NAP Welcomes Sarah EchoHawk as Managing Director
We are excited to welcome Sarah EchoHawk (Pawnee) as the Managing Director of Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP), starting November 2, 2026. Sarah joins NAP at an important point in our growth, as we work to advance Native-led philanthropy and support a philanthropic field that recognizes, respects, and invests in Native leadership and priorities.
Sarah has spent more than 25 years working across Native philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, higher education, and community development. For the past 13 years, she has served as president of the Advancing Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (AISES), where she helped AISES grow its annual budget eightfold while expanding opportunities for Indigenous people in STEM.
Sarah has also held leadership roles at First Nations Development Institute, the American Indian College Fund, and First Nations Oweesta Corporation. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to self-determined economic and community development. As Managing Director, she will draw on that experience, along with her expertise in finance, law, and organizational management, to support NAP.
Sarah also previously served two terms on NAP’s Board of Directors, including as vice chair. She has been a champion of our mission for years.
“Native people and Tribal governments are too often excluded from funding decisions, and we know that not enough money in the philanthropic field goes to the excellent work in our communities,” said Erik Stegman, CEO of Native Americans in Philanthropy. “Sarah will help us deepen our partnerships, strategies, and operations as we work to Indigenize philanthropy.”
“Indigenous people know best how to serve our communities. The gap has never been knowledge or leadership, only resources,” said EchoHawk. “Philanthropy is being forced to rethink who it trusts and how it gives, and this organization is positioned to help shape that answer. I’m looking forward to working alongside Erik and the team, and I’m grateful for all that they have built so far.”
We are honored to welcome Sarah back to NAP in this new capacity. With her leadership, we will continue building a philanthropic sector in which Tribal Nations set priorities, Native leadership guides how resources move, and Indigenous communities decide what success actually means.
