First Nations Development Institute
First Nations Development Institute reported $56.4 million in revenue and $30.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $88.27 went to program services, $6.22 to management and general costs and $5.51 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 92.2% of the total. Government grants made up 9.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $319,833 (PRESIDENT). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 255% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $30MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $56MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.3% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.2% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.5% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 92.2% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $319,833 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.06% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 42.7 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 10 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseNative arts, language, and knowledge through the native arts, language, and knowledge program, we directly support tribes and native-led organizations by providing financial resources, training, and technical assistance. We focus our work in five strategic impact areas: native languages, native arts, indigenous knowledge holders, and building capacity of native nonprofit professionals working in community and economic development
Native agriculture and food systems investments First Nations works to strengthen food systems in native communities, improve health and nutrition, and build lasting food security. We provide tribes and native-led organizations financial resources, training, technical assistance, and support in the form of research, advocacy, and coalition building in the areas of native food sovereignty, food security, food economies, and food networks
Stewarding native lands the stewarding native lands program supports tribes and native-led organizations by providing financial resources, research, and advocacy, along with training and technical assistance through site visits, conferences, convenings, workshops, webinars, and peer-learning cohorts. Our work targets five strategic areas: climate, community pathways, environmental sovereignty and justice, stewardship, and the expansion of native ownership and stewardship over tribal homelands
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $300,946 | $0 | $18,887 | $319,833 |
| COO Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $180,386 | $0 | $21,457 | $201,843 |
| COMMUNICATIO Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $149,029 | $0 | $14,236 | $163,265 |
| POLICY RESEA Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $139,731 | $0 | $22,544 | $162,275 |
| SNL DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $118,969 | $0 | $13,132 | $132,101 |
| CA TRIBAL DI Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $116,464 | $0 | $12,813 | $129,277 |
| FINANCE OFFI Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $114,928 | $0 | $13,151 | $128,079 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from First Nations Development Institute (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $421K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b10 · 9 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 569
- Volunteers Part I, line 69
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| METROPOLITAN GROUP Public relation | $167,360 |
| NEW RIVER COMMUNICATIONS LLC Marketing | $127,071 |
| MELVIN CONSULTING PLLC Training/edu | $111,904 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
89 private foundations reported grants to First Nations Development Institute totaling $17M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from First Nations Development Institute's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for First Nations Development Institute, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 First Nations Development Institute spent in FY2025, $88.27 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of First Nations Development Institute's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, First Nations Development Institute reported that 88.3% of its $30.2 million in expenses went to program services, 6.2% to management and general and 5.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does First Nations Development Institute pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation First Nations Development Institute reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $319,833, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does First Nations Development Institute get its money?
Of $56.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 92.2% came from contributions and grants (including 9.0% from government grants) and 0.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is First Nations Development Institute a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 54-1254491 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202513519349300916 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202510659349300341 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202440579349301174 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202330279349300223 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202240389349300759 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202110259349301116 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 54-1254491: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.