BBB Wise Giving Report for
First Nations Development Institute

BBB Wise Giving Report issued August 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires May 2012


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: First Nations Development Institute
Address: 351 Coffman Street, Suite 200
  Longmont, CO 80501
Phone: 303-774-7836
Web Address: www.firstnations.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1983, Virginia
Affiliates: First Nations Oweesta Corporation
Stated Purpose: "to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of their land, human potential, cultural heritage, and natural resources and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native communities."

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

First Nations Development Institute (FNDI) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

FNDI seeks to increase economic security in Indian Country by fostering culturally appropriate economic development initiatives on reservations and in rural Native communities. FNDI provides financial support to projects that encourage innovative development and reflect the cultural and social values of Native communities, especially the sustainable use of resources for subsequent generations. The organization also builds tribal capacity so community organizations can utilize existing community assets and generate new ones. FNDI provides direct consultation with tribes and Native organizations, regional training workshops, ongoing dissemination of educational materials, and national grantee convenings to share experiences and lessons learned. The organization also evaluates the specific methods used within Native community initiatives and the larger trends shaping the course of Indian Country to uncover systemic barriers to asset control and retention in Native communities. FNDI researches ways to implement solutions at the grassroots level to help communities overcome these barriers and links grassroots efforts to national policy initiatives that promote systemic reform. The organization disseminates information to tribes in order to share ideas gained from research and other work in the field.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, FNDI's program expenses were:

  
First Nations Oweesta Corporation 2,141,852
Grantmaking 1,388,986
Policy 376,521
Native Asset Research Center 178,239
Strengthening Native American Philanthropic Center 167,231
Public education 97,203
Total Program Expenses: $4,350,032
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Michael E. Roberts, President
Compensation*:
$128,310

Chair of the Board: B. Thomas Vigil
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Business consultant

Board Size: 9

Paid Staff Size: 16

*July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and membership appeals.
Fund raising costs were 18% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $3,162,544, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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Tax Status

              

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.
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Financial

              

The following information is based on FNDI's audited financial statements (consolidated) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Grants 3,102,061
Program service fees 2,086,962
Interest and dividend income 215,288
Contributions 60,483
Other 48,930
Unrealized loss on investments -178,049
Total Income $5,335,675


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 72%  Fund Raising: 9%  Administrative: 19% 

Total income   $5,335,675
  Program expenses $4,350,032
  Fund raising expenses 560,766
  Administrative expenses 1,165,551
 
Total expenses   $6,076,349
Expenses in Excess of Income   (740,674)
Beginning net assets   5,977,543
Ending net assets   5,236,869
Total liabilities   4,887,918
Total assets   $10,124,787


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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 BBB 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 Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

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

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