April 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

2006 Award Winners

Native Americans in Philanthropy's Board of Directors is pleased to present these awards in honor of the recipients' commitment to Indigenous communities and increasing philanthropic participation and resources. Flying Eagle Woman Community Based Philanthropy Award

Flying Eagle Woman Community Based Philanthropy Award
The Flying Eagle Woman Award was initiated in response to the loss of (OcPeqyaw-Metamoh ) Ingrid Washinawatok El-Issa. O'Peqyaw-Metamoh passed into the spirit world on March 4, 1999. She was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and proud citizen of the Menominee Nation. Ingrid was an internationally known humanitarian who worked to further Indigenous peoples' rights, Indigenous women's issues, sovereignty, and human rights throughout the world. Throughout her lifetime, Ingrid was an activist when it came to promoting Indigenous cultures and traditions. She was Board Chair of Native Americans in Philanthropy.

Ingrid touched the lives of countless people who remember her positive energy, charismatic personality, and radiant enthusiasm for making the world a better place. Ingrid's legacy is that of a remarkable woman who served her people and others selfl essly. We all miss her laughter and her leadership.

Past recipients include:

• Ali El-Issa on behalf of Ingrid Washinawatok
• El-Issa Gilbert Vigil on behalf of Vigil Family
• Pilar Gonzales.

Gabrielle Strong is presented Native Americans in Philanthropy's 2006 Flying Eagle Woman Community Based Philanthropy Award. Gabrielle (Gaby) Strong, Program Offi cer of the Grotto Foundation is presented this award in recognition of active participation in cultural and spiritual practices with her Dakota community and demonstrating the generosity of heart and action in her roles in family, community and philanthropy.

Gaby carries with her the humbleness and respectfulness of her Dakota teachings, in her world of work and traditional way of life. She is a dedicated activist in the preservation of Dakota language as a living language for current and future generations.

Native Americans in Philanthropy presents the Flying Eagle Woman Community Based Philanthropy Award to Gabrielle Strong to honor her Indigenous thinking and philosophy, including her holistic, community centered approach to living and giving.

Louis T. Delgado Distinguished Grantmaker Award

The Louis T. Delgado Distinquished Grantmaker Award was established in honor of Board Member emeritus Louis T. Delgado. Mr. Delgado is currently with Loyola University of Chicago, Philanthropy & Nonprofi t Sector Program and is well known for his recruitment and mentoring of Indian people coming into the fi eld. The Award was established in recognition of the tenacity and power that Mr. Delgado has brought to the fi eld of philanthropy and his commitment to bridging knowledge between philanthropy and Native communities.

Past recipients include:

• Louis T. Delgado
• Buffy Sainte-Marie
• Dagmar Thorpe
• Faith Smith
• Valorie Johnson
• Roy Huhndorf
• Rebecca Adamson

Barbara Poley and Loris Taylor are presented Native Americans in Philanthropy's 2006 Louis T. Delgado Distinguished Grantmaker Award. Barbara Poley, Executive Director of The Hopi Foundation, and Loris Ann Taylor, Associate Director of Hopi and currently Executive Director of the Center for Native American Public Radio are jointly presented this award in recognition of the utilization of conventional 'philanthropy' to create value and bring positive change to the Hopi community. Poley and Taylor have been true to their cultural values and traditions and shown exemplary leadership in philanthropy and their community. They have brilliantly adopted the 'community foundation' model to Native culture to create original and path-breaking philanthropic strategies and techniques. Native Americans in Philanthropy presents the Louis T. Delgado Distinguished Grantmaker Award to Barbara Poley and Loris Ann Taylor to honor their understanding and advancement of the role of philanthropy between Native Indigenous communities and mainstream philanthropy.

Funders' Briefing On Native Education

Funders from as far as Alaska, Hawaii and Seattle converged on Denver for a two-day briefi ng on Native American education issues on February 21 - 23 that was formally sponsored by Grantmakers for Education, a Council on Foundations affi nity group of 200 funders. Native Americans in Philanthropy helped plan the briefi ng involving Native experts, practitioners and state offi cials. The Denver-based American Indian College Fund coordinated the speakers and logistics. The briefi ng began with a welcoming event at the Denver Indian Center, which featured a traditional blessing and meal. Attendees also watched a one-hour documentary about Indian boarding schools and their still-echoing effects on Native communities. Held at the offi ces of the Daniels Fund, the presentations featured keynote remarks by Wilma Mankiller, the former principal chief of the Western Cherokee Nation who is a trustee of the Ford Foundation. Other sessions focused on the role of indigenous language and culture in education, early childhood education, tribal colleges and more. Organizers are developing a briefi ng report of recommendations and results which will be available by June on Native Americans in Philanthropy website, www.nativephilanthropy.org

JAG Unity Summit

The Joint Affinity Groups (JAG) are pleased to announce,
Unity Summit
February 5 - 7, 2007
The California Endowment's new Center for Healthy Communities Los Angeles, California

The California Endowment's new Center for Healthy Communities Los Angeles, California Space will be limited so mark your calendars now for this exciting opportunity to participate in this grantmakersonly working Summit to explore strategic opportunities for deepening our impact on the critical issues that affect us all.

JAG member Affinity Groups are: Asian Americans/Pacifi c Islanders in Philanthropy, Association of Black Foundation Executives, Disability Funders Network, Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues, Hispanics in Philanthropy, National Network of Grantmakers, Native Americans in Philanthropy, Women & Philanthropy, Women's Funding Network.

Toolkit For Youth

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. United National Indian Tribal Youth Inc. (UNITY) and Learning to Give have recently decided to partner for the purposes of educating Native Youth on the importance of philanthropy and civic engagement. Within the last year, both organizations have been working with each other to formalize a comprehensive plan to develop a toolkit for UNITY Youth Council Advisors that aid in the education and instruction of Native Philanthropy within UNITY's network of over 200 youth councils in North America. At a recent UNITY conference, Learning to Give presented to a focus group consisting of over 150 Youth Council Advisors on the topic of Native Philanthropy. During that presentation, it was made clear that Youth Council Advisors did not have the necessary tools to educate Native youth on the important topics of philanthropy and civic engagement.

Since then, UNITY and Learning to Give have developed a partnership plan that will lead to the development of the Toolkit in 2007. Within the last month, UNITY and Learning to Give have formalized an Advisory Board for the project. Native Americans in Philanthropy serves on this Advisory Board. In the next three months, both organizations will be actively engaging in conversations with nonprofi t organizations, foundations, and others interested in being a part of this exciting new partnership. Although funding has not been secured, both organizations feel confi dent that based on this imperative need to educate youth on philanthropy, support will be forthcoming. If you or your organization have an interest in being a part of the project and/or need more information, feel free to contact J.R Cook, Executive Director of UNITY at 405-236- 2800 or mekko@unityinc.org or Derrick Feldmann, External Relations Manager, with Learning to Give at 317-278- 8965 or djfeldma@iupui.edu.

Upcoming Events

Strengthening Partnerships in Philanthropy: Building Effective Grantmaking in Indigenous Communities
may 16 & 17, 2006
International Funders for Indigenous Peoples -Linking Circles V. Ford Foundation, New York City, NY

COMMUNITIES UNBOUND: Claiming the Power of a Just Society
october 14 - 17, 2006
National Network of Grantmakers Conference. Loyola University-Chicago

Unity Summit
february 5 - 7, 2006
The Joint Affi nity Groups (JAG) The California Endowments' new "Center for Healthy Communities" Los Angeles, California