Our Origin Story

Native Americans in Philanthropy proudly embodies the richly diverse cultures that make up Native American Peoples of what is now known as the United States, including peoples of North American Indigenous, Afro-Indigenous, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian identities and descent.

Our Relatives and Relations

Native Americans in Philanthropy is made up of diverse Indigenous communities, Tribal Nations, and Native-led nonprofits across Indian Country. We intentionally engage with Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and provide platforms for communities to exercise leadership in driving the narratives of who they are and the strategy for how to achieve change. As the original philanthropists of this land, Indigenous Peoples view giving and reciprocity as moral responsibilities to support and sustain communities and ultimately maintain sovereignty and self-determination among Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities.

We are grateful to have a national platform to engage mainstream philanthropic funders with shared interests and to build relationships between funders and Native communities that transcend the current moment to change the landscape for good.

There is no undoing of many of the traumas our communities have experienced due to colonization, but we can come together to understand, address, and take the journey of healing together. Philanthropy has a significant role to play:

• First, as thoughtful citizens who are willing to learn about and reckon with painful histories.
• Second, as strategic change makers who recognize the connection between historical trauma and today’s funding priorities.
• And third, as allies with resources who can generate meaningful action that restores power to Native communities.