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, and know Native communities and their strengths and how best to help Native people. However, Native-led nonprofits are systemically underfunded. According to the Investing in Native Communities project, large foundations have allocated less than half a percent of their total annual grant making to Native communities since 2006. 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.

Our annual #GiveNative campaign is underway for Giving Tuesday, November 29, 2023 and, new this year, we have a listing of Native-led charitable nonprofits participating in #GiveNative!

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 #GiveNative Nonprofit Participant List. If you would like to donate to an organization, use their donation link or contact them directly.