The National Native American Boarding Sc

What it reported doing in 2024

Healing - nabs work is unique in that it is anchored in traditional indigenous ways of knowing and being, while complemented with contemporary resources to assist native peoples to heal from intergenerational trauma. Every aspect of the process has been developed to honor and respect all participants, foster collaboration at multiple levels, centrally position reciprocity, and to cultivate kinship relationships. Online virtual healing circles were held monthly facilitated by one member of the healing team along with two native licensed therapists. An average of 20 boarding school survivors from various tribal nations across the u.s. Participated in the virtual circles. The feedback from participants has been that they want to keep the circle going because it has helped them to feel connected, understood and hopeful. Nabs established healing informed resources for self-care & trauma now available on the website and shared with participants.this year also focused on developing more safe spaces for boarding school survivors and descendants to explore culture and artistic expression. With the support from the national endowment for the arts (nea), the healing team was able to work closely with 5 master native artists to teach traditional art forms. The team successfully implemented online classes focusing on moccasin making and healing through song, with a total of 45 participants thus far. This project is guided by the wisdom of 5 health ambassadors: dedicated advocates for the healing power of the arts in our communities. Nabs has learned from boarding school survivors and descendants that receiving a care package filled with culturally relevant and useful indigenous-made products enhances wellbeing, reduces isolation, and increases community connectedness. Care packages to support on-going healing were sent to 216 elders this year, including the survivors who were interviewed for the oral history project.with the continued support of northwest indian college offering nabs space at no cost for a healing site in tulalip, Washington, nabs has developed a plan to strengthen healing opportunities for boarding school survivors and descendants, offering safe, consistent, and culturally grounded services at this location. Two staff currently maintain the nw healing center, and we expect to have a full offering of healing support three days a week by mid-2026.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 83.9%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $12.09 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -20.2%; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.06; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.7%; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 31% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.6% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 19.8% per year; rating input score 100; 83rd percentile among comparable filings