Native Forward Scholars Fund
Native Forward Scholars Fund reported $15.9 million in revenue and $19.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.26 went to program services, $6.56 to management and general costs and $3.18 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 96.1% of the total. Government grants made up 62.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $348,694 (CEO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 113% 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 $19MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 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 $16M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$32.78 $5.4M
- Government grants$60.87 $10.0M
- Program service revenue$0.01 $2,227
- Investment income$6.34 $1.0M
Other revenue was negative: −$413K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.3% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.6% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.2% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 96.1% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 62.5% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $348,694 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.82% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.2 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 of 11 | 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 expenseAward 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
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 Forward's core competencies and priority areas of focus lies in college access. We work with individual tribal citizens to provide access to higher education through access to funding, resources, and information.- access to scholarships/fellowship funding through…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $319,591 | $0 | $29,103 | $348,694 |
| DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $177,038 | $0 | $13,793 | $190,831 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $151,219 | $0 | $17,375 | $168,594 |
| DIRECTOR OF SCHOLARSHIP OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,450 | $0 | $10,563 | $168,013 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $135,040 | $0 | $17,168 | $152,208 |
| HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $116,252 | $0 | $18,322 | $134,574 |
| COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $100,482 | $0 | $10,683 | $111,165 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Native Forward Scholars Fund (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $365K (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–1b11 · 11 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 4No
- 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 531
- Volunteers Part I, line 6274
Private foundation grants it received
9 private foundations reported grants to Native Forward Scholars Fund totaling $753K 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 Native Forward Scholars Fund's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Native Forward Scholars Fund, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Native Forward Scholars Fund spent in FY2025, $90.26 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Constellation Schools Parma CommunityParma, OH · revenue $16M · programs 81.4% · FY2025
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- Victory Ridge AcademyLake Wales, FL · revenue $16M · programs 95.3% · FY2025
- Watts Learning Center FoundationLos Angeles, CA · revenue $16M · programs 81.8% · FY2025
- Liberty Charter SchoolMadera, CA · revenue $16M · programs 87.3% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Native Forward Scholars Fund's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Native Forward Scholars Fund reported that 90.3% of its $19.1 million in expenses went to program services, 6.6% to management and general and 3.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Native Forward Scholars Fund pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Native Forward Scholars Fund reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $348,694, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Native Forward Scholars Fund get its money?
Of $15.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 96.1% came from contributions and grants (including 62.5% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Native Forward Scholars Fund a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 85-0222386 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 202621149349301027 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521339349308897 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431009349300013 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202330259349300513 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201259349303150 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101119349301110 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 85-0222386: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.