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TONATIERRA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

Phoenix, AZ · EIN 860723874 · Form 990 · FY2020 · NTEE B99Z · Education · Micro (<$100K) · www.tonatierra.org
revenue
$80K
expenses
$59K
net assets
$456K
employees
2
volunteers
500
program ratio
68%
filing since
2020
mission · from form 990

TO SERVE AS A COMMUNITY VEHICLE OF EMPOWERMENT FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN PURSUIT OF SELF-DETERMINATION ON POLITICAL, CULTURAL EDUCATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC LEVELS.

profile · synthesized from sources

TONATIERRA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE operates the Nahuacalli Embassy of Indigenous Peoples, advancing self-determination for Original Nations of Indigenous Peoples across local, regional, and global levels. The organization engages in international advocacy through the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, supports Indigenous youth and women's leadership, and fosters solidarity with colonized peoples, including Palestinians. It has played a continuous role in continental Indigenous summits since 1990.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $1K
    XINACHTLI: CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT THROUGH CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS AND MUSIC THROUGH AN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE BENEFITTING AT LEAST 1,000 LOCALLY.
  2. #2 $11K
    MACEHUALLI: ORGANIZING DAYLABORERS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus
Preparatory and advocacy body for Indigenous nations at the UN, coordinating statements and policy recommendations
Global Indigenous Women’s Caucus
Annual international gathering co-hosted at the UN Permanent Forum to advance rights and leadership of Indigenous women
Nahuacalli Embassy of Indigenous Peoples
Cultural and political hub in Phoenix, AZ that serves as a bridge for Indigenous self-determination across the Americas and at the United Nations
Solidarity with Palestine Initiative
Hosts Palestinian youth delegations and advocates for recognition of Palestinians as Indigenous people facing colonization and genocide
Youth Delegation Program
Trains and sends Indigenous youth to participate in the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
activities · 26

what they do

direct service · 13
  • Co-hosting UN Side Events Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Co-hosts UN side events, such as one with the American Indian Law Alliance, to honor significant figures and promote Indigenous issues on an international platform.
  • Community Garden and Park Maintenance
    Operates a community garden open to students, families, and community members, and organizes monthly community cleanups and events at Barrios Unidos Park to maintain the park and garden. The organization also received approval for the Centzonmilpan Community Heritage Garden expansion project.
  • Farmworker Food and Essential Item Distribution Food Pantry and Voucher Distribution
    Operates the Miltecayotl - Farmworkers Food Distribution project, providing food assistance and distributing essential items such as clothing, sun protection, diapers, and pet food to farmworkers through collaborations with local groups and students.
  • Operating Community Gardens and Seed Libraries
    Operates a community garden open to students, families, and community members, and launched the Xinachtli Seed Library in January 2025. The organization also organizes monthly community cleanups and events at Barrios Unidos Park to maintain the park and community garden, and received approval for the Centzonmilpan Community Heritage Garden expansion project.
  • Operating Community Gardens and Seed Libraries
    Operates a community garden open to students, families, and community members, and launched the Xinachtli Seed Library in January 2025. The organization also organizes monthly community cleanups and events at Barrios Unidos Park to maintain the park and garden spaces, and received approval for the Centzonmilpan Community Heritage Garden expansion project.
  • Operating the Nahuacalli Embassy of Indigenous Peoples Indigenous Peoples' Embassy Development
    Established the Nahuacalli as an Embassy of Indigenous Peoples in Phoenix, Arizona in 1996, engaging with Original Nations of Abya Yala (the Americas) and serving as a bridge organization for the Indigenous Peoples movement for Self Determination across the hemisphere.
  • Operating the Nahuacalli Embassy of Indigenous Peoples Indigenous Peoples' Embassy Development
    Established and operates the Nahuacalli as an Embassy of Indigenous Peoples in Phoenix, Arizona, engaging with Original Nations of Abya Yala (the Americas) and serving as a hub for Indigenous Peoples' movements.
  • Operating the Nahuacalli Embassy of Indigenous Peoples Indigenous Peoples' Embassy Development
    Established the Nahuacalli as an Embassy of Indigenous Peoples in Phoenix, Arizona, engaging with Original Nations of Abya Yala (the Americas) and serving as a hub for Indigenous Peoples' movements.
  • Operating the QuetzalCo-op Project for Indigenous Coffee Farmers Farmer Support through Social Enterprise
    Operates the QuetzalCo-op Project, launched in 1996, to support the economic sustainability of Indigenous coffee farmer cooperatives in Mexico and Guatemala by purchasing green coffee at above-market value, roasting it on-site, and selling it to the public. All profits are reinvested to support international economic networking of Indigenous Peoples' cooperatives.
  • Operating the QuetzalCo-op Project for Indigenous Coffee Farmers Farmer Support through Social Enterprise
    Operates the QuetzalCo-op Project, launched in 1996, to support the economic sustainability of Indigenous coffee farmer cooperatives in Mexico and Guatemala by purchasing green coffee at above-market value, roasting it, and selling it to the public. All profits are reinvested to support international economic networking of Indigenous Peoples' cooperatives.
  • Organizing and Participating in Indigenous Encounters and Summits Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Organized or participated in seven continental Indigenous encounters and summits between 1993 and 2013 across Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, and Colombia, and co-hosted a UN side event with the American Indian Law Alliance.
  • Organizing and Participating in Indigenous Encounters and Summits Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Organizes or participates in continental Indigenous encounters and summits across the Americas, facilitating dialogue and collaboration among Indigenous Peoples.
  • Xinachtli Seed Library Operation
    Launched the Xinachtli Seed Library in January 2025 and hosts community art nights to create plant signage honoring Indigenous languages for community garden spaces, celebrating the library's anniversary.
advocacy · 6
  • Advocacy for Farmworkers' Rights Community Advocacy & Rights Education
    Conducts advocacy for farmworkers' rights at both local and state levels in collaboration with a community liaison.
  • Advocacy for Farmworkers' Rights Community Advocacy & Rights Education
    Conducts advocacy for farmworkers' rights at local and state levels in collaboration with a community liaison.
  • Advocacy for Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Self-Determination Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Engages in advocacy for Indigenous Peoples' rights, including serving as a plaintiff in the ACLU federal lawsuit against AZ SB1070, supporting the Protecting Mother Earth Conference, and participating in the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The organization also issues statements of solidarity with Indigenous Peoples globally, such as those in Palestine, calling for an end to violence and genocide.
  • Advocacy for Indigenous Self-Determination and Human Rights Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Serves as a bridge organization for the Indigenous Peoples movement for Self Determination across the hemisphere, participates in international forums like the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and issues statements of solidarity and calls for action on issues affecting Indigenous Peoples globally, including the conflict in Gaza.
  • Advocacy for Palestinian Rights and Ceasefire in Gaza Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Issued statements of solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of Palestine, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the genocide, and hosted a delegation of Palestinian youth to amplify their voices in a collective statement.
  • Legal Advocacy for Indigenous Migrant Workers Immigrant Rights Legal Advocacy & Civic Mobilization
    Served as a plaintiff in the ACLU federal lawsuit against AZ SB1070 in 2010, representing Indigenous Peoples as Migrant Workers.
research · 3
  • Indigenous Peoples' Rights Research and Publication Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Publishes "Indigenous Nations’ Rights in the Balance," an analysis comparing different versions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP) and their implications, available in both English and Spanish.
  • Publishing Analysis of Indigenous Nations' Rights Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Published "Indigenous Nations’ Rights in the Balance," an analysis comparing three versions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP) and their implications for Indigenous Peoples and Nations, available in both English and Spanish.
  • Publishing Analysis of Indigenous Nations' Rights Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Publishes "Indigenous Nations’ Rights in the Balance," an analysis comparing different versions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP) and their implications for Indigenous Peoples and Nations, available in both English and Spanish.
capacity building · 4
  • Advocacy for Indigenous Peoples' Self-Determination and Rights Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Serves as a bridge organization for the Indigenous Peoples movement for Self Determination across the hemisphere, providing continuity, documentation, translation, and dissemination of the narrative of the Original Nations of Indigenous Peoples. This includes participating in international forums like the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and supporting conferences like the Protecting Mother Earth Conference.
  • Documentation and Dissemination of Indigenous Narratives Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Provides continuity, documentation, translation, and dissemination of the narrative of the Original Nations of Indigenous Peoples.
  • Documenting and Disseminating Indigenous Narratives Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Provides continuity, documentation, translation, and dissemination of the narrative of the Original Nations of Indigenous Peoples.
  • Facilitating Indigenous Encounters and Summits Indigenous Rights Advocacy & Solidarity
    Organizes or participates in continental Indigenous encounters and summits across the Americas to foster collaboration and dialogue among Indigenous Peoples.
strategies · 12

how they think

Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any approach shared with other orgs to see the full field.

  • Community-Driven Economic Empowerment and Fair Trade fair_trade_organic_sourcing unique to this org
    The organization supports Indigenous Peoples initiatives and builds economic alliances by sourcing fair trade organic coffee and other handicrafts from Indigenous regions and cooperatives, purchasing products at above market value, and using sales to advance justice.
  • Community-Driven Support and Advocacy for Farmworkers community-driven_support unique to this org
    The organization engages community members, local organizations, schools, and youth to deliver essential resources to farmworkers, emphasizing community-driven support. They also advance farmworkers' rights through policy advocacy in collaboration with a community liaison and utilize a food distribution model in partnership with regional food banks.
  • Community-Led Support and Resource Distribution community-driven_support unique to this org
    The organization engages community members, local organizations, schools, and youth as volunteers to support cooperative-led projects and deliver essential resources, such as food, to farmworkers, addressing community displacement and environmental racism through grassroots initiatives.
  • Community-led grassroots organizing with intergenerational and family-based approaches family-based_organizing unique to this org
    Uses family-based, intergenerational organizing models that emphasize responsibility to future generations and engage community members, youth, schools, and local organizations in cooperative projects and resource distribution, centering community self-direction.
  • Continental Indigenous Unity and Advocacy indigenous_continental_unity unique to this org
    TONATIERRA acts as a bridge organization between Indigenous communities across North and South America, engaging in grassroots organizing and policy advocacy to advance farmworkers' rights and uplift collective Indigenous rights at an international level, functioning as a cultural embassy for Indigenous Peoples.
  • Fair trade and community-driven economic solidarity through ethical sourcing fair_trade_organic_sourcing unique to this org
    TONATIERRA sources fair trade and organic coffee from Indigenous cooperatives and pays above-market prices to build economic alliances, support sustainable practices, and advance justice for Indigenous producers, with proceeds supporting broader Indigenous initiatives.
  • Grassroots policy advocacy and rights defense through community liaison and solidarity networks indigenous_rights_advocacy unique to this org
    Advocates for farmworkers' rights and Indigenous sovereignty through policy engagement, community liaison collaboration, and international solidarity, while framing global settler colonial conflicts within a continuum of Indigenous resistance and treaty rights.
  • Indigenous Self-Determination and Decolonization through Cultural Revitalization decolonization_strategies unique to this org
    TONATIERRA develops and implements decolonization strategies aligned with community cultural identity and responsibilities to advance environmental justice and self-determination for Indigenous Peoples. This includes reaffirming and reviving Indigenous pedagogies and ancestral knowledge through practices like seedkeeping and community gardening, and using cultural spaces for education and preservation of Indigenous agricultural traditions.
  • Indigenous Self-Determination and Decolonization through Cultural and Economic Empowerment decolonization_strategies unique to this org
    TONATIERRA works to advance environmental justice and self-determination for Indigenous Peoples by developing and implementing decolonization strategies aligned with community cultural identity and responsibilities. This includes advocating for Indigenous rights, preserving and reviving ancestral knowledge and cultural practices, and building economic alliances through fair trade and community-driven initiatives.
  • Indigenous self-determination through decolonization, cultural revitalization, and land-based practices decolonization_strategies unique to this org
    Advances environmental justice and community resilience by reviving Indigenous knowledge systems, seedkeeping, ancestral agriculture, and pedagogies through community gardening and cultural education, as acts of decolonization and intergenerational healing.
  • Intergenerational and Continental Indigenous Unity and Organizing indigenous_continental_unity unique to this org
    TONATIERRA acts as a bridge organization between Indigenous communities in North and South America, engaging in grassroots and family-based organizing that is intergenerational and focused on responsibility to future generations. They work to foster Indigenous continental unity and solidarity.
  • Trans-continental Indigenous unity and cultural diplomacy via bridge organizing bridge_organization / grassroots organizing unique to this org
    Functions as a Cultural Embassy (Nahuacalli) and bridge organization connecting Indigenous communities across North and South America to strengthen continental solidarity, cultural exchange, and collective self-determination.
financials · form 990 · fy2020

the money

revenue
Total revenue$80K
Contributions & grants$65K81%
Program service revenue$2K2%
Investment income$1K2%
Other revenue$12K
expenses
Total expenses$59K
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead32%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$32K
Grants paid out$2K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$458K
Cash$53K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$456K
Liquid reserves10.8 mo
1 years on record · 2020–2020
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2020

who runs it

relationships · 22

who they work with

  • ACLU Partner — TONATIERRA was a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU against AZ SB1070.
  • Ajo Farmers Market & Cafe Partner — Sells QuetzalCo-op Cafetzin coffee.
  • American Indian Law Alliance Partner — Co-hosted a UN side event to honor Tupac Enrique Acosta.
  • Arizona Food Bank Network Partner — Partner in the Miltecayotl - Farmworkers Food Distribution project.
  • Chevron Partner — Called upon the World Bank and UN agencies to withhold funding from corporations like Chevron that would profit from marine gas extraction in conflict zones.
  • City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board Government — Voted in support of the Centzonmilpan Community Heritage Garden expansion project.
  • Continental Commission Abya Yala Partner — Organized the "Encounter of Indigenous Peoples of Abya Yala for Self Determination – Decolonization" press release.
  • Early Bird Vegan Partner — Sells QuetzalCo-op Cafetzin coffee.
  • Global Indigenous Peoples Caucus Partner — Annual co-host for the caucus.
  • Global Indigenous Women’s Caucus Partner — Annual co-host for the caucus.
  • Honor the Earth Partner — Guest with Tonatierra at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
  • Indigenous Environmental Network Partner — Held the Protecting Mother Earth Conference, which Tonatierra supported.
  • Indigenous regions of the Mayan peoples Partner — Source of fair trade organic coffee beans
  • Maersk Partner — Called upon the World Bank and UN agencies to withhold funding from corporations like Maersk that would profit from marine gas extraction in conflict zones.
  • Maricopa County Organizing Project (MCOP) Partner — TONATIERRA transitioned from MCOP in 1994, and its co-founder supported MCOP's farmworker strike in 1977.
  • National Iwi Chairs Forum Partner — Supported the efforts of the Iwi Chairs in holding the New Zealand government accountable to the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Treaty.
  • O’odham Farmers Market Partner — Sells QuetzalCo-op Cafetzin coffee.
  • Palabras Bookstore Partner — Sells QuetzalCo-op Cafetzin coffee.
  • SRPMIC Cultural Resources Department Partner — Shared Indigenous names of plants in O'Odham and Piipaash for use in community garden signage.
  • Sana Sana Partner — Sells QuetzalCo-op Cafetzin coffee.
  • St. Mary’s Food Bank Partner — Partner in the Miltecayotl - Farmworkers Food Distribution project.
  • World Bank Partner — Called upon to withhold funding from corporations profiting from marine gas extraction in conflict zones.