Native Americans face extraordinary challenges when entering the philanthropic maze created by foundations. While $5.4 billion is awarded in grants across the United States, less than one percent is targeted toward Native American communities and some of those funds are granted to non-Native controlled institutions with limited participation by native people. The reasons for this persistent underfunding of Native communities are complex and numerous. One common problem is the pervasive negative stereotypes about the lives and work of Native people, even by well meaning foundation staffs. Another issue is an enormous cultural gap. For example, many Native American communities’ value relationships and network approaches to solving social problems rather than a system that rewards individual achievement and narrow targeted funding.

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