The four Native American leaders, two men and two women, danced to the rhythmsof the Indian song, accompanied by the steady background beat of a drum. Each held a corner of an open blanket, and they danced steadily around a circle of watching people. One by one, the
mesmerized audience members stepped out of their circle, moved to the blanket, and dropped in cash and checks. A lot of cash and many checks. This was the time-honored Blanket Dance, a treasured Native American tradition. It also is an example of community-based philanthropy.

The National Rural Funders Collaborative (NRFC) is now funding initiatives with farm workers in Salinas Valley, low-income communities in the Mid-South Delta, and tribal communities in
Montana and Wyoming focusing on community transformation. One of the key strategies NRFC is funding is community-based philanthropic strategies among communities of color. This work, to create culturally appropriate philanthropic models, has been supported especially by Lumina Foundation and other funders participating in the NRFC.

Download the full story: www.nationalfunderscollaborative.