Established in 2013, Native Voices Rising is a grantmaking collaborative between Native Americans in Philanthropy and Common Counsel Foundation. NVR has granted a total of $9 million in general operating support to Native-led grassroots and advocacy efforts that empower American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities.
According to multiple studies, total philanthropic dollars dedicated to causes that benefit Native communities – let alone Native-led efforts – hovers in the range of 0.3-0.4% of all grantmaking by philanthropic institutions. Native Voices Rising seeks to remedy the historic and enduring underfunding of Native-led efforts by facilitating a process for non-Native donors and institutions to learn from and build relationships with Native grassroots leaders and support Native-led organizing and advocacy.
“We’re incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made together with Native Voices Rising over the last ten years. It’s how we live our values as Native people, working with our own community leaders across the country to lead our own grantmaking. The national network of Native-led organizations funded through this program also keep our organization accountable to our mission, and inspire our growing community of funders to advocate alongside us for more equitable philanthropy in Tribal communities.” – Erik Stegman (Carry the Kettle First Nation- Nakoda), CEO, Native Americans in Philanthropy
Native Voices Rising is one of the few participatory grantmaking initiatives in the country led by Native people. NVR places the decision-making in the hands of Native leaders and advocates. Through a community-based process, each organization funded through NVR has been reviewed and considered by a minimum of four Native community members.
“Native Voices Rising’s participatory grantmaking has been crucial in ensuring that Native voices are the ones dictating their own vision. For far too long, philanthropy has failed Native communities, and Native Voices Rising is one avenue to ensure that Native organizers and leaders are claiming the space to dream, innovate, and create change.” Peggy Saika, Executive Director, Common Counsel Foundation
To deepen its commitment to Native-led sustainability and trust-based philanthropy, NVR is awarding its inaugural batch of multi-year awards to 10 Native-led organizations that are deeply aligned with NVR’s theory of change. These three-year awards allow these nonprofits to plan for the future, develop sustainable infrastructure, and strengthen strategic goals and visions for their communities.
“When a three-year grant comes along, it relieves a tremendous burden. It allows us to spend our time and effort on programming and innovation. It says that the work we are doing is seen, received, and understood. It’s a tremendous gift on many levels, and we are profoundly grateful.” – Julie Garreau, Executive Director, Cheyenne River Youth Project
In addition to grant dollars, Native Voices Rising leads a capacity-building program, Supportive Assistance, focused on strengthening organizational capacity and offering grant partners the opportunity to connect with Native leaders. Facilitated by Native consultants, NVR grant partners are invited to share and dialogue on various topics, including organizational development, fundraising, communications, and financial management.
Native Voices Rising’s unique community-led and collaborative grantmaking approach engages funders and individual donors at all levels to directly invest in organizations led by Native people focusing on structural change. The process allows funders to support Native-led solutions and deepen community control within Native communities.
Interested donors are encouraged to learn about and contribute to the Native-led grantmaking by visiting NativeVoicesRising.org or emailing allistair@commoncounsel.org.
A complete list of 144 organizations funded by Native Voices Rising can be found at NativeVoicesRising.org. Please support and fund these outstanding and remarkable organizations.