SILVER2024

The Language Conservancy

Bloomington, IN   |  http://www.languageconservancy.org

Learn how to support this organization
GuideStar Charity Check

The Language Conservancy

EIN: 20-3840826


Mission

We believe that all languages have an inherent right to exist - that they are valued and irreplaceable facets of a people's culture and of humanity's linguistic heritage. The Language Conservancy (TLC) is dedicated to rescuing the world's ever-increasing number of endangered languages, restoring them to stability and health, and safeguarding them for future generations. The Language Conservancy helps prevent the extinction of languages by raising funds, by increasing the international public awareness of the language-loss crisis, creating language tools to preserve the culture, and by providing support to organizations and communities engaged in revitalizing their languages.

Ruling year info

2009

Director of Operations

Dorothea Hoffmann

Board Chair

Janine Pease

Main address

1720 N Kinser Pike, Suite 100

Bloomington, IN 47404 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

20-3840826

Subject area info

Cultural awareness

Educational management

Human rights

Population served info

Adults

Children

Preteens

Adolescents

Alaskan Natives

Show more populations served

NTEE code info

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (R01)

Cultural, Ethnic Awareness (A23)

Management & Technical Assistance (B02)

IRS subsection

501(c)(3) Public Charity

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Tax forms

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

This profile needs more info.

If it is your nonprofit, add a problem overview.

Login and update

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Advocacy & Outreach

TLC is dedicated to promoting awareness of language loss through advocacy and outreach. We engage in documentary production and film screenings, host TLC and language loss awareness events, present information at our work at conferences and fairs, partner with Native storytellers and performing artists, and engage in social media outreach.

Population(s) Served
Indigenous peoples

Tribes and Nations seeking a proven language curriculum and training template for their education departments come to The Language Conservancy for classroom materials and help planning effective teacher training events.

Classroom materials include dictionaries, e-learning platforms, textbooks and picture books. The Language Conservancy builds a variety of customized learning material and curriculum for K-12 and Adult learning programs.

Population(s) Served
Indigenous peoples

The Educational Programming program develops and administers second language teacher training professional development programs administered at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. College level teacher certification programming available in partnership with many Tribal Colleges. We've been honored to have success in programs with Lakota, Dakota, Crow, MHA, Omaha, and Maskoke Nations.

Population(s) Served
Indigenous peoples

A comprehensive immersive e-learning portal that allows individuals to learn their Native langauge through a series of 50 - 150 customizable lessons. Portal is available to public schools for teacher assessment, and able to be offered to communities to enhance language learning for adults.

Population(s) Served
Indigenous peoples

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of groups brought together in a coalition/alliance/partnership

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Indigenous peoples

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

9 over time: LLC, CLC, Maskoke Language Consortium, Dakota Language Society, Lakota Language Consortium, Lakȟótiyapi Okáȟtaŋič'iya Wičhóičhaǧe (LOWI), TLC - Canada, Apache LC, Cheyenne LC

Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

300,000 tribal members across 60 tribes

Number of educators who have opportunities to attend programs offered by professional organizations

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

750 total

Number of U.S. states we work in

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, California, New York, Michigan, CT

Number of children who have the ability to use language for expression and to communicate with others

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Children in 275 Native school systems who benefit from TLC's curricula

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

PRIMARY GOALS:

1. To prevent the widespread loss of indigenous languages worldwide.

▶ By 2020, TLC will increase the number of Native children learning their native language fivefold (from 2% to 10%).
▶ By 2025, TLC will quadruple the number of advanced learners of each of the languages TLC assists.
▶ By 2030, TLC will provide language materials and infrastructure to 75 languages worldwide, positioning TLC
as the global leader in indigenous language revitalization.

2. To improve public awareness and sensitivity towards indigenous language loss.

▶ By 2020, TLC, through a successful national Ogilvy-managed campaign, will increase awareness of endangered languages in the U.S. to 20% of the American population.
▶ In 5 years: TLC will be the household name of the organization working to save Native America languages in the US.
▶ In 10 years: TLC will expand internationally both in terms of our public relations and also in the languages we serve. We will likely focus on other endangered languages in the Central and South America, but also other parts of the world as opportunities arise.
▶ In 20 years: TLC will be serving over 100 languages worldwide. We will have a strong international presence and a play an active role in national and international policy making around the issue.

1. To prevent the widespread loss of indigenous languages worldwide, TLC will:

▶ Strengthen existing partnerships, as well as developing new relationships, with Tribal governments
▶ Continually seek funding to complete new textbook series and multimedia learning projects
▶ Establish new Tribal relationships to found new language Summer Institutes across reservations
▶ Continue to develop curriculum testing and evaluation to make its teacher training courses more effective

2. To improve public awareness and sensitivity towards indigenous language loss, TLC is:

▶ Partnering with Ogilvy PR to create a pro-bono TLC campaign, like those Ogilvy has developed for Amnesty
International and World Wildlife Fund.
▶ Consulting on major films including the upcoming Woman Walks Ahead (2017) and HBO's Lewis & Clark
(2018), to ensure filmmakers use Native languages accurately.
ensure they use Native languages accurately.
▶ Screening our documentary Hóthaŋiŋpi: Rising Voices at events nationwide and across American
Public Television.
▶Hosting informational events across the US.

The staff of The Language Conservancy has built extensive experience over the past decade in Native American language revitalization through association with a grassroots, Native-driven, unified movement to teach endangered languages as second languages in tribal, parochial and public schools on the Northern Plains. This experience will enable us to expand our reach of languages taught and language learners quantitatively, as described above.

We have also developed our outreach capabilities by growing and developing our media relations staff and establishing a relationship with Ogilvy Pr to create a pro-bono TLC campaign. These resources will enable us to significantly increase our outreach and increase awareness for language loss and the work that TLC does.

Past Accomplishments

▶ Established relationships with NUMBER tribes to work in NUMBER (8?) languages
▶ Published over 20 Native language textbooks in TLC's sequenced curriculum
▶ Created 13 mobile apps, including vocab builders, keyboards, and dictionaries
▶ Trained more than 400 teachers in second language teaching best practices at TLC's Summer Institutes.
▶ Published the Lakota Grammar Handbook, a 600-page self-study and reference pedagogical guide.
▶ Published the New Lakota Dictionary, a 23,000-word volume culminating 25 years of linguistic work with over 300 native speakers
▶ Issued the Lakota Audio Series, an adult Practical Conversation Course
▶ Produced a 20-episode Lakota language edition of the Berenstain Bears, the first Native American language cartoon series
▶ Produced a professional documentary, Hóthaŋiŋpi: Rising Voices, increasing awareness of language loss nationwide.
▶ Completed significant develop of Owóksape, a comprehensive online learning and assessment tool for Lakota.

To Be Accomplished

▶ Develop textbooks for more languages spoken by Tribes we have relationships with
▶ Expand awareness for language loss and TLC's work through PR campaigns

Financials

The Language Conservancy
Fiscal year: Jul 01 - Jun 30

Revenue vs. expenses:  breakdown

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info
NET GAIN/LOSS:    in 
Note: When component data are not available, the graph displays the total Revenue and/or Expense values.

Liquidity in 2022 info

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

0.64

Average of 84.38 over 10 years

Months of cash in 2022 info

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

0.8

Average of 0.7 over 10 years

Fringe rate in 2022 info

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

8%

Average of 9% over 10 years

Funding sources info

Source: IRS Form 990

Assets & liabilities info

Source: IRS Form 990

Financial data

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

The Language Conservancy

Revenue & expenses

Fiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

Fiscal year ending: cloud_download Download Data

The Language Conservancy

Balance sheet

Fiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Fiscal year ending: cloud_download Download Data

The Language Conservancy

Financial trends analysis Glossary & formula definitions

Fiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

This snapshot of The Language Conservancy’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.

Created in partnership with

Business model indicators

Profitability info 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation -$102,745 -$84,121 -$177,471 $481,021 $328,495
As % of expenses -12.0% -5.7% -10.7% 26.8% 12.0%
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation -$102,745 -$89,613 -$188,905 $441,690 $328,495
As % of expenses -12.0% -6.1% -11.3% 24.1% 12.0%
Revenue composition info
Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) $753,233 $1,380,769 $1,480,023 $2,095,112 $3,057,025
Total revenue, % change over prior year 26.9% 83.3% 7.2% 41.6% 45.9%
Program services revenue 84.3% 47.2% 82.1% 73.5% 91.7%
Membership dues 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Investment income 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% 0.0%
Government grants 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 4.6% 3.1%
All other grants and contributions 15.7% 52.8% 17.9% 4.9% 5.2%
Other revenue 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 16.8% 0.0%
Expense composition info
Total expenses before depreciation $855,978 $1,464,890 $1,657,494 $1,793,035 $2,729,488
Total expenses, % change over prior year 6.8% 71.1% 13.1% 8.2% 52.2%
Personnel 37.4% 31.0% 29.2% 34.0% 35.8%
Professional fees 28.8% 23.9% 29.6% 43.8% 36.8%
Occupancy 3.7% 2.3% 2.6% 2.1% 2.3%
Interest 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1%
Pass-through 0.0% 24.1% 23.2% 3.4% 4.1%
All other expenses 29.9% 18.5% 15.2% 16.6% 20.9%
Full cost components (estimated) info 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total expenses (after depreciation) $855,978 $1,470,382 $1,668,928 $1,832,366 $2,729,488
One month of savings $71,332 $122,074 $138,125 $149,420 $227,457
Debt principal payment $0 $0 $0 $579,415 $0
Fixed asset additions $405 $6,526 $334,765 $0 $754,902
Total full costs (estimated) $927,715 $1,598,982 $2,141,818 $2,561,201 $3,711,847

Capital structure indicators

Liquidity info 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Months of cash 0.3 -0.9 0.1 0.2 0.8
Months of cash and investments 1.0 -0.5 3.9 5.7 2.9
Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets 1.2 0.0 -3.7 -0.2 -2.0
Balance sheet composition info 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Cash $23,007 -$104,230 $18,695 $27,978 $188,237
Investments $45,798 $45,000 $518,600 $827,739 $472,739
Receivables $206,982 $55,314 $0 $113,832 $219,555
Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) $54,192 $60,718 $395,483 $395,483 $1,150,385
Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) 0.0% 9.0% 4.3% 14.2% 4.9%
Liabilities (as a % of assets) 58.6% 15.5% 115.0% 77.8% 68.4%
Unrestricted net assets $139,968 $50,355 -$138,550 $303,140 $631,635
Temporarily restricted net assets $0 $0 N/A N/A N/A
Permanently restricted net assets $0 $0 N/A N/A N/A
Total restricted net assets $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total net assets $139,968 $50,355 -$138,550 $303,140 $631,635

Key data checks

Key data checks info 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Material data errors No No No No No

Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

Documents
Form 1023/1024 is not available for this organization

Director of Operations

Dorothea Hoffmann

Dr. Dorothea Hoffmann is a linguist with a Ph.D. from the University of Manchester. She has been a Postdoctoral Fellow and lecturer at the University of Chicago and Northeastern Illinois University. She has performed extensive fieldwork of endangered Indigenous languages in Australia and North America such as Malak Malak, Jaminjung, Ngaliwurru, Keres, and Matngele. She is also an experienced language teacher. Dr. Hoffmann has been with The Language Conservancy (TLC) since 2017 and has served as the Director of Operations since 2022.

Board Chair

Janine Pease

Dr. Pease is a Crow educator and advocate. She is the founding president of the Little Big Horn college as well as the past president of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and director of the American Indian College Fund. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education and the White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities. She has also served as a trustee of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Dr. Pease is serving as the temporary Board Chair of The Language Conservancy Board of Directors who provide direction to The Language Conservancy leadership and promotes the importance of it's mission.

Number of employees

Source: IRS Form 990

The Language Conservancy

Officers, directors, trustees, and key employees

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Compensation
Other
Related
Show data for fiscal year
Compensation data
Download up to 5 most recent years of officer and director compensation data for this organization

There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.

The Language Conservancy

Board of directors
as of 05/31/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board of directors data
Download the most recent year of board of directors data for this organization
Board chair

Janine Pease

The Language Conservancy, Crow Language Consortium, Little Big Horn College

Term: 2024 -

Joe Bendickson

Dakhóta Iápi Okhódakičhiye

Jan Ullrich

The Language Conservancy, Lakota Language Consortium

Janine Pease

Founding President of Little Big Horn College

Alex FireThunder

Hoyeya

Curtis Yarlott

St. Labre Indian School, Crow Language Consortium Board