BLUE BIRD LIFEWAYS INC

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Plain text BLUE BIRD LIFEWAYS INC. furp.org, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2019–2024. https://furp.org/org/blue-bird-lifeways-inc-834458369. Retrieved 2026-10-27.

APA furp.org. (n.d.). BLUE BIRD LIFEWAYS INC [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2019–2024]. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://furp.org/org/blue-bird-lifeways-inc-834458369

MLA “BLUE BIRD LIFEWAYS INC.” furp.org, tax years 2019–2024, https://furp.org/org/blue-bird-lifeways-inc-834458369. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Retrieved 2026-10-27; covers tax years 2019–2024. Data: furp.org, CC BY 4.0.

2024 · Form 990 · revenue $395K · expenses $691K · assets $192K

EIN
83-4458369
Address
PO BOX 142, COLSTRIP, MT 59323-0142
Website
www.bluebirdlifeways.org
NTEE code
A23
Exempt type
501(c)(3): charitable, religious, educational, scientific or literary (corporation)
Ruling date
August 2019 (when the IRS recognized its exemption)
IRS status
Exempt (unconditional) (IRS Business Master File) IRS data ↗
Tax-deductible donations
Yes: listed in IRS Publication 78 (public charity) Pub 78 ↗
Foundation status
Public charity supported by the public (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))
Principal officer
Philip Whiteman (its 2019 Form 990-N)
Form 990-N e-postcards
1 filed, 2019 (organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less file this instead of a full Form 990) IRS data ↗
Cross-check
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

Mission

Blue Bird Lifeways nurtures the breath of life by fostering remembrance, reconnection, and reclamation of land, language, culture, and identity. Through this work, we address the intergenerational impacts of trauma while strengthening healing, hope, resilience, and wisdom across generations. Our programs in Food Sovereignty, Healing and Wellness, Storytelling, Art and Culture, and Youth Empowerment uplift and sustain our communities.

Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).

People paid by the organization

6 people paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.

NameLatest titleYearsLatest year payTotal pay from hereOrganizations
Lynette Two Bulls Executive Dir.2019-2024 $99,000$435,826 1
Micah Highwalking Director2021-2024 $13,616$23,357 1
Allen Little Coyote Director2019-2024 $750$1,500 1
Sierra Atkinson Treasurer2024 $500$500 1
Chief Philip Whiteman (former) CHAIRMAN2021-2023 $24,500$99,320 1
Jennie Parker (former) TREASURER2019-2023 $1,250$1,250 1

Officers and directors, no compensation reported

3 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.

NameLatest titleYearsHrs/wk (latest)CompensationOrganizations
Dr Henrietta Mann (former) DIRECTOR2019-2022 2 $0 reported 1
Chief Phillip Whiteman (former) Chairman2019-2020 2 $0 reported 1
Micah Hiwalking (former) President2019-2020 2 $0 reported 1

People by year

2024 · 4 people listed · 4 paid, $114K · 5 employees · 20 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
LYNETTE TWO BULLS Executive Dir.40 $99,000$0$0 $99,0001
MICAH HIGHWALKING Director2 $13,616$0$0 $13,6161
ALLEN LITTLE COYOTE Director2 $750$0$0 $7501
SIERRA ATKINSON Treasurer2 $500$0$0 $5001
2023 · 5 people listed · 5 paid, $134K · 11 employees · 12 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
LYNETTE TWO BULLS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR40 $97,826$0$0 $97,8261
CHIEF PHILIP WHITEMAN CHAIRMAN10 $24,500$0$0 $24,5001
MICAH HIGHWALKING DIRECTOR2 $9,741$0$0 $9,7411
JENNIE PARKER TREASURER2 $1,250$0$0 $1,2501
ALLEN LITTLE COYOTE DIRECTOR2 $750$0$0 $7501
2022 · 6 people listed · 2 paid, $110K · 11 employees · 12 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
LYNETTE TWO BULLS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR40 $75,500$0$0 $75,5001
CHIEF PHILIP WHITEMAN CHAIRMAN10 $34,905$0$0 $34,9051
MICAH HIGHWALKING DIRECTOR2 $0$0$0 $01
DR HENRIETTA MANN DIRECTOR2 $0$0$0 $01
JENNIE PARKER TREASURER2 $0$0$0 $01
ALLEN LITTLE COYOTE DIRECTOR2 $0$0$0 $01
2021 · 6 people listed · 2 paid, $115K · 13 employees · 12 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
Lynette Two Bulls Executive Director40 $75,500$0$0 $75,5001
Chief Philip Whiteman Chairman5 $39,915$0$0 $39,9151
Allen Little Coyote Director2 $0$0$0 $01
Micah Highwalking President2 $0$0$0 $01
Dr Henrietta Mann Vice President2 $0$0$0 $01
Jennie Parker Treasurer2 $0$0$0 $01
2020 · 6 people listed · 1 paid, $54K · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
LYNETTE TWO BULLS Executive Dir.40 $53,500$0$0 $53,5001
ALLEN LITTLE COYOTE Chairman2 $0$0$0 $01
CHIEF PHILLIP WHITEMAN Chairman2 $0$0$0 $01
MICAH HIWALKING President2 $0$0$0 $01
DR HENRIETTA MANN Vice President2 $0$0$0 $01
JENNIE PARKER Treasurer5 $0$0$0 $01
2019 · 6 people listed · 1 paid, $34K · 0 employees
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
LYNETTE TWO BULLS Executive Dir.40 $34,500$0$0 $34,5001
ALLEN LITTLE COYOTE Chairman2 $0$0$0 $01
CHIEF PHILLIP WHITEMAN Chairman2 $0$0$0 $01
MICAH HIWALKING President2 $0$0$0 $01
DR HENRIETTA MANN Vice President2 $0$0$0 $01
JENNIE PARKER Treasurer5 $0$0$0 $01

Highest-paid independent contractors

No independent contractors reported.

Who gave

Contributor names are not public for this form type.

Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.

Finances

Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.

RevenueExpensesAssetsNet assetsContributionsProgram revenueOfficer payEmployeesVolunteers
2024 · Form 990 period ending 2025-09-30 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$394,757$690,512 $192,044$116,614 $394,757$0 $107,375520
2023 · Form 990 period ending 2024-09-30 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$669,323$757,342 $522,730$294,881 $663,689$0 $135,2651112
2022 · Form 990 period ending 2023-09-30 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$527,281$612,576 $593,333$382,900 $527,281$0 $122,6721112
2021 · Form 990 period ending 2022-09-30 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$468,951$517,255 $482,895$468,195 $468,951$0 $120,6651312
2020 · Form 990 period ending 2021-09-30 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$920,905$462,672 $518,682$516,499 $920,905$0 $53,5000-
2019 · Form 990 period ending 2020-09-30 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$229,751$171,485 $58,286$58,266 $229,751$0 $34,5000-

Funders of this organization

12 grantors reported grants to this organization, $1,231,391 in all, tax years 2019 to 2024. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV

GrantorTypeMatchYears givenGrantsTotalLatest yearLatest year's amountGrants
NDN COLLECTIVE INC Public charity Exact 2020-2021, 2023 4$445,000 2023$200,000
show
REI COOPERATIVE ACTION FUND Public charity Exact 2022-2024 3$175,000 2024$50,000
show
THE SEVENTH GENERATION FUND FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES INC Public charity Exact 2019-2021, 2023 6$175,000 2023$50,000
show
COMMON COUNSEL FOUNDATION DAF sponsor Exact 2021-2024 4$112,500 2024$20,000
show
IMPACTASSETS INC DAF sponsor Exact 2022-2024 3$100,000 2024$25,000
show
SHARE OUR STRENGTH Public charity Exact 2020 1$59,780 2020$59,780
show
MONTANA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC DAF sponsor Exact 2023-2024 2$50,600 2024$25,600
show
ASSETS UNDER MOVEMENT DAF sponsor Exact 2023-2024 2$40,000 2024$20,000
show
PAYPAL CHARITABLE GIVING FUND DAF sponsor Exact 2021 1$33,511 2021$33,511
show
FIRST PEOPLES FUND Public charity Exact 2021 1$20,000 2021$20,000
show
VITALOGY FOUNDATION Public charity Exact 2021 1$10,000 2021$10,000
show
FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE Public charity Exact 2020 1$10,000 2020$10,000
show

Similar organizations

Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)

OrganizationStateNTEELatest revenueLatest expensesTop-paid titleTop payWhy similar
INDIGENOUS LIFE WAYSNMA23 $577,269$347,039 DIRECTOR$65,000 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
BIT COMMUNITY CENTER INCMDA23 $276,110$278,282 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO$65,360 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
LIBERIANS IN COLUMBUS INCOHA23 $324,944$296,501 EXECUTIVE DI$0 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
EYUMEMA USA INCTXA23 $468,232$429,530 NATIONAL PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
BIHL HAUS ARTS INCTXA23 $352,473$386,763 Executive Dir.$65,300 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
BE THE HEALING INCORA23 $496,535$187,772 Executive Dir.$24,000 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
AVENUE BLACKBOX INCNYA23 $528,430$330,628 CEO$131,233 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
JIFENG BOOK INCDCA23 $554,561$352,317 President/Dir$2,000 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
LATINO ARTS INCWIA23 $383,610$346,191 BOARD CHAIR$0 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
HONEY INCORA23 $372,587$519,680 Board President$0 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
KEBTAH INCTXA23 $356,029$85,185 TREASURER$0 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
INDIANA LATINO EXPO INCINA23 $304,186$390,104 BOARD MEMBER$129,489 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
KR8TIV JUSTICE INCFLA23 $285,640$250,832 VICE PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
KAREN SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INCNYA23 $654,999$656,489 Executive Director$60,020 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
IGOGO INTERNATIONAL INCINA23 $478,792$479,262 PRESIDENT$125,000 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
BUNDLED ARROWS INCNYA23 $398,839$379,822 DIRECTOR$7,416 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
MARIGOLD PROJECT INCCAA23 $396,502$303,491 PRESIDENT$137,280 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
BLACK ROCK ARTS FOUNDATION INCNYA23 $561,508$1,209,261 Executive Director$55,000 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
SICC INCNYA23 $301,065$249,750 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$38,725 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
CULTUREALL INCIAA23 $537,933$790,343 PRESIDENT$0 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
BEN INITIATIVENMA23 $375,449$415,169 EXECUTIVE DI$0 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
INDIANAPOLIS BLACK THEATER COMPANY INCINA23 $501,078$532,346 Trustee$0 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
AFRICAN CEREMONIES INCNYA23 $468,363$478,903 PRESIDENT AND TREASURER$0 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
CHARRO DAYS INCTXA23 $499,901$353,844 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$44,000 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x
ONEBODYENT INCCOA23 $443,121$255,389 Executive Director$85,000 Same NTEE code A23, revenue within 2x

Who funds organizations like this

Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).

GrantorTypeTotal givenGrantsOrganizations fundedYearsWhich ones
FORD FOUNDATION Private foundation$1,572,25013 32009–2024 ARTEEAST INC; CREATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVE INC; FIRST VOICE INC
ANDREW W MELLON FOUNDATION Private foundation$1,350,0003 32022–2024 CREATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVE INC; JAMES WELDON JOHNSON LITERARY FOUNDATION INC; HOAKA MANA
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND DAF sponsor$880,20039 202016–2024 EMPOWER PEACE INC; DISCOVERY LANGUAGE ACADEMY INC; ARAWAKA INC; AFRICAN CEREMONIES INC and 16 more
W K KELLOGG FOUNDATION Private foundation$725,0005 22021–2023 CREATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVE INC; LATINO LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$689,7509 22013–2024 BLACK ROCK ARTS FOUNDATION INC; INTERCULTURAL NETWORKS INC
SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$612,53816 32011–2023 INTERCULTURAL NETWORKS INC; FIRST VOICE INC; MARIGOLD PROJECT INC
WILLIAM & FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION Private foundation$554,00017 12010–2024 FIRST VOICE INC
GS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND FOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC DAF sponsor$525,0004 12017–2020 INTERCULTURAL NETWORKS INC
LONGWOOD FOUNDATION INC Private foundation$525,0007 12015–2023 DELAWARE ARTS ALLIANCE INC
SAINT PAUL & MINNESOTA FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$518,27922 32013–2025 GREEN CARD VOICES; HISPANIC OUTREACH OF; AFRICAN CEREMONIES INC
FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE OPEN SOCIETY Private foundation$500,0002 12021–2023 CREATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVE INC
JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND DAF sponsor$485,00010 22010–2024 ARAWAKA INC; NEW YORK CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER INC
FORGOOD INC DAF sponsor$361,20625 72016–2024 ARTEEAST INC; CULTUREALL INC; ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE OF AMERICA; ARAWAKA INC and 3 more
COMMUNITY FDN OF GREATER DES MOINES DAF sponsor$344,71238 12010–2024 CULTUREALL INC
THE RUTH DANLEY AND WILLIAM ENOCH MOORE FUND Private foundation$338,2566 12019–2025 BUNDLED ARROWS INC

The full list · all similar organizations

Where the money went

Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.

2024 · Form 990 · $690,512 spent · pay $228,070 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $107,375$11,500$95,875- 15.6%
Other (as described)Supplies $97,085$93,371$3,714- 14.1%
Travel $87,065$73,840$13,225- 12.6%
Other (as described)Temporary and Outreach $82,870$82,870-- 12.0%
Other salaries and wages $73,178$8,500$64,678- 10.6%
Fees: accounting $45,210-$45,210- 6.5%
Fees: other services $36,350-$36,350- 5.3%
Occupancy $33,571$29,920$3,651- 4.9%
Other employee benefits $32,517-$32,517- 4.7%
Other (as described)Food and beverage $24,975$24,904$71- 3.6%
Other (as described)Other $20,543$12,981$7,562- 3.0%
Fees: legal $18,098-$18,098- 2.6%
Payroll taxes $15,000$5,000$10,000- 2.2%
Office expenses $14,534$954$13,580- 2.1%
Insurance $2,127$407$1,720- 0.3%
Advertising and promotion $14-$14- 0.0%
Total$690,512100%

View the filing

2023 · Form 990 · $757,342 spent · pay $203,816 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $135,265$135,265$0$0 17.9%
Travel $130,544$94,377$36,167$0 17.2%
Fees: legal $86,076$0$86,076$0 11.4%
Other (as described)Supplies $78,989$78,989$0$0 10.4%
Other (as described)Temporary and Outreach $72,544$52,494$20,050$0 9.6%
Other salaries and wages $43,504$0$43,504$0 5.7%
Fees: other services $37,365$37,365$0$0 4.9%
Fees: accounting $35,500$0$35,500$0 4.7%
Other (as described)Food and beverage $26,688$26,415$276$0 3.5%
Depreciation and depletion $24,047$24,047$0$0 3.2%
Office expenses $22,112$12,112$10,000$0 2.9%
Other (as described)Other $19,098$15,229$3,869$0 2.5%
Occupancy $17,635$15,597$2,039$0 2.3%
Payroll taxes $15,225$11,552$3,674$0 2.0%
Other employee benefits $9,822$0$9,822$0 1.3%
Insurance $1,854$0$1,854$0 0.2%
Advertising and promotion $1,074$0$1,074$0 0.1%
Total$757,342100%

View the filing

2022 · Form 990 · $612,576 spent · pay $217,642 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $122,672$122,672-- 20.0%
Travel $79,808$62,959$16,849- 13.0%
Other (as described)Supplies $76,297$76,297-- 12.5%
Other (as described)Temporary and outreach $73,983$68,865$5,118- 12.1%
Other salaries and wages $71,215-$56,215$15,000 11.6%
Occupancy $36,545$36,545-- 6.0%
Fees: accounting $30,000-$30,000- 4.9%
Depreciation and depletion $22,880$22,880-- 3.7%
All other expenses $22,570$22,012$558- 3.7%
Office expenses $22,410$12,168$10,242- 3.7%
Other (as described)Other $17,248$14,760$2,488- 2.8%
Payroll taxes $16,685$10,614$6,071- 2.7%
Fees: other services $10,000$0$10,000- 1.6%
Other employee benefits $7,070-$7,070- 1.2%
Advertising and promotion $1,630$10$1,620- 0.3%
Insurance $1,563-$1,563- 0.3%
Total$612,576100%

View the filing

2021 · Form 990 · $517,255 spent · pay $192,121 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $120,665$120,665-- 23.3%
Other (as described)Program expenses $94,321$94,321-- 18.2%
Other (as described)Contract services $73,320$73,320-- 14.2%
Travel $69,347$69,347-- 13.4%
Other salaries and wages $54,043$54,043-- 10.4%
Fees: accounting $37,025$0$37,025- 7.2%
All other expenses $15,785$11,345$4,440- 3.1%
Payroll taxes $14,873$14,873-- 2.9%
Depreciation and depletion $14,400$14,400-- 2.8%
Office expenses $14,208$0$14,208- 2.7%
Other (as described)Repairs and maintenance $5,467$5,467-- 1.1%
Other employee benefits $2,540$2,540-- 0.5%
Insurance $1,261$1,261-- 0.2%
Total$517,255100%

View the filing

2020 · Form 990 · $462,672 spent · pay $62,955 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)PROGRAM EXPENSE $191,238$191,238-- 41.3%
Other (as described)contract services $73,503$73,503-- 15.9%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $53,500$53,500-- 11.6%
Other (as described)MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT $35,563$35,563-- 7.7%
Travel $32,157$32,157-- 7.0%
Other (as described)REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE $21,941$21,941-- 4.7%
All other expenses $18,930$16,366$2,564- 4.1%
Fees: accounting $10,628-$10,628- 2.3%
Depreciation and depletion $8,042$8,042-- 1.7%
Other salaries and wages $5,776$5,776-- 1.2%
Office expenses $4,093-$4,093- 0.9%
Payroll taxes $3,679$3,679-- 0.8%
Insurance $2,750$1,517$1,233- 0.6%
Information technology $872-$872- 0.2%
Total$462,672100%

View the filing

2019 · Form 990 · $171,485 spent · pay $34,500 · grants $0 · events $0
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)PROGRAM EXPENSE $57,877$57,877-- 33.8%
Other (as described)contract services $42,620$42,620-- 24.9%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $34,500$34,500-- 20.1%
Travel $16,949$16,949-- 9.9%
Other (as described)EQUIPMENT RENT $11,893$11,893-- 6.9%
Fees: accounting $2,050-$2,050- 1.2%
Office expenses $1,402-$1,402- 0.8%
All other expenses $1,293$1,273$20- 0.8%
Insurance $1,057-$1,057- 0.6%
Other (as described)SUBSCRIPTIONS $983-$983- 0.6%
Occupancy $675-$675- 0.4%
Depreciation and depletion $186$186-- 0.1%
Total$171,485100%

View the filing

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