Crazy Horse Memorial

The colossal mountain carving of Crazy Horse (tasunke witco c.1840-1877) riding his steed out of the granite of the black hills (he sapa) gesturing forward as he proclaims, "my lands are where my dead lie buried," will be approximately 641 feet long and 563 feet high when complete. Crazy Horse's completed face currently stands 87 feet and 6 inches high. Comparisons to other famous landmarks provide perspective; for example, the statue of liberty is 305 feet tall, the Washington monument is 554 feet and 7 inches high, and the great pyramid of giza in egypt stands 455 feet tall. Current carving efforts focus on Crazy Horse's left hand, left forearm, left upper arm, and parts of the Horse's mane. The left hand has been largely finished, along with much of the left forearm, as well as tremendous progress along the whole length of the left arm on the backside of the carving. The Horse's mane will take longer given its sheer magnitude - roughly 32,000 square feet of surface area to be carved. Plans to work on Crazy Horse's head and hairline, followed by his right shoulder, are actively being formulated, with the goal of beginning carving in these areas within the next five to ten years. Preparatory work has started on the right shoulder. The site has largely been prepared to install a large tower crane, which will facilitate carving these areas as well as the Horse's head. The mountain crew uses labor-intensive techniques for this delicate phase of carving. Many of the ongoing changes on the monumental sculpture are visible from the visitor center, which is about one mile away. Crazy Horse Memorial is an active mountain carving site and a modern wonder of the world. At first it may seem that the great carving is the whole point of Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. The carving is certainly central as a marvel of landscape, art, and engineering, but the shared vision to honor and preserve the culture of american indians involves even more. Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation is even more than an enduring tribute; it is a living Memorial, educating all who encounter it. The educational and cultural programs and activities of Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation's indian museum of north america, native american and educational cultural center, and the indian university of north america exemplify the Memorial's educational and humanitarian purpose. The indian museum of north america is home to an extraordinary collection of art and artifacts reflecting the diverse histories and contemporary cultures of native americans throughout north america. The museum was officially dedicated on may 30, 1973, and it has grown since its humble beginnings. Exhibits are currently chosen from over 14,000 accessioned pieces of art and artifacts representing hundreds of native cultures throughout north america. The indian museum of north america's cultural programs come alive through its exhibits, native artists, music, dance, and numerous educational opportunities for visitors of all ages. Native artists, national and local native performers, and lecturers of various backgrounds and disciplines offered cultural programs during the 2024 summer season. The visiting public can actually experience three museums of Crazy Horse Memorial. The mountain carving gallery and the ziolkowski family life museum compliment the indian musuem of north america sharing the full story of the Memorial. Crazy Horse Memorial is committed to the past, present, and future of native nations. The commitment to the future is specifically realized through the indian university of north america, where higher education, internship experiences, and numerous resources are provided to native youth, guiding them in successfully completing their higher educational goals and life dreams. The university's first academic program commenced in the summer of 2010 in a newly constructed instructional and residential facility. The summer semester university program, titled 7th gen., offers accepted students the opportunity to complete their first semester of college at the indian university of north america and receive extended student success coaching through college completion, regardless of where they continue their college studies. The upper level 7th gen. Program extends 3-6 credit hours to each student including an experiential leadership class. Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation funds the student tuition, books, student paid internships, the majority of the student food and lodging costs, faculty and staff salaries, and faculty food and lodging. The indian university of north america transitioned its programming efforts from the fall wizipan program to a new undergraduate certificate program slated for spring 2025. The new program, wichozani, is focused on indigenous health and wellness, which aligns with the vision of founders chief henry standing bear and korczak ziolkowski. Black hills state university will partner with the indian university of north america to provide students with a 12-credit certificate addressing a critical need in native health issues, leading to career paths in healthcare fields, and delivering the knowledge to better serve their communities. Black hills state university continues to work with the indian university of north america on future programming. The distinctive programs of the indian university of north america are unlike any higher education experience in the world. Since the university's inception in 2010, over 400 students from over 40 different native nations have enrolled in 7th gen. and wizipan and have benefitted from the student success coaching which ensues. The over-arching goals of the indian university of north america include engaging students in a native-focused academic experience and community demonstrating the vitality of the native american people and providing the necessary student support to increase college persistence and college completion rates of native american students. Annually, while offering student success coaching, the indian university faculty and staff research the higher education status of students who successfully completed academic programs and continued their studies at over 50 different colleges and universities throughout the united states. Over the past fourteen years, the combined college persistence/college graduation rate of respondents has ranged from 72-87%. College graduates are currently employed as teachers, nurses, athletic trainers, law enforcement, counselors, museum professionals, a dental hygienist, and in numerous professional business careers. Many of the native students who started their higher education journeys at Crazy Horse Memorial are pursuing graduate degrees. Native american students remain among the most vulnerable in our nation's education system, 35% of native american students are raised in impoverishment. Native students represent only 1% of the u.s. undergraduate student population and less than 1% of the graduate student population. Only 17% of native high school students continue their education, citing funding and geographic isolation as their top reasons for not attending college. And, of the native students who attend college, graduation rates are 20% lower or more than non-native students. Native americans, especially those in south dakota, are a disadvantaged population with few possessing college educations. The university is committed to partnerships which provide fresh approaches to learning, to comprehensive, strong student support beyond what is found in traditional mainstream higher education, to experiential learning, and to developing a new native narrative which validates, empowers, and inspires the students who attend. Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation accepts no government funding for its programs or activities. The Memorial is sustained solely through contributions and admissions to the Memorial. Charitable gifts are received from individuals throughout the united states and the world, giving testimony to the fact that Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation is an educational and humanitarian public charity of international scope. It is important for donors to know that the fy2024 mountain carving expenses of 4,543,697 are capitalized. Amounts capitalized include both direct costs and indirect costs (based on an allocation of mountain salaries to total salaries). Capitalized costs are, therefore, revealed as an asset rather than a program expense on the form 990. As a result, program expenses as a percentage of total expenses in fy2024 are 60% on the form 990. With the mountain carving expenses added, the percentage is 73%. Considering the accrual method of accounting used by Crazy Horse Memorial, the 990 shows it cost 22 cents to raise a dollar in fy2024. Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation is governed by a board of directors and led by a senior executive team comprised of the ceo, cfo, cdo, and cmo. Each executive leader has distinctive responsibilities, many of which are attributed to the moun