Can Philanthropy Become a True Partner with Native Americans?


Foundation: First Nations Development Institute, Northwest Area Foundation

credit:

Celebrating its 30th year anniversary this year, Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) has partnered with Candid to publish a new report, titled Investing in Native Communities: Philanthropic Funding for Native American Communities and Causes.

The report examines the state of the field, tracing giving patterns from 2002 to 2016. Hosted by Candid, a new dedicated website will provide supporting information.

Five foundations sponsored the report, including: Bush, Henry Luce, Marguerite Casey, Robert Wood Johnson, and the Northwest Area Foundation.

One of the report's key findings include Native Americans would get five times more in philanthropic support if they received grants in proportion to their numbers.

Also, while the report provides stats and a detailed timeline of the history of colonialism and genocide that Native Americans have faced, the report offers an optimistic take on the possibility for change.

The report lays out six primary steps to support community building in Indian Country: 1) Meet people where they are at—literally; 2) Be flexible with organizational systems and practices; 3) Provide long-term operating support; 4) Support Native-led solutions; 5) Partner with Native re-granting institutions; and 6) Ground the work in your mission.

The report's authors observe, "It is incomprehensible to some tradition-oriented Native people that foundations do not use an interdisciplinary approach to fund projects in tribal communities."

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