Nia Tero Foundation

“The organization has one class of membership called founding members.”

“Founding members have the power to remove and/or appoint the president/chief executive officer and additional founding members.”

“The organization must also receive the approval of members for the following: a. Amendments to the certificate of incorporation; b. Amendments to the bylaws affecting the rights of the founding members, including by decreasing the minimum, or increasing the maximum, number of directors serving on the board of directors, or the purposes of corporation; c. Merger or consolidation with another entity; d. Sale of the majority of the corporation's assets; e. Formation of a for-profit affiliate; f. Change in the corporation's tax-exempt status; and g. Dissolution.”

“The form 990 was prepared by outside accountants and reviewed by the audit committee. A complete copy of the return was then provided to the board prior to filing.”

“The board of directors annually reviews conflict of interest issues and signs individual conflict of interest forms. If the board of directors or committee has reasonable cause to believe a covered person has failed to disclose a financial interest, it informs the covered person of the basis for such belief and affords the covered person an opportunity to explain the failure to disclose. If, after hearing the response of the covered person and, after making further investigations as it concludes is warranted by the circumstances, the board of directors or committee determines the covered person has failed to disclose a financial interest, it takes appropriate steps to protect the corporation, including, but not limited to, repayment of appropriate funds to the corporation by the covered person.”

“An independent compensation firm was hired to review and research comparative organizations c-level compensation packages. The research was presented to the executive committee. The compensation review process was discussed and documented. The last review took place in october 2024. The compensation review for other officers was conducted by an independent compensation firm and included comparable data. This process was also discussed and documented. The latest review was held on october 2024.”

“The organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“Their territories cover an area the size of the united states, canada, and russia combined, and are home to most of the earth's biodiversity and nearly half of its remaining intact ecosystems. They maintain the cultural heritage of humanity, communicating in 95% of the world's languages. Indigenous peoples' intricate knowledge of their homelands holds an unparalleled guide for all of humanity. Increased co2 emissions and the aggressive exploitation of lands, waters, and oceans threaten all of us. Indigenous peoples' wisdom and leadership can guide humanity's efforts to coexist with the natural world. When indigenous peoples thrive, the places critical for humanity thrive as well. We understand guardianship as indigenous peoples' right, capacity, and acceptance of responsibility to sustain vital natural systems within their collective territories. This mission supports our vision of an earth where indigenous peoples defend and uphold the world's thriving forests, oceans and grasslands; where their wisdom maintains vast geographies that underpin the well-being of all humanity; and where recognition and support for indigenous identity equals that of nation states and others in power. Nia tero acknowledges that societies grounded in the concept of reciprocity and interconnection among all beings show the way to a thriving planet. With that understanding, nia tero, its networks, its partners, and its allies aspire to expand recognition of, and support for, indigenous guardianship as essential to a vibrant future earth. Over the next decade, nia tero's strategy is focused on two interrelated aspirations that contribute to indigenous guardianship of ancestral territory enabled everywhere possible on earth. Nia tero is working to uphold a network of place-anchored partnerships with indigenous peoples in key regions who care for territories with an outsized impact on the well-being of humanity and earth. Alongside this, we are engaging partners within and beyond this network to expand recognition and support for indigenous guardianship worldwide. Aspiration 1: uphold a network of partnerships with indigenous peoples to uphold a network of place-anchored partnerships in key regions, nia tero is committed to working alongside indigenous peoples in geographies central to the well-being of all humanity. Our initial regions include the pacific islands, amazonia, and north america, where we work with indigenous peoples who share a collective territory and have strong governance systems in place to protect their homelands and waters. By hearing and working with indigenous leaders, we ensure their vision guides development of sound local, national and global policies. Nia tero's contribution to upholding these partnerships is focused on two general bodies of work. First, we provide support to indigenous peoples efforts to secure guardianship of territory through grant-making, convening, facilitation, fundraising and direct technical support to assist self-determined governance, cultural vitality, direct territorial defense, legal and financial representation, and in building strong organizations. And second, with similar issues and needs in mind, we provide support to strengthen indigenous organizations and networks across regions. In addition to our growing network of partners in regions, we also are partnering on an initiative called the wayfinders circle, a fellowship of 12 initial members from across seven socio-cultural regions with a willingness and capacity to share their vision and experiences to inspire all people to re-imagine development, conservation and the way we relate to each other and earth. The wayfinders circle includes 12 initial members from across the seven social-cultural regions of earth defined by indigenous peoples with plans to grow the circle in coming years. The wayfinders circle initiative is a part of our network of partnerships but also directly bridges into our second aspiration for positive impact and change.”

“Payroll & recruitment services: program service expenses -729. Management and general expenses 314,739. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 314,010. Temporary staff: program service expenses 96,030. Management and general expenses 89,205. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 185,235. Compliance services: program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 16,667. Fundraising expenses 2,700. Total expenses 19,367. Consultants: program service expenses 4,098,814. Management and general expenses 31,600. Fundraising expenses 95,708. Total expenses 4,226,122. Consultant reimbursables: program service expenses 8,534. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 8,534. Honorarium: program service expenses 3,000. Management and general expenses 88. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 3,088. Other services: program service expenses 1,115. Management and general expenses 1,144. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 2,259. Translation services: program service expenses 62,343. Management and general expenses 2,720. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 65,063. Other consulting: program service expenses 1,945. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 1,945. Contracts: program service expenses 818,392. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 818,392. Long term financing: program service expenses 302,510. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 302,510.”