Generation Indigenous
The #GenIndigenous Regional Convenings provide philanthropy the opportunity to learn more from grassroots nonprofits who have had success in tackling gaps and disparities by building on community assets through traditional knowledge, well-being and resilience, advocacy, workforce development, environment, health, juvenile justice and leadership development.
#GenIndigenous seeks to improve the lives of Native youth by promoting a national dialogue, policies, and programs to mobilize and cultivate the next generation of Native leaders. Native Americans in Philanthropy has and will continue to convene Native youth organizations and Native youth themselves to continue visioning and having the important conversations to keep Generation Indigenous moving forward while celebrating Native-led and Native-driven promising practices in an aim to spur more philanthropic commitments towards the meaningful support of Native youth.
Native Americans in Philanthropy was honored to partner with the White House on the Generation Indigenous (#GenIndigenous) philanthropic event, “Generation Indigenous: Raising Impact with Innovation and Proven Strategies” at the White House in 2016. At this event Native Americans in Philanthropy called upon the philanthropic community to take action to elevate key issues and address the pressing needs of Native youth with culturally comprehensive approaches to ensure all Native youth reach their full potential. Through this call, and in partnership with The Minneapolis Foundation and philanthropic partners, the #GenIndigenous Response Fund was created.
#GenIndigenous Response Fund
Native Americans in Philanthropy launched the #GenIndigenous Response Fund in partnership with The Minneapolis Foundation in 2016 to honor the Native youth leading Generation Indigenous and the Standing Rock land, water and sovereignty protection fights. The Fund supports expansion from specific advocacy campaigns to long-term movement building across Indian Country. The Fund pools investments from different sources and a Native grant committee awards grants of up to $5,000 to groups supporting youth organizing and activism and building long-term power for Native American youth. Organizations apply the funds to 3-6-month projects, including strategic communications, education, workforce development, juvenile justice, resiliency, traditional knowledge, sustainability, environmental justice, health, and trauma and healing. These projects are important grassroots work that that funders might otherwise not fund because they are too small, too experimental, or not visible to mainstream culture.