Disable all preview features

Human and Civil Rights : Advocacy and Education

Cultural Survival

Defending the rights of indigenous peoples around the world

impact data icon

Impact Information is available from our partner, GuideStar

three stars

88.27

2067 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02140
tel: (617) 441-5400   Web Site
EIN: 23-7182593

Board Leadership
Duane Champagne
Chair

CEO
Suzanne Benally
Executive Director

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 88.27 three stars
  Financial 86.78 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 90.00 four stars
This rating was published 02/01/2019 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Cultural Survival was founded in response to the opening up of the Amazonian and South American hinterlands during the 1960s, and the drastic effects this had on indigenous inhabitants. It has since worked with indigenous communities in Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and Australia, becoming the leading US-based organization defending the rights of indigenous peoples around the world. Our efforts are guided by a board of directors that includes some of the world's preeminent indigenous leaders, as well as anthropologists, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs, and our executive director is a renowned human rights lawyer. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cultural Survival also has a satellite office for our Guatemala Radio Project in Guatemala.

Cultural Survival was founded in response to the opening up of the Amazonian and South American hinterlands during the 1960s, and the drastic effects this had on indigenous inhabitants. It has since worked with indigenous communities in Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and Australia, becoming the leading US-based organization defending the rights of indigenous peoples around the world. Our efforts are guided by a board of directors that includes some of the world's preeminent indigenous leaders, as well as anthropologists, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs, and our executive director is a renowned human rights lawyer. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cultural Survival also has a satellite office for our Guatemala Radio Project in Guatemala.

Impact Information

data icon
GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Showing 3 of 6
Total in 2017
Number of Facebook followers
21,355
Total number of grants awarded
32
Total dollar amount of grants awarded
234,112
Number of individuals attending community events or trainings
167
Number of unique website visitors
1,870,000
Number of radio programs produced
1,148
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of March 2019, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

three stars

86.78

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

90.00

This rating was published 02/01/2019 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 82.5%
  Administrative Expenses 7.6%
  Fundraising Expenses 9.8%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.12
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.11
  Program Expenses Growth 14.0%
  Liabilities to Assets 17.5%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Cultural Survival on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Cultural Survival on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Cultural Survival (MA) 88.27 three stars
Violence Policy Center (DC) 92.92 four stars
American Jewish Committee (NY) 88.79 three stars
Advancement Project (CA) 88.06 three stars
National Center for Youth Law (CA) 95.25 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $1,533,416
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $11,412
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $1,544,828
   Program Service Revenue $476,031
Total Primary Revenue $2,020,859
   Other Revenue $1,122
TOTAL REVENUE $2,021,981
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $1,698,475
   Administrative Expenses $127,390
   Fundraising Expenses $184,710
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $2,010,575
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $11,406
   
Net Assets $215,286

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Grassroots Projects and Advocacy Campaigns $1,665,899 98.1%
Public Education on Indigenous Peoples' Rights (Magazine, Newsletter) $32,576 1.9%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2017-08 02/01/2019 88.27 three stars
2016-08 07/01/2018 86.07 three stars
2015-08 11/01/2016 83.29 three stars
2014-08 06/01/2016 81.53 three stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-08 12/22/2015 77.71 two stars
2013-08 11/01/2014 72.87 two stars
2012-08 11/01/2013 90.15 four stars
2012-08 10/01/2013 88.97 three stars
2011-08 06/01/2012 90.32 four stars
2010-08 11/01/2011 90.17 four stars
2009-08 09/20/2011 90.41 four stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-08 04/01/2011 84.44 three stars
2008-08 08/01/2009 90.36 four stars
2007-08 07/01/2008 90.88 four stars
2006-08 08/01/2007 85.53 three stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 23-7182593
Name in IRS Master File CULTURAL SURVIVAL INC
NTEE Code R22
NTEE Classification Minority Rights
NTEE Type Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (119) Other cultural or historical activities
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date June, 1972
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End August
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • August, 2017
  • August, 2016
  • August, 2015
  • August, 2014
  • August, 2013
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$118,805 5.90% Suzanne Benally Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Cultural Survival (MA) 88.27 three stars
Violence Policy Center (DC) 92.92 four stars
Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (PA) 94.96 four stars
Muslim Advocates (CA) 85.10 three stars
American Humanist Association (DC) 91.49 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Cultural Survival
2067 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02140
tel: (617) 441-5400
fax: (617) 441-5417
EIN: 23-7182593

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Duane Champagne
Chair

CEO

Suzanne Benally
Executive Director

please wait...

    • I want to donate to Cultural Survival

      $
      next

    • Frequency

      back
      next

    • Would you like us to email someone and CC you?

      This email identifies you as the donor but does not specify the amount of your gift.
      back
    A donation of to has been added to your Giving Basket!

    Basket Total:
    Check Out Now or Continue Researching

Join Our Mailing List

Join over 400,000 other informed givers and get updates on charity ratings, new features, hot topics, and tips for donating.

As seen on