Investing in Native Communities is Easy!

Posted on May 18, 2016 by rblauvelt

Did you know that only three-tenths of one percent of foundation funding goes to Native causes? Yet Native Americans represent over two percent of the population. Through NativeGiving.org First Nations Development Institute hopes to address this disparity by raising awareness of and direct support for grassroots organizations in Native communities doing remarkable work. These organizations are developing solutions to ensure the health and well-being of our most valuable resource – our children.

We encourage you to visit NativeGiving.org to learn more about the featured organizations and then please make a generous donation. Fully 100 percent of your gift will go to the designated nonprofit of your choosing and more organizations are being added in the coming months. Making a difference is as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4.

Simply:

1. Choose a Cause – or Causes (http://www.nativegiving.org/partners)
2. Make a Gift
3. Know You’re Making A Difference
4. Repeat the Good Deed and Feel Even Better

Sitting Bull once said, “Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.”

We hope you will help us do just that by making a gift today to one of these causes and help ensure the future of Native communities.

NativeGiving.org is a project of First Nations and is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation under the foundation’s “Catalyzing Community Giving” initiative.

Campaign Update: NativeGiving.org Matching-Gift Challenge Met!

Posted on January 19, 2016 by rblauvelt

At the end of 2015, each of the organizations featured on www.NativeGiving.org participated in a $500 Matching-Gift Challenge with incentive awards for highest number of gifts and most funds raised. Created by and for Native people, this giving platform exists to raise awareness of the remarkable initiatives that are making a real difference in the lives of Native children and families at the grassroots level.

Each of the participating organizations worked very hard during the campaign to conduct local outreach in creative ways via social media, email marketing, peer-to-peer fundraising by staff members — and even a booth at a community market on Molokai!

We are delighted to report that all eight participating organizations met their goal of $500 during the Matching-Gift Challenge. Congratulations to STAR School, Leadership Institute at the Santa Fe Indian School, Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition, Oyate Teca Project, Sust’ainable Molokai, Tewa Women United, College of Menominee Nation, and Zuni Youth Enrichment Project!

The participating organizations received training in emarketing, peer-learning opportunities and received technical assistance to prepare for the campaign. “The help of everyone made this possible! Congratulations to everyone for taking risks and all the encouragement,” said Tewa Women United Executive Director Corrine Sanchez.

The NativeGiving.org cohort raised a total of $14,176 during the campaign period with a total of 201 gifts. With the matching-gift incentives, that’s a total of $20,176 to further the missions of these high-impact organizations!

The two incentive awards – one for the highest number of gifts and one for the most funds raised – went to:

Award for Highest Number of Gifts for the Matching Campaign: Tewa Women United (Española, New Mexico) with 84 gifts during the campaign.
Award for Most Funds Raised for the Matching Campaign: Sust’ainable Molokai (Kaunakakai, Hawaii) raising $5,305.

NativeGiving.org was developed by First Nations Development Institute to maximize its national influence and direct more investments to worthy nonprofits in Native America such as those featured on this site.

By Eileen Egan, First Nations Associate Director of Development & Senior Program Officer

Investing in Native Children, Families & Communities Easy as 1, 2, 3, 4

Posted on March 18, 2015 by rblauvelt

Did you know that only three-tenths of one percent (.003) of foundation funding goes to Native causes? Yet Native Americans represent over two percent of the population. Through NativeGiving.org First Nations Development Institute hopes to address this disparity by raising awareness of and direct support for grassroots organizations in Native communities doing remarkable work. These organizations are developing solutions to ensure the health and well-being of our most valuable resource – our children.

Simply:
1. Choose a Cause – or Causes (http://www.nativegiving.org/partners)
2. Make a Gift
3. Know You’re Making A Difference
4. Repeat the Good Deed and Feel Even Better

Sitting Bull once said, “Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.”

We hope you will help us do just that by making a gift today to one of these causes and help ensure the future of Native communities.

NativeGiving.org is a project of First Nations and is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation under the foundation’s “Catalyzing Community Giving” initiative.

By Eileen Egan, First Nations Senior Program Officer and Associate Director of Development

Join Us in Supporting Native Children and Families

Posted on January 13, 2015 by rblauvelt

First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) recognizes that Native American youth are the very future of their communities, and that ensuring their well-being is crucial to the prosperity of those communities. That’s why First Nations established NativeGiving.org to raise awareness of community-based organizations that are committed to this important work at the grassroots level.

First Nations is calling on conscientious donors interested in investing in the work of participating organizations to make a gift via NativeGiving.org and support nonprofits that are dedicated to strengthening and improving the lives of Native children and families.

“Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.”

– Sitting Bull

“We are excited about being part of this project because it can help us to build a solid foundation of sustainability. We realize that in order to live to see our Native schools and communities evolve to be truly empowering, we must develop long-lasting programs and projects that don’t fit into the standard mold of federal and state grants, and finding the support for these innovative programs requires heartfelt support from many caring individuals,” said Mark Sorensen, founder of the STAR School just 40 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona.

Consistent with Native American values of sharing and reciprocity, the goal of this unique initiative is to increase giving to philanthropic efforts in Native communities. Right now only three-tenths of one percent of foundation funding goes to Native causes, while Native Americans represent over two percent of the U.S. population. This disparity is compounded by the fact that the Native population has some of the highest rates of poverty, food insecurity, diet-related illness and the poorest educational outcomes.

To address this inequity, First Nations launched this website to leverage its national influence to direct more investments to worthy nonprofits such as those featured on this site. The featured nonprofits have developed successful and innovative projects that promote educated kids, healthy kids and secure families.

“First Nations has long known that developing a strong and healthy nonprofit sector in Native communities is one key to economic diversification and service delivery,” said First Nations President Michael E. Roberts. “This program will expand the reach of local Native nonprofits and improve charitable giving to Native causes and communities.”

In its own grantmaking process, First Nations has vetted each of the participating organizations. In addition to assisting them in raising funds through this site, First Nations is also providing technical assistance to build the management and fundraising expertise of each organization during this pilot project so they can sustain their critical programs for years to come.

Please browse the profiles of these organizations at NativeGiving.org, and then select one or more of them to support. Fully 100 percent of donations received through Nativegiving.org will go toward the selected organization’s mission.

NativeGiving.org is a project of First Nations and is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation under the foundation’s “Catalyzing Community Giving” initiative.