A Word From the Executive Director

Welcome to the Summer Edition E-Newsletter of Native Americans in Philanthropy. We take this opportunity to highlight where we've been, what we are doing, where we are going and ask for your new or continued support. One of the most exciting developments that we have been hard at work developing is a new website that will be rolled out for you in September! With a simple Log-In feature, members will be able to access information, education, opportunities to attend events and programs, access to articles, past newsletters, research and perhaps more importantly connect people to each other. You will be able to renew or obtain a new membership on-line. We will need your information as we progress. Submit job opportunities, events you are hosting, articles that are pertinent to those working in the field of philanthropy and grant seekers, on an on-going basis.

Additionally, the web-site will have much that you won't see. It will contain a web-based database that will be used for holding the membership information and all the information you will access through the web-site. As we fine-tune the functions of the database we plan to make it available to other non-profits, free of charge, as a functional tool for development work. Of course, we are fine-tuning a lot of things around the Native Americans in Philanthropy offices. The Board will meet in retreat in July to prioritize our strategic plan, research on Native Foundations will be available in late summer and presented at the Community Foundation Conference in the fall. Your new or renewed Membership is very mportant as we make strides to increase the visibility of Native Americans issues and concerns and connect people across the country in support of this important work. Support Native Americans in Philanthropy today!

Joy A Persall, Executive Director

Interview with Emmett Carson, Chair, Council on Foundation Board of Directors

Emmett Carson has recently been elected to serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors to the Council on Foundations. Emmett, a member of ABFE and the President and CEO of The Minneapolis Foundation is the first male person of color to hold this position. Anna Booth Jones', an African American, was the first person of color to serve as Chair. Joy's conversation with Emmett was held in response to increased Native Americans in Philanthropy memberships' interest in what Emmett's leadership can mean for Affinity Groups, the Council on Foundations and people of color in the field of philanthropy.

Q: What do you think is important for Affinity Groups members - Native Americans in Philanthropy and other people of color - to know and act upon in their relationship with the Council and what can you do in your new position to increase the possibilities?
A: "You get out of it what you put into it. It is important for affinity group members to understand how the council works. You can push the agenda if you understand the system well. The council is a massive and diverse collection of organizations that are dedicated to improving humankind. If you understand the system it becomes navigable and your voice can be included among the member organizations and be heard by those in leadership."

Q: As a person of color, as a person who has a long history of experience and leadership in the field of philanthropy, what goals, challenges and opportunities do you see for yourself and the field in the position of Chair of the Board of the Council on Foundations?
A: "I see this as an opportunity to put the issues I care about in front others. As a member of an affinity group, as a person of color, we are often isolated in our work dealing with subtle and overt forms of racism. The affinity groups can nurture and sustain us as we learn to navigate the field. We are often the agenda implementers not the agenda setters. How then do we move and engage the larger group to impact our agenda? I am passionate about my 'groups' agenda, but I am more passionate about how mainstream organizations are responsible to the disenfranchised. I feel a responsibility to speak to the larger organization and open minds, infiltrate the mainstream, and get our issues on the table in order to effect social change. I hope my election says to groups that we can both nurture and support each other, and put core issues in front of the council."

"I believe it is important that if you have an issue that needs to be put before mainstream philanthropy it is critical to draw in that leadership and have influence. If we understand the system we can use it to influence others at the table. Affinity groups do not consistently submit proposals for session ideas for the Council's various conferences. Affinity groups do not submit articles to Foundation News and Commentary. The Council's conferences are influenced by volunteer leadership. Affinity groups need to take responsibility for putting volunteers into these positions of influence in order to move their agenda. If you invest the time to become sophisticated you will get the powerful organizations to listen and change."

"It is important to be strategic. Pulling away from the council will not have strategic impact on broader philanthropy. We have an opportunity for honest and candid conversation. Withdrawing from the conversation will not promote or influence philanthropy. Professional development comes from connections you make with broader philanthropy. Affinity groups and people of color have an opportunity to take advantage of the system to get what we want, more funds for the issues and communities we care about."

Annual Meeting and Related Events

Our Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario began with a blessing from Pauline Shirt, aboriginal Canadian, and Cree. The meetings were well attended, business was conducted, by-law changes were put into place and membership had an opportunity to share their thoughts, concerns and support for the new leadership of Joy Persall and the future of Native Americans in Philanthropy. We said good-bye to Kathy Mayo and thanked her for her long service and commitment to the Board and welcomed her as new Co-Chair of the Membership Committee. We welcomed David Cournoyer, our newest Board member, and welcomed back Jo-Anne Stately and Howard Valandra.

Two workshops sessions were held. The first "Tribal and Native Foundations, A Native Perspective of Philanthropy" where attendees had an opportunity to learn about different types of Native foundations, what they are doing in their respective communities to promote the growth of philanthropy, and how philanthropic partnerships are impacting the amount of funding going to Native communities. The panel consisted of Jo-Anne Stately, Vice President of Development, Indian Land Tenure Foundation, Susan Anderson, President/CEO, The CIRI Foundation, Susan Jenkins, CEO, Cherokee Preservation Foundation, Joy Persall, Executive Director Native Americans in Philanthropy and past director, Headwaters Foundation, Fund of the Sacred Circle.

The second workshop, held in collaboration with the Joint Affinity groups, "Intersectionality: Diversity at a Crossroad" highlighted moving from a "silo" perspective to comprehending and supporting how race, class, gender, sexual orientation and disability intersect can result in increasingly effective philanthropy. Drawing from recently published research the panelists highlighted models that work and engaged the audience in developing diversity blueprints for the future.

To end a rich and well received day of business, discussion, education and advocacy Native Americans in Philanthropy hosted a reception complete with lots of chocolate! We took this opportunity to thank significant and thoughtful supporters of our work: Ford Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Fund of Abundance of the Philanthropic Collaborative, and the Otto Bremer Foundation. We also thanked the membership for their consistent support of Native Americans in Philanthropy and the following Supporting Organizations: Annie E. Casey Foundation, Cherokee Native Education Corporation, Cherokee Preservation Foundation, Edward W. Hazen Foundation, First Alaskans Institute. First Nations Development Institute, Indian Land Tenure Foundation, Lannan Foundation, Native American Rights Fund, Northwest Area Foundation, The CIRI Foundation. To you all, Miigwetch.

What Else is Happening at Native Americans in Philanthropy?

Native Americans in Philanthropy have made positive changes, transitioned and stabilized - evidenced by the strategic objectives that were set and have been accomplished. We are excitied about the development of the new web-site, database and hosting our own server, we are also looking at further formalizing our offices. Currently Indian Land Tenure Foundation graciously donates space for our National offices and central files. The Progressive Philanthropy Center which is establishing offices in Minneapolis has invited Native Americans in Philanthropy to co-locate, sharing interns, staff and work space. Watch for more on this unique opportunity to share offices in an Eco-Enterprise, earth friendly space in future updates from Native Americans in Philanthropy.

Updated research on the growth of Native Foundations is taking place. Program opportunities are being put into place to roll out the research and facilitate broader discussion on funding for Native American communities. Native Americans in Philanthropy will be hosting a reception in October, 2004 prior to the Community Foundation Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minneapolis Foundation has provided space for this event. During the Conference we will be presenting our research findings, the changing demographics of Native communities and discussing the implications for funding opportunities. Other potential presentation events are being planned for NCAI and NNG in the fall.

Native Americans in Philanthropy co-sponsored "Whose Assets Are These Anyway? Use and Control of Indian Land: Success Models for Change". This briefing in May featured Background on Indian Land Policies and Issues with Elouise Cobell, Executive Director Native American Community Development Corporation and Cris Stainbrook, President Indian Land Tenure Foundation. Discussion was centered on Indian land issues locally and nationally as well as funders' roles and opportunities on Indian land models for management, preservation, and economic development.

Looking to the future: A co-sponsored briefing is being planned in the fall highlighting the impact of Language Reclamation on Indigenous communities and opportunities for funders. We are working with GrantStation to increase access to funding opportunities. A collaborative relationship is being developed with National Urban Indian Family Coalition to raise awareness of issues in our communities. Keep posted there will be more to come!

Giving Profile: Northwest Area Foundation Giving

Indian Reservation-Based Communities Selected for Northwest Area Foundation Leadership Program

The Northwest Area Foundation, St. Paul, has announced the names of nine small, Indian Reservation-based communities that will join a pilot leadership development program designed to help reverse economic and population declines. The foundation also announced grant awards to three Native American organizations, each of which will work with a cluster of three of these communities to conduct the locally based, 18- month leadership initiative. The three grantee organizations are Sitting Bull College, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians- Economic Development Corporation and Salish Kootenai College.

The selected community clusters are:

Little Eagle, Kenel and Bear Soldier/McLaughlin, S.D., in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, coached by Sitting Bull College.

Hoh River Tribe, Elwha Klallam Tribe and Quileute Tribe, Wash., coached by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation.

Arlee, Hot Springs and Elmo, Mont., in the Salish Kootenai Tribe, coached by Salish Kootenai College.

The three grantees will receive a total of nearly $1.1 million for Northwest Area. Each organization will work with a cluster of three communities to introduce a community leadership program designed to meet the needs and build on the strengths of communities with populations of less than 5,000 with poverty levels of at least 10 percent. The nine communities selected for the pilot program have populations ranging from 100 to 775.

"Studies show that small communities, even if they are distant from larger population centers, can thrive if they have a strong leadership system," said Karl Stauber, president of Northwest Area Foundation. "Our aim is to help rural communities strengthen their systems in order to reduce poverty for the long term."

The Northwest Area Foundation serves an eight-state region that includes 72 Indian reservations and is home to more than one-third of the rural-based reservations in the United States. The foundation's 20-year involvement in Indian Country has included a range of support. In 2000, the foundation established a 10-year partnership with the Indian Land Tenure Foundation that included a $20 million grant - the largest private grant made to an Indian-controlled nonprofit.

The nine communities involved in the initiative first learned about the leadership program, called Horizons, during a series of "leadership showcases." Each showcase featured a sampling of the training, resources and staffing that could be brought into these native Nations for 18 months. "Our aim is to support and expand the community's local leadership system so that it has a better chance of making real and lasting change," said Jean Burkhardt, program lead for Horizons. "Many times, leadership programs require that people travel long distances to participate. We want as many people as possible to have access to these resources, so we're bringing the program to them."

This approach also recognizes the work of the three grantee organizations, which have close working relationships with communities in the reservations, and which deliver a broad range of educational, planning and development resources. "We asked them to recruit communities to participate and to work with them to tailor this program to meet their needs and priorities," said Terry Janis, community liaison for Horizons.

Community coaches will begin work with the nine communities in June. The foundation launched the Horizons program with 15 communities last summer and 12 communities last April. Of these, six are either partially or completely on Indian reservations. This latest announcement completes the pilot roster with a total of 36 communities. The foundation expects to invest more than $4 million during this two-year pilot phase for Horizons.