Native Ways Federation Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO ACTIVATE AND EXPAND INFORMED GIVING TO NATIVE-LED 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.OUR FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS BEGAN MEETING IN 2006 AND OFFICIALLY INCORPORATED OUR ORGANIZATION WITH THE NAVAJO NATION IN 2008 WITH A FOCUS ON PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, ISSUES AND ORGANIZATIONS TOWARD MORE EQUITABLE PHILANTHROPY.OUR FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS WORK ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND HAVE A BOARD IN WHICH A MAJORITY OF DIRECTORS ARE NATIVE AMERICAN, ALASKA NATIVE, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, OR PACIFIC ISLANDER.

IN 2023, NWF EDUCATED AND ADVISED FOUNDATIONS AND PHILANTHROPY SERVING ORGANIZATIONS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES. NWF FOCUSED ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH NATIVE-LED AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NONPROFIT AND PHILANTHROPY SECTOR IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS MISSION. FOR EXAMPLE, NWF CONTINUED A FOCUS-GROUP INITIATIVE WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER A DIVERSE GROUP OF NATIVE NONPROFIT LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN FACILIATED DISCUSSION ON THE TOPIC OF DETERMINING THE NECESSARY ELEMENTS OF A THRIVING NATIVE NONPROFIT SECTOR. FOLLOWING AN IN-PERSON SESSION, THE REPORT TEAM BEGAN WRITING A REPORT TO SHARE OUT THE FINDINGS FROM THE DISCUSSIONS. (SEE SCHEDULE O.) NWF DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED TRAINING SERIES FOR PHILANTHROPY-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND INCREASE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN WORKING WITH, AND IN SUPPORT OF, NATIVE-LED NONPROFITS. THROUGH VARIOUS ADVISORY ROLES, NWF CONTINUED TO REPRESENT THE NATIVE NONPROFIT SECTOR IN POLICY, BEST PRACTICE AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE BROADER NONPROFIT AND PHILANTHROPY SECTOR. IN 2023, NWF CONTINUED TWO CHARITABLE GIVING CAMPAIGNS, NATIVE NONPROFIT DAY ON MAY 19TH 2023, AND #GIVENATIVE ON GIVING TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER. BOTH CAMPAIGNS FOCUSED ON EDUCATING PHILANTHROPY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE EXISTENCE AND IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE-LED ORGANIZATIONS AND CALLED FOR INCREASED SUPPORT FOR THE SECTOR.2023 PROVIDED NWF THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND UPON BUILDING THE INTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION. NWF HIRED A NEW TEAM MEMBER IN ITS NEW PROGRAMS ASSOCIATE ROLE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE FOCUS GROUPS, PHILANTHROPY TRAININGS, NONPROFIT WORKSHOPS, AND GIVING CAMPAIGNS. THE NEWLY PROMOTED OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS DIRECTOR CONTINUED TO SERVE A VITAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING NWF'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, STREAMLINING INTERNAL PROCESSES, DEVELOPING STRATEGY, AND EXPANDING PROGRAM INITIATIVES. THE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER CREATED THE CAMPAIGN TOOLS FOR THE GIVING DAYS INITAITIVES AND INCREASED THE ORGANIZATIONS SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AND PUBLIC VISIBILITY.