Northern Chumash Tribal Council

What it reported doing in 2024

Marine Sanctuary Designation and Cultural Stewardship: The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) achieved a historic milestone in 2024 with the official designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This effort culminated more than a decade of advocacy initiated by NCTC in 2013 and built upon generations of community-led stewardship of the Central Coast. The designation became effective in November 2024, establishing a 175-kilometer (approximately 110-mile) marine sanctuary along the Central California coast between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. The sanctuary safeguards culturally and biologically significant ocean areas, protecting sacred marine ecosystems and prohibiting new offshore oil and gas drilling, seabed mining, sewage discharges, and ocean dumping.Co-Management and Indigenous Leadership: Following designation, NCTC assumed a recognized co-management and consultative role with NOAA to ensure that Indigenous stewardship principles and traditional ecological knowledge guide all management and planning activities. NCTC continues to represent the interests and voices of Chumash people in decision-making processes, ensuring that tribal ecological, cultural, and historical values remain integral to sanctuary operations, educational outreach, and community engagement initiatives.Environmental Stewardship and Cultural Resource Protection: In collaboration with San Luis Obispo County and local land-use authorities, NCTC actively reviews proposed construction, infrastructure, and environmental projects to ensure compliance with tribal cultural resource protection standards. The organization provides formal evaluations and written determinations regarding potential impacts to sacred sites, burial grounds, and other areas of historical significance. Developers and agencies must demonstrate adequate mitigation or avoidance of harm before approval. This work helps preserve irreplaceable cultural landscapes while fostering collaboration with government agencies and private stakeholders to balance growth and heritage preservation.Land Back and Tribal Land Advocacy: NCTC continues to lead and participate in regional 'Land Back' efforts to return public and private lands within unceded Chumash territories to tribal stewardship. These initiatives involve direct negotiations, educational outreach, and partnerships with local governments, land trusts, and conservation organizations. The Councils efforts aim to restore tribal access, management, and ceremonial connection to ancestral lands for cultural revitalization, habitat protection, and sustainable community benefit.Community Engagement and Education: In addition to its policy and advocacy work, NCTC conducts community educational programs focused on Chumash cultural heritage, traditional ecological knowledge, and ocean conservation. The Council works to strengthen public understanding of Indigenous leadership in environmental stewardship, fostering mutual respect and collaboration across diverse community and governmental partners.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 100%; rating input score 100
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 0%; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 1 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 14
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Fail
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -0.8%; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.25; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.4; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 31.9% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 25.2% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 30.6% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings