Circle of Giving January 2006 Edition

Circle of Giving is a regular newsletter from Native Americans in Philanthropy. To complement our e-news, this printed edition will spotlight member news, trends, and promising practices.

Native Americans in Philanthropy was founded in 1990 as a national nonprofit membership organization with a mission to engage Native and non-Native peoples in understanding and advancing the role of philanthropy through practices that support Native values for current and future generations.

Primary goals:

• advocating for increased resources and Native leadership
• supporting the development of Native philanthropy
• advancing philanthropic competence of grantmakers and fundraisers committed committed to Native philanthropy
• expanding the network of institutions and individuals committed to the organization's mission
• In order to strengthen Native communities, Native Americans in Philanthropy builds bridges between funders and Native organizations, and it also supports development of emerging nonprofit leaders.

For more information
Visit: www.nativephilanthropy.org
E-mail: info@nativephilanthropy.org
Phone: (612) 724-8798

Native Philanthropy Institute

Save The Date!
April 10 & 11, 2006 at Mystic Lake Casino, Shakopee, Minnesota - the home of the home of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community There has been a strong call from membership, tribal and Native foundations, and nonprofit organizations to work together, support each other, and tell a story of what Native philanthropy means to both tribal leaders and mainstream foundations. The most urgent expressed need was in fund development and fundraising, marketing and communications, leadership development and skill-building. We are developing a curriculum for the first annual Native Philanthropy Institute, to be held in conjunction with Native American in Philanthropy's Annual Membership Meeting. All those committed to Tribal and Native philanthropy - organizations and individuals -will want to attend the Native Philanthropy Institute. We will share knowledge and expertise and build the capacity of Native fundraisers and grantmakers. Inspiring keynote presentations, social time and the following critical topics will be presented:

• Capacity Building - Personnel & Board Development
• Fund Development & Earned Income
• Community Values in Philanthropy
• Communications & Marketing
• Feasibility Study: Design & Implementation
• Contemporary Issues and Native Giving
• Fundraising Cohort: Principles and Techniques
• Investments
• Legal Issues

Our primary goals are:

• To provide the growing field of Tribal and Native philanthropy with tools for strategic grantmaking.
• To provide these foundations and other Native nonprofits tools to raise more funds.
• To provide tools to "tell their story" more effectively - remaining grounded in their communities and strength of the cultures.

Native Americans in Philanthropy is working with The Center for Native American Public Radio to further utilize this gathering to interview those who are involved in the growth and development of Native philanthropy and raising funds for Native communities. These interviews will be broadcast to more than half a million listeners in fourteen states.
Registration form can be found here.

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting, formerly held during the Council on Foundations Annual Conference, will be held during the Native Philanthropy Institute. This will be a unique and powerful opportunity for all our members, foundation representatives, Tribal and Native Foundations and non-profits to come together to discuss programmatic activities and their vision for Native Americans in Philanthropy. The newly elected Board of Directors will be announced, Program and Audit Reports will be presented.
Download Board Nominations forms here.

2006 Awards

2005 Winners: Pilar Gonzales - Flying Eagle Woman Award & Rebecca Adamson - Louis T. Delgado Distinquished Grantmaker Award

The 2006 Louis T. Delgado Distinquished Grantmaker Award and the Flying Eagle Woman Award will be announced and celebrated at the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 11th as part of the Native Philanthropy Institute.

The essence of Indigenous cultures is manifested through acts of giving. As an expression of their cultures and in honoring the principle of generosity, Indigenous peoples give to honor, celebrate, and show their responsibility towards family members, friends and community.

The Louis T. Delgado Distinguished Grantmaker Award is presented to the individual or organization that fulfills the criteria of understanding and advancing the role of philanthropy between Native Indigenous communities and mainstream philanthropy. The Flying Eagle Woman Award for Community-Based Philanthropy is presented to an Indigenous person who clearly demonstrates that they are guided by Indigenous thinking and philosophy, including a holistic, community centered approach to living and giving.

Download Board Nominations forms, Delgado and Flying Eagle Woman Award Nomination form.

Circle of Leadership

We are excited to announce the first cohort of leaders who will be participating in Native Americans in Philanthropy's Circle of Leadership. The Circle is designed for Native people interested in pursuing a career in philanthropy or in developing tribal giving programs. Historically, the participation of Native people in foundations or other areas of philanthropy has been almost non-existent. That fact is changing. Today, we are seeing Native people working in the foundation world, forging changes in philanthropy to better meet the goals of tribal reservations and urban Indian communities. Just as importantly, many tribes are now in the position of being able to create their own foundations or giving programs.

This new era brings many new possibilities, and raises new challenges for us to consider.

How can tribes develop their grantmaking programs in a way that is strategic and best serves their community? How can we as Native people become more effective actors in philanthropy without compromising our cultural values? How is Native leadership and philanthropy different from mainstream philanthropy? What skills and training do we need to be effective in advancing Native goals in philanthropy? Circle of Leadership provides an opportunity to gain personal development and leadership skills, and the opportunity to work with a range of Native community leaders and philanthropic professionals. The program includes nine full day sessions every other month beginning in January 2006. Each session will include presentations from Native practitioners in the field, and will focus on an important component of Native philanthropy.

Through support from the Otto Bremer Foundation the Circle of Leadership is being piloted in the Midwest region. The Circle of Leadership cohort for 2006 are:

kathy denman-wilke (Saginaw Valley Chippewa)
Indian Education, St. Paul Public Schools

ron leith (Red Lake Nation)
Lower Sioux Indian Community

travis zimmerman (Grand Portage Ojibwe)
American Indian OIC

justin kii huenemann (Navajo)
American Indian Families Project, Hennepin County

valerie larsen (MN Chippewa Tribe of Leech Lake Band of Pillager)
State of MN Department of Health

neely snyder (St. Croix Ojibwe)
Native Americans in Philanthropy

kelly perkins (Oglala Lakota)
Headwaters Foundation for Justice

roxanne gould (Grand and Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa/Ojibwe)
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

thomas boelter (Forest County Potawatomi)
Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation

wes long feather (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (Hunkpapa Lakota))
United Tribes Technical College

Upcoming Events

2006 Family Foundation Conference
january 29-31, 2006
From Principle to Practice: Navigating Your Course, Council on Foundations' Family Conference at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii. Please join NAP on January 29th, as we will participate in a session entitled "Philanthropic Motivation and Accountability".

GFE Native American Education Funder Briefing
february 22, 2006
Join Grantmakers for Education in Denver for a funder briefing on improving the educational achievement of Native American students, in partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy and the American Indian College Fund. Find out more and register at: http://www.edfunders.org/programs/listevent.asp?id=106