,772

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$257,144

Bonus

$0

Other

$1,584

Deferred

$19,710

Nontaxable benefits

$43,062

Filer's total

$321,500
Susan NoeSUSAN NOE

ATTORNEY

Total calculated

$305,204

From this org

$274,648

From related orgs

$0

Other

$30,556

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$273,064

Bonus

$0

Other

$1,584

Deferred

$16,120

Nontaxable benefits

$14,436

Filer's total

$305,204
Thomas MurphyTHOMAS MURPHY

ATTORNEY

Total calculated

$297,707

From this org

$273,089

From related orgs

$0

Other

$24,618

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$271,637

Bonus

$0

Other

$1,452

Deferred

$1,029

Nontaxable benefits

$23,589

Filer's total

$297,707

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

1a · First-class or charter travel
1a · Travel for companions
1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
3 · Independent compensation consultant
3 · Written employment contract
3 · Compensation survey or study
3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan

Answered no

4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
7 · Other non-fixed payments
8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a First-class or charter travel: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NECESSITATED FIRST-CLASS TRAVEL TO A BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IN FAIRBANKS ALASKA SHORTLY AFTER A PROCEDURE
Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a Travel for companions: FAMILY MEMBER WHO ASSISTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH TRAVEL TO A BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IN FAIRBANKS ALASKA
Schedule J, Part I, Line 4b Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan: AMOUNT OF AWARD UNDER THE ORGANIZATIONS NONQUALIFIED PLAN IS DETERMINED BY INCORPORATING YEARS OF SERVICE, AGE AND AVERAGE THREE-YEAR BASE SALARY. THE ONE-TIME CASH AWARD IS PAYABLE AT THE DATE OF RETIREMENT FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES. THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES ACCRUED DEFERRED RETIREMENT COMPENSATION UNDER THE PLAN: *JOHN ECHOHAWK - $3,590 *MELODY MCCOY - $3,590 *MICHAEL KENNEDY - $3,510 *DONALD RAGONA - $2,962

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type: form_990
Tax year: 2024
Filed: 27 March 2026
IRS schema version: 2024v5.1
Source object: 202610869349300811

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