Native Philanthropic Professionals Working Group

The cornerstone of our work is our relatives and relations. 

Equity cannot be achieved without Indigenous leadership, knowledge, wisdom, and relationships. 

The Native Philanthropic Professionals Working Group connects Native people working in philanthropy, provides targeted resources, and supports your growth as an individual and community member. 

Native Philanthropic Professionals working group History 

This group was founded as the Native Program Officer Working Group and began during a philanthropic convention when four Native program officers were seated together. They began to discuss the challenges that they had in common and the ways in which they could support one another. 

In 2014, the small group agreed to gather on an annual basis. Over the next several years, the group grew to 40+ members. In 2018, Michael E. Roberts, President of First Nations Development Institute, hosted a visioning session to expand the groups work for the next five years. 

In 2019, it was agreed by the group members that Native Americans in Philanthropy should begin to host the Program Officer Working Group meetings beginning in 2020.  

The group was rebranded as the Native Philanthropic Professionals Working Group in 2022 to reflect a more inclusive membership.

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Working Group Goals

  • Strengthen our community of Native Program Officers 
  • Learn about how we’re meeting this deeply challenging moment in our lives and communities 
  • Identify opportunities for philanthropy to deepen its impact for a better future for our communities 
  • Identify strategies to strengthen leadership pathways and professional support for Native people in our sector 

Criteria to Join 

  1. Must Work in Philanthropy - This includes roles in:  
    1. Community foundations 
    2. Corporate philanthropy 
    3. Family foundations 
    4. Tribal foundations 
    5. Private or independent foundations 
    6. International foundations 
    7. Philanthropy-serving organizations 
    8. Philanthropic Advising 
    9. Impact investors 
    10. Intermediary

  2. Self-Identify as Native American, Indigenous, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
  3. Must be a member of NAP - Preferably through organizational membership, otherwise individual membership. NAP can offer support on a case-by-case basis.  

Note: While we value the important work of development staff at traditional non-profits (non-intermediaries), this particular working group is specifically focused on professionals working within philanthropic institutions. 

Interested in joining this network and becoming a member, reach out to membership@nativephilanthropy.org 

Timeline

THE PILOT YEAR (2025)

This year, NAP will launch the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund’s pilot phase with ambitious goals:

  • Share the RFP at the HIP-NAP Joint Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in June 2025
  • Launch a diverse advisory committee of youth stakeholders, elders and mentors, funders, and Native-led non-profit organizations who engage in youth-led work
  • Recruit a Native Youth Grantmaker alumnus as a dedicated fellow and hire a program manager to provide operational support for the fund
  • Survey and engage Indigenous youth leaders (14-24) to secure representative input on fund priorities
  • Provide participatory grantmaking training to youth grant reviewers and decision-makers
  • Award 20-35 grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 to Indigenous-led organizations, schools, and Tribes
  • Deploy between $720,000 and $1.75 million in total funding during this initial phase
  • Document learnings, challenges, and successes to inform the full-scale implementation
  • Develop a culturally grounded evaluation framework that captures both quantitative outcomes and qualitative, relationship-based impacts

LONG-TERM VISION (2026-2030)

Following the pilot, the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund will expand significantly, aiming to deploy $25-50 million over five years to fund and support innovative, Indigenous-led solutions across the United States.

This expanded Fund will:

  • Increase both the number and size of grants awarded
  • Engage additional funders and partners to create a sustainable funding ecosystem
  • Document and share the model to influence broader philanthropic practices

Through this comprehensive approach, the fund aims to create ripple effects that extend far beyond the direct investment, catalyzing a movement toward greater Indigenous self-determination in philanthropy.

the funding Collaborative

The Fund is a powerful collaboration between NAP, funders, and community partners.

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Newman's Own Foundation

As a founding partner, Newman's Own Foundation brings a commitment to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity.

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Novo Nordisk

A key partner who joined to launch the pilot for the Fund, Novo Nordisk brings their commitment to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases.

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Native americans in philanthropy

NAP will continue its history of collaborating with national Native-led organizations implementing youth-led initiatives, drawing upon their wisdom and guidance as established institutions with deep experience in supporting Indigenous youth in their communities.


Funding Priorities

Coming Summer 2025

Our funding priorities will be determined through a collaborative process with Indigenous youth leaders and will focus on areas that promote health, well-being, and opportunity for Indigenous communities. Potential focus areas include:

  • Traditional food systems and food sovereignty
  • Mental health and cultural well-being
  • Education and language revitalization
  • Land and environmental justice
  • Additional priority areas to be determined by our Indigenous youth leaders

Request For Proposals

More Updates to Come

To learn more about the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund, contact Kelsey Woody at kwoody@nativephilanthropy.org