Native American communities have a rich history of coming together to support one another and advocate for the advancement and well-being of all Indigenous communities and peoples. 

On May 19, Native Hope will participate in Native Nonprofit Day. This movement calls attention to the needs of Native American communities and highlights organizations, particularly Native-led groups, that exist to fill these gaps.

Native Hope is proud to take part in Native Nonprofit Day, both in highlighting Native-led and Native-focused organizations and in raising funds to continue our mission of addressing injustices done to Native Americans through storytelling and programs that inspire hope. 

Thank you for supporting Native Hope on Native Nonprofit Day. Click below to join our fundraising efforts and explore some of our favorite Native-led charitable organizations. 

Other Native-Led Nonprofit Organizations

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Native American Rights Fund (NARF)

The NARF has provided much-needed legal counseling and guidance to Native Americans and their families regarding land disputes, education, treaty rights, natural resource protection, and more. So many Natives go without adequate legal representation and have the odds stacked against them in any legal proceeding, so the NARF has made a significant impact since its inception in 1970.

Mission statement: The Native American Rights Fund holds governments accountable. We fight to protect Native American rights, resources, and lifeways through litigation, legal advocacy, and legal expertise.

https://narf.org/ 

Indigenous Women Rising

Native American women are abused, assaulted, and trafficked at a higher rate than any other ethnic group in the United States. What makes matters worse is that so few have access to emergency contraception and other essential women's health supplies. Indigenous Women Rising started in 2014 to bring attention to this fact and has since grown to be a powerful platform for Natives to share their stories and reclaim their identity, culture, tradition, and language.

Mission statement: Indigenous Women Rising is committed to honoring Native & Indigenous People’s inherent right to equitable and culturally safe health options through accessible health education, resources, and advocacy.

https://www.iwrising.org/ 

American Indian College Fund (AICF)

Few Native Americans get the opportunity to experience higher education, so the AICF tackled this challenge head-on with a fundraising mission to create scholarship opportunities for Indigenous students. Since its founding in 1989, the AICF has been the country's largest charity supporting Native student access to higher education. 

Mission statement: The American Indian College Fund invests in Native students and tribal college education to transform lives and communities.

Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition

Native Americans endured centuries of hardship at the expense of westward expansion, and US and Canadian boarding schools became centers of abuse, assimilation, and even death for Native children. The Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition is working to bring awareness to the history of these boarding schools and help tribes heal from this generational trauma.

Mission statement: To lead in the pursuit of understanding and addressing the ongoing trauma created by the U.S. Indian Boarding School policy.

https://boardingschoolhealing.org/ 

Illuminative

This incredible organization is working to achieve "accountability, justice, equity, reconciliation, and healing" for Native Americans. They work with Natives and non-Native allies to fight against injustice, give a voice to Native people, and build a brighter future for Native children.

Mission statement: Our mission is to build power for Native peoples by amplifying contemporary Native voices, stories, and issues to advance justice, equity, and self-determination. We utilize research, narrative, and culture change strategies, movement-building, and organizing to disrupt the invisibility of Native peoples, re-educate Americans, and mobilize public support for critical Native issues.

https://illuminative.org/ 

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)

The IAIA has become a top-tier academic institution that celebrates Native culture and provides Native students with an opportunity to be creative, pursue their passions, and have a platform to share their work. The projects students have created here are breathtaking, as the IAIA has become an important center for reclaiming Native heritage and cultural identity.

Mission statement: The mission of the Institute of American Indian Arts is “to empower creativity and leadership in Indigenous arts and cultures through higher education, lifelong learning, and community engagement.” This mission is more than a statement. It is the driving force behind all that we do and the guiding principle for our dedicated faculty and staff.

https://iaia.edu/  

National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center

The NIWRC is a grassroots organization that strives to support Native women and children with a special emphasis on tribal sovereignty. The preservation of culture, restoration of land rights, and the upholding of sacred customs are just a few of the many guiding lights that this amazing organization adheres to.

Mission statement: Our mission is to provide national leadership to end violence against American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women by supporting culturally grounded, grassroots advocacy.

https://www.niwrc.org/ 

National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA)

So many organizations focus on Native American children and the future. However, we also don't want to forget about Native elders and the incredible stories, culture, and history that they have lived through. The NICOA works to deliver health, social, and economic services to Native elders to let them know they are not forgotten and are valued members of our community.

Mission statement: To advocate for improved comprehensive health, social services, and economic well-being for American Indian and Alaska Native Elders. 

https://www.nicoa.org/ 

Native Forward Scholars Fund

NDN Collective

The NDN collective is dedicated to building Indigenous power through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building and narrative change. Their efforts are focused through the framework of Defend, Develop, and Decolonize so that they can help Native sovereignty and their inherent right to self-determination.

Mission statement: Build the collective power of Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations to exercise our inherent right to self-determination, while fostering a world that is built on a foundation of justice and equity for all people and the planet. 

Native Women’s Wilderness

So much of the history and culture of every Native American tribe is tied to the beauty of the natural world around them, and that idea is a core belief of Native Women's Wilderness. This organization helps Native women reconnect with the land, explore the outdoors, and celebrate their heritage as they honor the rich traditions of their ancestors.

Mission statement: Native Women’s Wilderness, to inspire and raise the voices of Native Women in the Outdoor Realm. To encourage a healthy lifestyle within the Wilderness. To provide education of the Ancestral Lands and its People.

https://www.nativewomenswilderness.org/ 

Cheyenne River Indian Youth Project

The Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota is home to thousands of Native Americans, and the Cheyenne River Indian Youth Project provides programs and funding to support their inhabitants. With a special focus on youth programs, this wonderful organization helps the community connect with their Native heritage, build essential life skills, and work toward a brighter future.

Mission statement: The Cheyenne River Youth Project is dedicated to giving our Lakota youth and families access to the culturally relevant, enriching, and enduring opportunities we need to build stronger, healthier communities and a more vibrant future together.

https://lakotayouth.org/ 

#Givenative on Native Nonprofit Day

Native-led organizations, like Native Hope, are well-positioned to help meet Native American needs. With strong ties and deep relationships with tribal leaders and community members, Native Hope receives requests for assistance and is able to respond generously to meet those needs because of supporters like you! 

We invite you to learn more about how we select projects, distribute aid, and join us in our efforts to bring hope and healing to Indian Country. Thank you for your support on Native Nonprofit Day and always!