Riverside, CA – As the rain brought a sacred beginning upon landing into the Inland Empire, the Native Youth Grantmakers (NYG) arrived in Riverside, California, for the Native Americans in Philanthropy 2026 Annual Conference. The gathering created a meaningful and energizing experience for the Native Youth Grantmakers by offering them the opportunity to learn, connect, lead, and also contribute directly to the future of the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund (ITF). Throughout the conference, the youth were able to experience a convening filled with philanthropic professionals from across Turtle Island and beyond while stepping into active roles through speaking opportunities, workshop facilitation, relationship building, and designing grantmaking work. 

Directly Uplifting Youth Voices

At the Interwoven Futures Breakfast (co-hosted by FreshTracks, Center for Native American Youth, and Native Americans in Philanthropy), the Native Youth Grantmakers, NYG Alumni, and Indigenous Tomorrows Fund Youth Advisory Committee Members were featured as guest speakers. They shared real world examples of how philanthropy can support Native youth in dreaming, building, and shaping their futures.  

Tayler Tanginiq Higgins (Yup’ik, Dena’ina, & Suqpiaq) spoke to the importance of centering youth voice, Katie Lynch (Citizen Potawatomi Nation) discussed the critical need for Native people to have a seat at the table, and Sophia Turning Robe (Siksika Nation, Spokane Tribe, & Pauquachin First Nation) shared how philanthropy can support meaningful change when resources are guided by community vision and lived experience. Their reflections helped ground the conversation in the power of Native youth leadership and the importance of creating space for young people to influence the systems that impact their communities.

Conference Sessions

The Indigenous Tomorrows Fund presented a workshop to create space for conference participants to learn directly from the people shaping and experiencing the Fund from multiple perspectives, including an Advisory Committee member, a funder, a grantee, and a former youth reviewer who is now a Native Youth Grantmaker helping lead the next grant cycle. Together, panelists reflected key learnings from ITF’s pilot year, including what it means to practice youth-led participatory grantmaking, build trust across roles, and support community-rooted decision-making.

Participants also had the opportunity to hear directly from the panel about their experiences with the Fund and the impact of centering Indigenous youth, community priorities, and relational accountability in philanthropy. Feedback from the session showed strong interest in the design of ITF’s funding model, with participants expressing excitement about the leadership of young people in the Fund and how similar approaches could strengthen participatory grantmaking in practice. 

Amongst the conference offerings, NYG Alumni Gianni Lacey-Howard (Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation), Sadie Hill-Kelley (Oneida, Kiowa, Comanche, Mvskoke, Shoshone Paiute, Cherokee and Absentee Shawnee), and Sophia Turning Robe (Siksika Nation, Spokane Tribe, & Pauquachin First Nation) also led a youth-centered workshop titled “The Exchange: A Youth-led Co-creation Space for Indigenous Innovation & Solution-Making,” that invited participants to dream boldly for their communities and begin turning those dreams into action plans. The workshop guided participants through a creative, community-centered process that helped identify community roles, shared responsibilities, and pathways for bringing ideas to life.

Empowering the Youth Guiding the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund

A major highlight of the gathering was a working session between NYG, and the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund Advisory Committee Members. Together, they participated in a facilitated design lab to establish the funding priorities for the 2026 Indigenous Tomorrows Fund grant cycle. The session was built on the knowledge NYG participants have gained so far throughout their yearlong program, including their understanding of philanthropy, grantmaking, community leadership, and the goals and purpose of the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund. With the youth’s background knowledge, resources, and a strong understanding of the Fund, the group was able to use their time together in a productive and impactful way.

Through this shared process, NYG and the ITF Advisory Committee accomplished the important goal of shaping the design of the upcoming 2026 ITF grant cycle. More than a planning session, it was a powerful intergenerational experience where youth, mentors, elders, and advisors came together to listen, reflect, and make decisions rooted in community care and Indigenous values.

The gathering offered a space for learning, connection, and professional growth. The conference provided Native Youth Grantmakers an opportunity to lead how resources move into Native communities, shaping the future of Indigenous-led grantmaking.

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Native Americans in Philanthropy

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) promotes equitable and effective philanthropy in Native communities. We have more than a 30-year presence in the field and work closely with our counterpart organizations advocating for Tribal communities. The cornerstone of our work is our relatives and our networks. We support several communities of stakeholders that work together to build knowledge, community, priorities, and power in the sector. These networks include Native professionals in philanthropy, elected Tribal leaders, Native youth leaders, Native philanthropic executives and board members, and Native nonprofit leaders.