"Tribes need to be in a leadership role in this work and philanthropy has a major role to play to ensure their success."
Erik R Stegman
Chief Executive Officer
The Land, Water, and People
As the first caretakers of the land in these United States, Indigenous peoples have a special connection to the land, water, and many species that share their world. The Earth is a part of their culture, creation stories, and ways of life. Indigenous peoples have been stewards of the environment since time immemorial, preserving the land, water, and species that have sustained their communities for generations. They have long learned the delicate balance of sustainable practices while living in harmony with the environment. Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) recognizes the importance of this relationship and supports Native-led climate and conservation work.
Tribal Conservation Pledge & Funding Collaborative
Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) has launched a Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge & Funding Collaborative (the Collaborative) that calls on the philanthropic sector to make significant investments in biodiversity and conservation projects led by Tribal Nations. With support from Biodiversity Funders Group (BFG) and The Christensen Fund, the Collaborative provides a forum to strategize, share knowledge and educational resources, and participate in a funding mechanism to quickly move capital to Tribal Nations.
About The Pledge
The Pledge provides a way for funders to support the conservation work of Tribal Nations and participate in the Collaborative through their charitable giving while doing so within the guidelines of their respective institutions. The Pledge calls on funders to commit to a self-determined amount of funding, or a self-determined percentage of annual programmatic funding, to support the biodiversity and conservation efforts of Tribes, inter-Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia.
About The Fund
NAP created the Tribal Nations Conservation Fund as a collaborative fund, with seed money from the Christensen Fund, to accept contributions raised through the Collaborative and deploy those funds quickly and efficiently to support biodiversity and conservation projects led by Tribal Nations. A Tribal Leader Advisory Committee comprised of Tribal leadership and staff, and leadership and staff from inter-Tribal organizations, helps oversee the Fund and makes recommendations on distributions from the Fund to make effective and equitable investments in Tribal Nations across the country. Distributions from the Fund may take the form of general operating grants, capacity-building grants, technical assistance, or other support. A portion of the Fund is used to provide the matching fund requirement on behalf of Tribes for certain
federal funding opportunities as identified by NAP.
About Learning Circle
Funders who participate in the Collaborative through the Fund or a Pledge have the opportunity to participate in a Tribal Conservation Learning Circle as a complement to their financial commitments. The Learning Circle is led by BFG in collaboration with NAP and the Christensen Fund. With leadership from the most influential environment and conservation funders around the country, BFG’s mission is to support and grow a community of biodiversity grantmakers pursuing complementary and collaborative strategies. BFG works closely with NAP to convene a learning series focused on engaging Tribal and philanthropic leaders around emerging issues and opportunities.
How To Get Involved
Philanthropic institutions can join this effort in one of two ways:
Take the Pledge
Funders can commit to the Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge by designating a self-determined amount of funding, or a percentage of programmatic spending, for Tribally led conservation efforts through grants of their own.
Donate to the Fund.
Funders can make a meaningful, monetary contribution to the Tribal Nations Conservation Fund.
For more information please contact Greg Masten at gmasten@nativephilanthropy.org
