As we barrel toward another potential government shut down, communities across the country are trying to assess its potential impact. For Tribal governments, it impacts just about every facet of life due to their nation-to-nation relationship with the federal government and the wide range of federal funding that supports everything from healthcare to education, and other basic needs. While some Americans only worry about getting into a national park, Tribal communities worry about everything from individual family income to vital services in their communities.   Here are 5 things phi ..read more

We are at an inflection point in state and Tribal relations.  While Tribal communities have long understood that their conservation efforts are affected by state policy decisions, in recent years many state legislators have begun to realize that they will not be able to achieve their environmental goals without the support and knowledge of Indigenous and Tribal communities.  In the struggle for clean air and water, Tribal Nations are both sovereign entities and symbiotic partners. Despite this recognition, until recently there was scant support for including Indigenous voices in disc ..read more

The 2023 Native Youth Grantmakers’ first gathering was a celebration of unity, resilience, and the power of youth leadership. Our newest participants of the Native Youth Grantmakers program gathered this past July in Los Angeles for a week that was designed to become a memorable chapter in their personal and professional lives. However, the gathering wasn’t just about personal growth and professional development; it revealed the ambitions and futures that these dynamic youth leaders envision for their communities.  Investing In Youth Leadership At Native Americans in Philanthropy, we stro ..read more

Special thanks to our friends at Center for Disaster Philanthropy for helping us compile this list of organizations and relief funds. Photo: Hawai’i State Senate/Flickr via Hawai’i Public Radio In the wake of the devastating Maui wildfires, it’s time for us all to rally together to support those whose lives have been upended by this tragic event. As mainstream media focuses on Maui as a tourist destination, it is crucial to remember that the impacted communities include Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) peoples, who stand as integral members of the broader Indigenous tapestry. Hawai’i is ..read more

This June marks the one-year anniversary of the passage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invested substantial federal dollars in Tribal Nations, and it was followed by the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed a couple months later. Through these two laws, the federal government has dedicated funding directly to Tribes, providing nearly $14 billion for various projects, including critical infrastructure like roads and bridges, access to clean drinking water, and action on climate change and environmental justice; prioritizing Tribal communities who have often been left behi ..read more

Today, Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) have joined forces in an effort to enhance collaboration between philanthropic funders, Tribal leaders, and state officials. One of the biggest barriers to stronger partnerships is a lack of knowledge and understanding by state elected officials about Tribes. Tribes hold and maintain vast natural resources and environmental cultural knowledge and they have distinctive political and legal power through their nation-to-nation relationship with the federal government. To overcome these hurdle ..read more

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) is thrilled to announce the 2023 Native Youth Grantmakers. These extraordinary and highly accomplished young individuals are the embodiment of passion, excellence, and a deep commitment to making a positive difference in their communities. As we welcome this new cohort, we celebrate their achievements, their futures, and their dedication to advancing Native-led philanthropy.   What is the Native Youth Grantmakers program?  At NAP, we strongly believe that Native youth bring a critical perspective to the world of philanthropy and deserve dec ..read more

In a significant stride towards uplifting and amplifying the voices and perspectives of Indigenous communities, Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) recently released a preview of the highly anticipated Tribal Nations Listening Session Report.   The Tribal Nations Listening Session Report represents a groundbreaking initiative led by Native Americans in Philanthropy, a national organization committed to advancing philanthropic practices that support and empower Indigenous communities. Recognizing the need for increased collaboration, NAP initiated a series of listening sessions with tri ..read more

Addressing racial healing is a challenging task that requires a variety of strategies. To move towards racial healing, it is essential to acknowledge past injustices and their ongoing effects, to develop relationships based on mutual respect, and to value the strengths and uniqueness of Native communities.  At Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP), we offer and point to several strategies and resources to pull from to further philanthropy’s racial healing. Investing in Research and Data to Advance Equity in Philanthropy Matthew Brown, AP It takes a tremendous amount of research and plann ..read more

A before and after photo of “Three Lakota boys” at Carlisle Indian School, circa 1890 September 30th is National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools, a day in both the United States and Canada to recognize the true history and deep generational trauma caused by Indian boarding schools. For over a hundred years, thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and transported to isolated boarding schools hundreds of miles away from their communities. These schools were established with the explicit purpose of committing cultural genocide by forbidding the children from ..read more