Member Education Sessions: Moving Philanthropy Beyond Land Acknowledgements

At Native Americans in Philanthropy, we believe openly recognizing the Indigenous Peoples who both traditionally and currently steward the lands now known as the United States is a vital step in relationship building with Indigenous communities.  Our moderator, Joel Moffett (Nez Perce), and two philanthropic change makers, Shawn Escoffery and Marisol Inzunza highlight how land acknowledgements should be paired with meaningful action to move philanthropy into a more equitable and effective relationship with Indigenous communities.

Watch the broadcast now on NAP’s YouTube Channel and be sure to subscribe to the NAP YouTube channel for more informative and important resources on Native communities.  

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS:  SHAWN ESCOFFERY (he/him) Executive Director, Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation Shawn Escoffery is the Executive Director of the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation, where he leads a team committed to social justice and addressing the historical inequities that plague many lower-income communities. Since joining the Foundation in 2018, Shawn has led the organization through a strategy revisioning process, created a fellowship for someone who was formerly impacted by the Justice System, and launched an Impact Investing portfolio with a 10% carve-out of the endowment. The Foundation now focuses on Criminal Justice Reform, Environmental Justice, and Affordable Housing Preservation with a trust-based approach that is centered in place and emphasizes lasting partnerships as well as capacity building. With assets exceeding $120 million, Shawn oversees a $5 million annual grantmaking budget and is responsible for sourcing impact investments ranging from $250,000 to $1 million aimed at advancing racial and gender equity.  Prior to joining RPDFF, Shawn directed the Inclusive Economies portfolio at the Surdna Foundation – a nationally focused family foundation with over $1 billion in assets. In this role, Shawn worked to support the development of robust and sustainable economies that include a wide range of businesses, equitable economic policy, and access to quality jobs. Shawn managed a $9.5 million annual grantmaking budget and an impact investing portfolio over $10 million. As an urban planner with over 20 years of experience, Shawn has worked on community economic development and affordable housing projects across the country.  Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and English Literature from Rutgers University and a Master’s of City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also holds certificates in Communications and International Relations, Urban Redevelopment, and Effective Leadership from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Duke University, respectively. Shawn currently sits on the board of directors of The Funders Network and Hispanics in Philanthropy.  

MARISOL INZUNZA (she/her) Program Officer, The California Wellness Foundation   Marisol Inzunza is a Program Officer for the Leading for Power and Change portfolio at the California Wellness Foundation. She brings more than 15+ years of experience in philanthropy working with Native-led nonprofits and tribal nations. In her current role, she focuses on supporting organizations that are advancing systemic and progressive change by amplifying the voices and power of people of color and others who have historically been excluded from full participation in civic society.   Previously, Marisol led philanthropic efforts for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, where she managed a portfolio of more than 400 grants, worked with tribal nations throughout the United States and supported the areas of economic development, arts, culture, and health.   Throughout her career, she has been an advocate for tribal communities.  

MODERATOR: JOEL MOFFETT (Nez Perce) (he/him) Director of Environmental & Special Projects, Native Americans in Philanthropy. As a former Tribal leader, Joel has served as Vice Chairman of the Nez Perce Tribe Executive Committee. In 2013, he was also elected to lead the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) as its chairman. Most recently, Joel was the Natural Resources Policy Coordinator for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI). Joel currently lives in Suquamish, WA with his children.