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. 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 grantmaking to Native communities since 2006.

Native Ways Federation recognizes that Native-led organizations have the solutions to the issues that Native communities are facing. Native-led nonprofits know Native communities and their strengths and how best to help Native people. 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 Members are:                                                                                              

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

NativeNonprofit.Day - Launched May 20, 2022

Native Nonprofit Day was founded to highlight the systemic under-funding of Native-led nonprofits and the importance of supporting Native-led organizations. In 2022, over 150 Native-led nonprofits joined us to spread this message. Native Nonprofit Day is also an opportunity for donors and foundations to learn about our amazing Native-led nonprofits and contribute to our groundbreaking work. #NativeNonprofitDay

#GiveNative - Launched GivingTuesday, November 29, 2022

#GiveNative is a community wide movement to spread awareness of giving to Native-led nonprofits and GivingTuesday is recognized as the largest global generosity movement year-round. By launching a #GiveNative campaign on GivingTuesday, Native Ways Federation hopes to spread awareness of the importance of Native-led nonprofits on the largest giving day of the year.