Native Ways Federation

Native Ways Federation was founded in 2008 by a group of seven national Native-led nonprofit organizations to activate and expand informed giving to nonprofits in Indian Country through donor education and advocacy. We envision a thriving Native-led nonprofit sector, championing a diverse community rooted in Indigenous values and ways of being.

Native-led organizations have the solutions to the issues that Native communities are facing. They know Native communities and their strengths and how best to support Native people. However, Native-led nonprofits are systemically underfunded. According to the Investing in Native Communities project, large foundations have allocated less than 0.4 of their total annual grant making to Native communities since 2006, with only half of that going to Native-led organizations. The systemic funding inequities Native-led organizations face make it harder to implement Native-led solutions. Investing in Native-led nonprofits is the best way to enhance positive change in Native communities. 

Here are two ways we are working to catalyze investment:

Community Giving Days! Our annual #GiveNative campaign is underway for Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2024 and this year we'll celebrate 1 year of the Native Nonprofit List!

New Report!   In 2024, we published On Our Terms: Supporting a Thriving Native Nonprofit Sector to share the experiences, visions, and solutions of Native leaders in nonprofits and philanthropy. By advocating for the needs prioritized by Native communities, and by increasing long-term flexible funding to Native-led entities, philanthropy can help Native nations and people to fully achieve their dreams and thrive on their own terms.

Our Active Founders are national, Native-led organizations working across issue areas, including higher education, STEM, legal justice and policy, community and economic development, child welfare, youth development, and preserving culture:

• American Indian College Fund (College Fund)
• American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
• Association on American Indian Affairs (The Association)
• First Nations Development Institute (FNDI)
• National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA)
• Native American Rights Fund (NARF)

Learn More at NativeWays.org

Please note: Native Ways Federation does not accept or distribute donations on behalf of our founding organizations or the organizations featured on the Native Nonprofit List. If you would like to donate to an organization, use their donation link or contact them directly.