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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2025 Expires: August 2027

American Indian College Fund

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

Accreditation seal
8333 Greenwood Boulevard
Denver, CO, 80221

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

American Indian College Fund meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to invest in Native students and tribal college education to transform lives and communities."

Year, State Incorporated:
1989, DC

The American Indian College Fund (the College Fund), provides scholarships and programming to over 4,000 American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students to access and succeed in higher education and prepare for their careers. The organization reports that it also supports 34 tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), located on or near Indian reservations, with funding, training, and programs. The College Fund reports that after graduation, many of their scholars serve their sovereign nations in a variety of roles, enhancing their communities and the country as a whole.

For the year ended June 30, 2024, American Indian College Fund's program expenses were:

Public education: $4,154,644

Scholarship and grants: $45,344,271

Total Program Expenses: $49,498,915

Chief Executive
Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$448,119

Chair of the Board
Leander "Russ" McDonald

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
President, United Tribes Technical College

Board Size
15

Paid Staff Size
85

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Telemarketing

Fundraising costs were 21% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $51,585,272, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on American Indian College Fund's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Source of Funds
Contributions $49,779,959
Contributed public service announcements $1,758,856
Investment return, net $15,984,135
Other revenue $134,894
Special events, net $46,457
Total Income $67,704,301

Programs: 79% Fundraising: 18% Administrative: 3%

Total Income $67,704,301
Total expenses: $62,776,116
  Program expenses $49,498,915
  Fundraising expenses $11,047,348
  Administrative expenses $2,080,379
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $4,928,185
Beginning Net Assets $193,944,203
Other Changes In Net Assets $149,474
Ending Net Assets $198,872,388
Total Liabilities $4,155,427
Total Assets $203,027,815

Note 1: In the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" represents loss on uncollectible promises to give.

Note 2: For the year ended June 30, 2024, the College Fund reported in-kind donations totaling $1,758,856 including PSAs.

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance