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National Congress of American Indians

Ncai banner (link)
Website:

www.ncai.org/
Location:

WASHINGTON, DC
Tax ID:

53-0210846
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $2,323,793
Expenses: $273,971
Assets: $13,364,377
Type:

Native American Advocacy Group
Formation:

1944
President:

Mark Macarro
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $3,848,119

Expenses: $1,935,364

Assets: $942,409 18

References

  1. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Rockefeller Brothers Fund. 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530210846/202323199349329332/full

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is an advocacy group representing the interests of tribal governments. It was founded in 1944 to connect individual American Indian and Native Alaskan tribes, in order to oppose federal legislation that would limit tribal sovereignty or terminate tribal governments. NCAI began with 80 representatives from 50 tribes1 and currently represents all 573 federally recognized tribes. 2

The National Congress of American Indians Fund is a separate 501(c)(3) organization that acts as the education and grant-making arm of NCAI. 3

Background

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was founded to connect individual American Indian and Native Alaskan tribes together as an advocacy organization to oppose federal legislation that would limit the sovereignty of or terminate tribal governments. Created in 1944, the NCAI began with 80 representatives from 50 tribes,1 and currently represents all 573 federally recognized tribes. 2

The organization’s policy issues and initiatives are created and voted on by delegates chosen by the tribes and are meant to be the unified voice of tribal nations. 4

Funding

The NCAI is partly funded by its membership, which is open to recognized tribes and individuals both with and without American Indian ancestry. Only members of a recognized Indian tribe are eligible to submit and vote on resolutions, and to vote for the organization’s Executive Committee. Membership dues are currently $40 per year, or $1,000 for a lifetime membership. 5

The NCAI receives support from the federal government including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Justice. 6 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partners with NCAI in the Environmental Information Exchange Network, an online network that shares environmental data with tribes, states, and territories. 7

The NCAI receives grants from left-wing foundations like the Ford Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), and George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF). 6 CNAI has received over $26 million in funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. 8

Issue Advocacy

While National Congress of American Indians is one of the main advocates of issues specific to Indian governance, it has taken strong positions on other key political issues. 9

In 2017, the NCAI issued a resolution stating their support for the Paris Climate Agreement, following the Trump administration‘s announcing plans to withdraw the U.S. from the accord. 10

The NCAI supported former President Barack Obama’s proposed American Jobs Act, which on the surface proposed to create jobs by offering tax cuts to small businesses, and an extension of the payroll tax cut. 11 In actuality, the proposal would have increased infrastructure spending, and taxes on the middle class. The bill was not supported by moderate Democrats, and did not pass. 12

In a 2018 Resolution, NCAI affirmed its position to restrict commercial activity in the Pacific Ocean, especially as it relates to offshore drilling. 13

Voter Mobilization

In the weeks leading up to the 2020 presidential election, NCAI held events encouraging people to vote, handing out voter kits, which included a t-shirt, masks, gloves, wipes, and Indian Center brochures. 14 NCAI also partnered with Business for America to promote Get-Out-The-Vote efforts in Native American communities, and provide face shields, food, beverages, and other items to tribal nations in several states in order to encourage Native Americans to vote. 15

Leadership

Larry Wright Jr. is the Executive Director of the NCAI, serving in the position since being appointed in September 2022. He was previously the NCAI’s Director for Leadership Engagement. He previously served as chairman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska from 2015 through 2021. In addition, he was the NCAI Executive Committe’s Vice President, the Board Chair of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, and the Chairman of the Nebraska Inter-Tribal Coalition. 16 17

Mark Macarro is the president of the NCAI, as of 2024. In addition, he is the Tribal Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians from southern California, serving in the position since first elected in 1992. 16

Coalition Memberships

Donor Organizations

Affiliated Organizations

References

  1. “Mission & History.” National Congress of American Indians. 2019. Accessed September 16, 2019. http://www.ncai.org/about-ncai/mission-history
  2. “Tribal Nations & the United States: An Introduction.” National Congress of American Indians. 2019. Accessed September 16, 2019. http://www.ncai.org/about-tribes
  3. “National Congress of American Indians Fund.” Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/53-6017907
  4. “About NCAI.” National Congress of American Indians. 2019. Accessed September 16, 2019. http://www.ncai.org/about-ncai
  5. “About Membership.” National Congress of American Indians. 2019. Accessed September 16, 2019. http://www.ncai.org/get-involved/membership
  6. “Our Supporters.” National Congress of American Indians. 2019. Accessed September 16, 2019.  http://www.ncai.org/about-ncai/our-supporters
  7. “EPA Environmental Information Exchange Network.” National Congress of American Indians. 2019. Accessed September 16, 2019.   http://www.ncai.org/initiatives/partnerships-initiatives/epa-environmental-information-exchange-network/epa-network
  8. “Grants: National Congress of American Indians.” W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://www.wkkf.org/grants#pp=50&p=1&q=national%20congress%20of%20american%20indians
  9. “Policy Issues.” National Congress of American Indians, 2019. Accessed October 4, 2019.  http://www.ncai.org/policy-issues.
  10. “Tribal Nations Continuing to Support Action on Climate Change and Paris Accord.” National Congress of American Indians, 2019. Accessed October 4, 2019. http://www.ncai.org/news/articles/2017/06/02/tribal-nations-continuing-to-support-action-on-climate-change-and-paris-accord.
  11. “NCAI Urges Passage of the American Jobs Act.” National Congress of American Indians, 2019. Accessed October 4, 2019. http://www.ncai.org/news/articles/2011/09/09/ncai-urges-passage-of-the-american-jobs-act.
  12. Berger, Barrie Tabin. “Congress Rejects President Obama’s American Jobs Act.” Government Finance Review, Ocotber 2011. Accessed October 4, 2019. https://gfoa.org/sites/default/files/GFR_OCT_11_59.pdf.
  13. “Opposing Offshore Drilling.” National Congress of American Indians, 2019. Accessed October 4, 2019. http://www.ncai.org/resources/resolutions/opposing-offshore-drilling.
  14. Krol, Debra Utacia. Protecting the Native vote: How Election Day played out in Indian Country, November 7, 2020. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/protecting-the-native-vote-how-election-day-played-out-in-indian-country/ar-BB1aL6Oz.
  15. “Business for America Unites with National Congress of American Indians’ Native Vote Efforts to Support 2020 Election.” BFA Website, October 26, 2020. https://www.bfa.us/press-releases/business-for-america-unites-with-national-congress-of-american-indians-native-vote-efforts-to-support-2020-election.
  16. “NCAI Leadership.” National Congress Of American Indians, Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.ncai.org/about-ncai/ncai-leadership
  17. “Larry Wright Jr.” LinkedIn, Accessed February 2, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-wright-jr-48728510a
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 1962

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Dec Form 990 $2,323,793 $273,971 $13,364,377 $890,283 N $414,125 $1,909,339 $329 $0
    2020 Dec Form 990 $2,633,653 $2,125,489 $11,950,714 $1,050,750 N $267,259 $2,314,365 $261 $818,184
    2019 Dec Form 990 $3,499,122 $2,900,192 $12,222,545 $1,810,251 N $399,980 $3,086,075 $1,085 $239,861
    2018 Dec Form 990 $3,656,135 $2,713,253 $11,462,258 $1,648,894 N $539,439 $3,111,274 $983 $143,116 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $3,539,765 $2,398,471 $10,291,391 $1,420,909 N $557,095 $2,973,292 $667 $181,220 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $3,513,058 $2,364,302 $8,811,308 $1,082,120 N $744,834 $2,762,234 $346 $81,778 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $3,253,694 $1,849,083 $7,751,320 $1,170,888 Y $527,047 $2,711,048 $1,078 $75,125 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $3,272,484 $1,684,801 $6,127,505 $951,684 Y $603,963 $2,662,400 $1,573 $130,278 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $3,143,435 $1,386,513 $4,721,855 $1,133,718 Y $396,062 $2,742,629 $4,164 $29,525 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $2,961,655 $1,425,763 $3,043,450 $1,212,235 N $273,000 $2,687,496 $2,318 $74,093 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $3,673,870 $3,167,224 $1,472,797 $1,177,474 N $655,431 $3,017,535 $904 $52,658 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    National Congress of American Indians

    1516 P ST NW
    WASHINGTON, DC 20005-1910