Project Background 

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP), in partnership with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, is working to strengthen relationships between Indigenous communities and community foundations. 

In Fall 2023, NAP released a report titled Indigenous Centered, which examined the current state of engagement between community foundations and Native communities across the United States. The report outlined key opportunities for community foundations to enhance accountability and responsiveness to Native peoples. 

This work culminated in the 2025 “Seeds of Connection” gathering, a regional convening held February 3–4, 2025, in Oklahoma City. The event brought together thirteen participants from eleven organizations, including Indigenous leaders and community foundation representatives from the Southwest, Southern Plains, and Southeast. 

Over two days, participants engaged in place-based learning, facilitated dialogue, and collaborative activities designed to deepen relationships and foster shared understanding. Seeds of Connection provided a dedicated space to explore partnership models grounded in mutual respect, trust, and collective growth. 

Building on this momentum, the project’s second year continues with a series of regional gatherings—small, place-based workshops organized in collaboration with Native communities in each region. Each workshop is expected to convene approximately 20 participants, including Tribal leaders, community leaders, and community foundation representatives. 

The overarching goal of these gatherings is to facilitate deeper, more sustainable relationships between Native communities and the community foundation(s) in their area.