Ron Rowell: First Native American CEO of a non-Native Foundation

Ron Rowell recently became Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Common Counsel Foundation in California, February 2010.  He is the first Native American CEO of a non-Native foundation.  Ron also serves as Chair for the Board of Directors of Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP).  In this issue, we take a closer look at his journey and reflections about what this means for Indian Country.

Ron’s path to success was not always so clearly defined or intentional but he prides himself on never swaying on his values and passions.  He grew up as a self-described ‘air force brat’ originally from Ardmore, Oklahoma, but also lived in Texas, Florida, and Japan.  As a child, he felt like the military life was normal since that was all he knew. He enjoyed being around people from different cultures.  After his parents divorced, his mother moved them back to Oklahoma where he lived with his grandparents.  Native Americans in the state often live amongst the rest of the population instead of on reservations.  Because Oklahoma has such a complicated history with Native Americans, Ron clarified it can be hard to find Native communities within the state if you don’t know where to look.

“I always say: if you’re going to Oklahoma, talk to me first.  It can be hard to find the Indians there.  But, you know, there are Indians everywhere.”  Oklahoma was Indian Territory until 1907.  Tribes were removed from Mississippi as well as other various areas around the south and east and Oklahoma became the U.S. government’s hub for the displaced tribes.  The territory eventually became the 46^th state and much of the land that was previously allotted to Native families was lost.

Growing up, one of Ron’s main interests was music and he insisted to his parents that he wanted to be a musician.  Eventually the thought of not being able to make a living discouraged the idea.  He then turned his attention to theater but felt like he didn’t have the soul for it.  Although Ron spent many years trying to figure out what he wanted to be, Ron’s aspirations always held steady.  From an early age he says his grandparents instilled in him the values and integrity he needed to achieve success and to live a life that mattered.

“I mean that in the sense of being of some use to the world and have meaning.  This was instilled in me by my grandparents through their teachings.  It’s hard to pinpoint though.  But they lived their lives with integrity.  They were my role models,” Ron said.  Ron’s mother also played a vital role in directing him towards success.  Ever since he could remember his mother had always told him he was going to college and was determined to make this happen.  Ron shares that he never had to think about whether or not he would pursue an education because he just always knew that was in his future.  He feels this should be a lesson for all parents that education really does matter.  While he certainly has respect and appreciation for traditional education within Native American cultures, he also understands the importance of having a western education as well.

One way to live a life that mattered was through activism.  Ron’s interest in activism got its start with the student movement of the ‘60s and he lived overseas for several years in various countries before attending the University of California at Berkeley because of its reputation as an activist school.  Taking a Greyhound bus, he moved to Berkeley and put himself through school with scholarships, grants, and a MasterCard.  He described his experience at the university as wonderful and that the intellectual stimulation was exciting.  There was a small kernel of Native American students there, as big as universities usually have, and many people tended to be drawn to the Native American Studies department.  Ron’s focus though was on Public Health.

“I figured it was good preparation for just about anything…it was not constricted.  And there were jobs,” Ron said.  He received both his Bachelors of Arts and Masters of Public Health from Berkeley and was able to work within his field before graduation.  Ron started working as an orderly in hospitals and even got to work in a hospital in Germany during his freshman year of college. 

His passion for activism followed him into the Public Health sector as the AIDS epidemic started to arise in America.  Ron admits he was hesitant to get involved with AIDS work until he heard a speaker talk about the high rates of STDs in the Native American population of that time and spoke of how dangerous the situation really was.  “I thought, as a Public Health man, as a gay man, I need to get involved with this,” he said.  Ron went to work calling people in Alaska, Oklahoma, and Minnesota within the medical field.  Everyone he spoke to was worried about what they were seeing but the level of knowledge was zero; and the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) didn’t seem to be paying attention.  His colleagues insisted that something needed to be done. 

At that time, Ron had become an HIV antibody testing coordinator for the San Francisco Department of Public Health AIDS Office.  He was able to continue working for the AIDS Office while he worked to get national programs like the NIHB to help.  However, no one seemed interested so he got an independent organization together called the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC).  As the founding Executive Director, Ron wanted the center to be part of a movement and create more recognition of Native Americans being citizens of the United States.  The lack of access to funds for Native Americans created the opportunity for Ron to make the NNAAPC the first national Indian health fund outside of traditional Indian bureaucracy.  He wanted to be able to bring in new resources to enlarge opportunity within Native American funding.

Ron’s desire to de-ghettoize Native American funding and create equal access brought him to the Friendship House Association of American Indians, a residential drug and alcohol treatment program.  When inquiring about why the salaries at the Friendship House were so low back in 1984, he was told high paying salaries weren’t for Indian programs.  This raised a red-flag for Ron and he took on a leadership role on the Board of Directors and is now the Board President.  After going through a series of “incapable directors,” Ron cites the decision to hire Helen Waukazoo (Navajo), a former bookkeeper who had been with the Friendship House since its beginnings, as one of the best decisions ever made for the organization.  The Friendship House started off as a10-bed facility but now houses 80-beds, serves as the Indian Center in San Francisco with community space, and has a satellite program in Oakland, California for women with young children.

In 2000, Ron stepped into mainstream philanthropy when he became the Program Officer for Social Justice at the San Francisco Foundation.  He first learned about the Foundation through Sandra Hernández, a physician he kept in contact with from the AIDS Office; now the CEO of the Foundation.  After reading a job listing for the Program Officer position, he realized it was exactly what he wanted to do.

“I took one look at it and said: that’s my job,” he professed.  The focus of his work had three main parts to it: human and civil rights, civic participation/community organization, and legal services for low-income people.  The Foundation serves immigrants, Native Americans, LGBT, and foster youth.  It also uses funding to support alternative ways San Francisco handles criminal justice and juvenile justice. 

His work with the foundation brought him to his current position as CEO for the Common Counsel Foundation (CCF) in Oakland, California.  The CCF is a progressive foundation that provides staff, research, and program funding opportunities for a set of private family foundations and funds.  As the CEO, Ron’s job consists of growing the foundation and making it more visible as well as the building and maintaining of relationships.  Ron reflected with us on the achievement of him being the first Native American CEO of a non-Native foundation.

“I didn’t know that was what I was until someone told me.  I was like, was that really true?  I guess that’s the way it is.  I’m a bit humbled by it.  It seems absurd that should be the case though…I’ve known so many really bright, creative American Indian people.  It seems absurd,” said Ron.  When he first got into mainstream philanthropy in 2000, NAP provided him with the support and guidance he needed. 

“Working inside mainstream philanthropy can be frustrating for anyone, but especially for Native Americans because the reality we face is magnified…NAP helps keep you sane.  There is no interest in philanthropy for Native Americans, but I can keep my head up being associated with NAP.  They know our community and they know philanthropy,” he admits.  He feels NAP played a role in helping him to be successful in a big mainstream community foundation due to the resources and connections the organization has created and nurtured.  His success has put into perspective the value of the work NAP does.

“Now, I realize how important the work we’ve been doing to focus on the next generation of leadership is,” he said.  His success could be taken as confirmation that change is possible.  As a society, Ron believes we’ve come a long way and for Native Americans, progression seems to be happening fairly quickly after a long time of stagnancy.  Part of making change happen starts by acknowledging first that it can happen. 

Ron found inspiration for change in a docudrama he watched called The Honour of All, about the Alkali Lake Indian Band who went from being 100% alcoholic to 95% sober and regained their culture they had lost during addiction.  Holding it up as one of the most moving things he’s ever seen and something every activist should see, he feels the story shows how revolution is achieved and how it can start with one person.  In order to make it happen though, Ron believes we need to embrace the world outside of our communities.

“We shouldn’t be afraid of the wider world.  We need to be engaged in the wider world,” he stated.  One challenge that plagues Indian country is our invisibility to the larger population and has to do with all of the stereotypes internalized by generations which Ron says are the most destructive of any he can think of.  Having a smaller population also hurts our ability to be politically powerful and important in the rest of the world’s eyes.  However, succumbing to victimhood disempowers Native Americans. 

Ron admits he sometimes has a gnawing fear of Native American progression going backwards and finds it depressing that some of the younger generation did not get an education.  Accepting and utilizing western education and opportunities within the world beyond our communities is a way to strengthen Indian country as long as you stay connected and help each other.  The idea of someone else’s gain being another person’s loss is a damaging one in Ron’s eyes since he considers it being all connected.  Life works in cycles and in relationships. 

Ron warns not to burn bridges whenever possible because—you never know when and where you’re going to meet those people again.  Being considerate of other people is a way to cultivate connections.  Relationships are the most important things in any one career, especially within philanthropy.  “Philanthropy is all about relationships but I would also say your life is about relationships.  You can have all the technical knowledge but if you don’t have emotional knowledge, then it’s not going to do you any good,” he said. 

One piece of advice he felt was important to share is to follow your values and your passions.  He believes part of his success is due to the fact he has been able to do work that matters to him and be true to himself, something this grandparents inspired him to do.  Being a Two-Spirit person as well, being seen as “different” can often lead you to figuring out a place for yourself in the world.  Remaining true to himself has assisted in his ability to find a way around other people’s negativity and pursue his passions.

“It’s called living a life with integrity,” Ron said, “Everybody has their own internal compass.  Trying to stay true to my values and following my passions-I don’t think I’d be where I am had I not done that.” 

Ron’s success is an achievement for not only himself, but also for other Native Americans working within philanthropy and the general workforce.  Within his lifetime he hopes to see Native Nations become dynamic and creative places where young people are proud of who they are and have all the opportunities that are available to anyone else.  He feels NAP can continue to help lead others towards success by opening up space for younger generations to take their place in philanthropy.  He holds optimism for the future and that the relationship between Indian country and philanthropy continues to grow.

“Philanthropy can help people to take risks and try new things by learning to work in new ways.  This is just what Indian country needs.  To me, this should be exciting.  Everyone wants to make an impact.  Indian country is an excellent place to realize that—people just don’t know it yet.”

NAP News

Native American in Philanthropy gets 2 new interns!

Native Americans in Philanthropy would like to welcome two new faces to the NAP team: Jennifer Fairbanks and Kathy Forliti.

Jennifer Fairbanks is an Administrative Assistant Intern for Native Americans in Philanthropy. She received her B.A. in Communication Studies from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota where she was President of the Hamline American Indian Student Society. As President, Jennifer was able to raise awareness through events of Native American issues (cultural and/or political) within the campus and surrounding community as well as function as a resource for Native American students. During her time at Hamline she also worked for the Multicultural and International Student Affairs office producing a campus newsletter. Having an interest in Journalism, Jennifer did an internship for Press Publications writing several articles for publication. Jennifer is Blackfoot and Ojibwe.

Kathy Forliti is an Administrative Assistant Intern for Native Americans in Philanthropy.  Kathy is attending Augsburg College and majoring in American Indian Studies and Education.  She is the current American Indian Student Association (AISA) President at Augsburg.  Her goal is to teach Native American cultures, traditions, and the Ojibwe language to Natives and non-Natives in the elementary education level.  Kathy is enrolled at White Earth reservation.

6^th Annual Native Philanthropy Institute (NPI)

The 6th Annual Native Philanthropy Institute (NPI) is scheduled for April 4-5, 2011 at the Tulalip Resort and Casino, located 35 miles north of Seattle in Quil Ceda Village, Washington.  NAP will gather Native and non-Native funders, non-profits, tribal giving programs, leaders, and allies to provide a forum to share, identify and learn best practices, challenges, and recognize opportunities of strengthening our work in Indian Country. Program tracks will include leadership, health, environment, LGBT – Two Spirit, arts & culture, and children & family.  The Institute will foster the sustaining of relationships among constituencies and organizations, across regions and the issues that build collective change and capacity for movement building.  NAP is also organizing site tours, a special event dinner and silent auction, and NAP's annual membership meeting.
 
Sponsorships and general support fundraising for the 6th Annual NPI has already begun.  A key partnership with the Tulalip tribal community has been established and we are excited for the opportunity to work closely with them. NAP is proud to announce the Tulalip Tribes of Washington and their tribal council have committed to financial and volunteer support for the 2010 Institute.  While NAP receives support from tribal communities, this is a historic marker in NAP’s organization life as we enter into this tribal partnership. We are honored and excited to welcome the Tulalip tribe as fully engaged partner in the event. To receive a sponsor opportunity packet contact Elaine at YEStephens@nativephilanthropy.org

Native Americans in Philanthropy 20th Anniversary

Indian Country Today: 20th Anniversary a Philanthropic Milestone

Carol Berry, August 9, 2010

The Native Americans in Philanthropy organization is going to celebrate a major milestone by taking a 20th Anniversary journey called “Weaving Philanthropy, Leadership and Culture” to tribal lands and communities across North America.

For more information on the Indian Country Today article, please click here.

Philanthropy News

Race to the Top Grants

The U.S. Department of Education today announced the winners of the second round of the Race to the Top competition. Click to see the full press release.

Funding in Indian Country: What is the tipping point for success?

A 2005 report analyzing Foundation Center data of grants $10,000 and greater details some trends in mainstream large foundation giving to Native causes and concerns. It shows that the real-dollar value of giving by large foundations was growing.

For More Information on the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) article, please click here.

Foundation – Native American Roundtable: Improving the Effectiveness of Grant-Making in Indian Country

A roundtable discussion, co-hosted by the Northwest Area Foundation and the Foundation for Community Vitality brought key foundation leaders from 12 foundations and 10 Native resource leaders together in Billings, Montana in July to discuss how to improve the effectiveness of grant making in Indian Country.  All participants came with the commitment to consider, together, the limitations and opportunities to improve grant making outcomes in Indian Country. 

A promising highlight of the convening experience was that all gathered with a commitment to not rehash prior Native grievances or come with prescribed strategies for Native communities.  Instead, participants engaged in dialog and relationship building that gave greater context for the varied Native community realities and experiences that philanthropy can learn from and share with their sector colleagues.  The roundtable resulted in deeper learning on how foundations can favorably perceive and take action in support of Native concerns, issues, and potential and instill new knowledge in their organizations.

Talking and networking are usually the highlights of our gatherings.  This roundtable took it a step forward in creating a space and context for deeper learning and greater engagement between foundations and Native communities.  Pre-meeting background information was made available including the Native Gathering, A Meeting with Native American Elders, Activists, Select Funders and Scholars from the Marguerite Casey Foundation and Context is Everything.  Context is Everything, written by Wilma Mankiller before she passed away, describes the real and perceived barriers to grant-making to Native communities that need to be addressed in a positive manner.  Building on prior knowledge and experiences, and allowing for reflection and discussion, our time together also included a visit to the Lazy E-L Ranch where we shared a traditional Lakota meal and a moving experience of connecting to mother earth and horses – experiences in being in true relationship with something greater than ones self.  We also traveled to Crow Agency to continue discussions at the Little Big Horn College and cultural center.  This allowed for additional examples of community building and the power of philanthropic support in communities that often fall off the radar in philanthropic institutions.

The format of open discussion of issues worked well as both Native representatives and foundation decision makers were armed with powerful learning, deeper context and important connections for their organizations.  With an improved understanding of Native communities and a pro-active posture for improving their grant-making to Native people, future roundtables engaging philanthropy can build on the success of this pilot.   The pilot clearly led to greater levels of engagement, commitments and follow-up actions that support our collective desires to increase and improve Native American grant-making.

Native Americans in Philanthropy is honored to join other Indian Country advocates on this journey.  We commend the leadership that NWAF and FCVM have demonstrated to organize and propose sustaining these meetings and actions that can move the field to higher levels of individual and collective resources and positive changes in Indian Country. We look forward to participating in the design and informing a larger convening of foundations in the fall and into the future.  Together we can build, support and sustain a movement in the field of philanthropy that advances philanthropic practices grounded in Native values and traditions.

Neighborhood Funders Group 2010 Conference

The Neighborhood Funders Group 2010 conference theme, “Community Transformation: Creating Our Collective Future,” will be the roadmap to explore the many facets of social justice philanthropy in the beautiful Twin Cities. Celebrating our 30 Year Anniversary, NFG is a membership organization of grantmakers who work to improve the economic and social fabric of urban and rural low- and moderate-income communities. Our 2010 conference will explore how philanthropy is working to transform these communities into places that support and empower the people who live there. We will also highlight how it takes the collective action of everyone—philanthropy, government, nonprofits and community residents—to make this transformative vision a reality.

To read more about the conference, please click here.

Pueblo of Jemez and New Mexico Community Foundation to Create Endowment for Education

Jemez becomes second tribe in New Mexico and 16th in nation to create a permanent endowment

In partnership with the New Mexico Community Foundation and investing in their future, the Pueblo of Jemez will kick off a major fundraising drive Friday to create an endowment for Jemez’ educational endeavors.

“Every year approximately six college-bound students are denied funding because we do not have money enough for all of them,” Jemez Gov. Joshua Madalena said.  “However, education is a priority and this endowment will open new doors and provide some great opportunities for our people.  It will also help support some of our innovative educational programs.”

The endowment or Jemez Pueblo Foundation Fund will be a permanent pool of money managed by the New Mexico Community Foundation (NMCF).  The Pueblo approached NMCF with a proposal to raise $50,000 in one year. The NMCF, with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, will match half of what the Pueblo raises at $25,000 if the Pueblo reaches its goal by Aug. 20, 2011, possibly allowing the Pueblo to start with a total investment of $75,000 by Aug. 20 next year.

The Pueblo and NMCF will certify the partnership and kick off the fundraising drive at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20 at the Walatowa Visitors Center, 7413 Highway 4.

“This latest investment is part of a long partnership between the Pueblo of Jemez and the New Mexico Community Foundation," said Jenny Parks, NMCF president and CEO. "The Pueblo's innovation in education, ties to culture and language, and community involvement are at the core of NMCF's mission.  We hope this partnership can serve as an example of our continued commitment to work with tribes throughout the state."

Jemez Pueblo, a non-gaming tribe, will become the second tribe in New Mexico and the 16th in the nation to establish an endowment, according to a report on Native American philanthropy by the First Nations Development Institute, which provides research and support for Native American nonprofits and economic development organizations.  Once established, Jemez plans to use its endowment to support tribal education programs and fund scholarships. The endowment will also aid educational programs at area schools, such as research that supports use of the Towa language in school curriculum, youth development and community-based, experiential learning opportunities for students.

On Friday at the only Towa-speaking community in the world, Jemez residents plan to challenge each other to invest in their children and future leaders.  The Pueblo also has plans to create a tribal employee giving program, as well as solicit area businesses to raise money.  The Jemez Health Board and Health Department will kick off the drive with a $25,000 initial investment toward the fund. 

Kevin Toya, 17, is one Jemez student who is looking forward to the interest off the endowment. Toya, a senior at Walatowa High Charter School (WHCS) who has plans to go to medical school, is so eager to attend college that after a full day of high school classes he takes the Sandoval Easy Express Shuttle to Bernalillo to catch the Railrunner to take classes at UNM in the evening. Toya, who is taking advantage of an early college program at WHCS, said he’ll be able to start as a sophomore in college when he graduates from high school.

“We personally have a tribal scholarship program but the program only gives out a few scholarships because the Pueblo doesn’t have money to fund every student,” Toya said. “Something like this could really help me. I don’t want to get a loan.”

This commitment is one of a series of investments that the NMCF has made in Jemez. Since 2003, the foundation has awarded nearly $1 million for youth development programs, including a $331, 682 grant for the Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids program or SPARK, a statewide early childhood initiative that helps transition children 5 and under into kindergarten and elementary school.

For information about the Jemez Pueblo Foundation Fund or to make a donation, go to the NMCF website at: www.nmcf.org/POJEF.

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Where’s your thank you?

Thank you to you who sent Thank You in your Native language.  Here is what we have so far.  Is yours on the list?

Resource Links

The Lesson Funders Have to Learn to Achieve Success in Indian Country

August 17th, 2010

• Los Angeles County <http://www.ncrp.org/campaigns-research-policy/36-campaigns-research-a-policy/606-los-angeles-county> (West Report)
• Minnesota <http://www.ncrp.org/campaigns-research-policy/36-campaigns-research-a-policy/574-gcip-in-minnesota>  (Midwest Report)
• North Carolina <http://www.ncrp.org/campaigns-research-policy/communities/gcip/gcip-in-north-carolina>  (South Report)
• New Mexico <http://www.ncrp.org/publications?p=product&id=21&parent=6>  (Southeast Report)
• Summary Chart <http://ncrp.org/files/media/gcipfindings-media.pdf>  (One-page summary of findings from the first 4 regional reports)
• Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best <http://www.ncrp.org/paib>  
• Executive Summary <http://www.ncrp.org/files/paib-execsum_lowres.pdf>  for Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best
• NCRP's Foundation Supporters and Members <http://ncrp.org/partners-members>