{"id":59904,"date":"2025-01-31T14:45:28","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T14:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ndncollective.org\/?p=59904"},"modified":"2025-05-29T17:49:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T17:49:50","slug":"ndn-collective-announces-for-the-people-campaign-philanthropists-urged-to-increase-funding-to-indigenous-orgs-immediately","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndncollective.org\/ndn-collective-announces-for-the-people-campaign-philanthropists-urged-to-increase-funding-to-indigenous-orgs-immediately\/","title":{"rendered":"NDN Collective Announces \u201cFor the People Campaign\u201d: Philanthropists Urged to Increase Funding to Indigenous Orgs Immediately","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rapid City, SD \u2013 <\/strong>Today, as a counter to massive budget cuts and security threats looming on the horizon, NDN Collective<\/a> announced \u201cFor the People Campaign\u201d \u2013 a philanthropic call<\/a> to move resources immediately from wealthy individuals and foundations directly to Tribal Nations and Indigenous people, organizations, and communities who are most vulnerable to the Trump administration\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the \u201cFor the People Campaign<\/a>,\u201d NDN Collective uplifts a specific ask to philanthropists \u2013 to immediately increase giving to Indigenous-led organizations and support NDN Collective\u2019s ability to resource their partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NDN Collective supports Indigenous communities, practitioners, and individuals year round through organizing, grantmaking and impact investing. They have 1,500 grantees across Turtle Island, and a vast network of people and organizations who will need robust mutual aid support, sponsorship, and resources to counter funding cuts, protect their communities, and resist increased militarization and climate destruction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization has a long and proven track record of critical resource redistribution. Mere weeks into the COVID-19 quarantine going into effect in 2020, NDN Collective launched a $10 million response project<\/a> to quickly provide grants, communication, and strategic support to Tribal Nations, front line Indigenous-led organizations, and individuals. The organization was called upon for this project five years ago because they had the infrastructure and capacity to distribute funds more swiftly and effectively than the federal government. <\/p>\n\n\n

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NDN Collective staff distribute school supplies, clothing, and backpacks at the annual back-to-school and backpack giveaway event in Rapid City. Photo by Angel White Eyes for NDN Collective.<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Just over a week into the Trump administration, NDN Collective is already seeing direct impacts on programming and people. Last year, the organization was selected as an outreach partner for the EPA\u2019s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program<\/a> \u2013 but already the National West grantmaker region was officially cut from federal funding, and the safety of the rest of the funding is in jeopardy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, because of directives for ICE to ramp up deportations, Native people are being stopped and detained \u2013 simply for the color of their skin. One immediate and critical need, which NDN Collective is already facilitating, is for Tribal governments to mobilize resources for people to get tribal IDs in order to better navigate these illegal and traumatizing detainments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Support the For the People Campaign Here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOver the past seven years, NDN Collective has moved an unprecedented amount of resources into Indian Country and across the North American continent known to us as Turtle Island. Our ties to our communities fortify us and guide us in all that we do in times of great challenge like our present moment. The continued work of peace and justice and the building of a true multi-racial democracy requires immediate support,\u201d  said Gaby Strong, NDN Collective Vice-President. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe freezing of federal funding is a threat that would choke Indian country\u2019s ability to run schools, hospitals, and businesses. We are seeing people forced to live in fear, cut from jobs, and impacting their ability to put food on the table. Now is not the time to sit idle, but act,\u201d  said Wizipan Little Elk Garriott, NDN Collective President. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Students and teacher at the Oceti Sakowin Community Academy– a culture-based school supported by NDN Collective. Photo by Angel White Eyes for NDN Collective. <\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cAt NDN Collective, we fight on and fund the frontlines \u2013 which is why we\u2019re best positioned to use the infrastructure we\u2019ve built to support those most vulnerable in these turbulent times. Indigenous Peoples have endured the test of time, political regimes, wars, and countless struggles \u2013 yet we are still here. This campaign will help our movement, communities, and Tribal  Nations navigate the challenges we find ourselves in today,\u201d said Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective Founder & CEO.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe teachings of Indigenous Peoples emphasize the importance of caring for one another \u2013 the FTP Campaign embodies the belief that WE take care of us. When fascist regimes choose to undermine our sovereignty and strip critical resources from our communities, we will do everything we can to take care of our people,\u201d said Korina Barry, Managing Director of NDN Action. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the threat this week of frozen federal resources doesn\u2019t get philanthropy to act more boldly, I honestly don\u2019t know what will. It\u2019s time for foundations to increase funding beyond the 5 percent required by the IRS and move resources to Indigenous led organizations and movements immediately. There is no more time to wait,\u201d said Liz Welch, Director of Advancement at NDN Collective. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Trump administration\u2019s intent on lifting climate protections and increasing mining and drilling is no secret\u2013 yet by sowing fear through unconstitutional executive orders that appear to instantly take away basic needs and violate rights, the administration is also fighting a narrative battle to make things like climate funding look unnecessary and wasteful to the public at large. We can\u2019t let Trump win that battle \u2013 climate funding is more critical than ever,\u201d said Davis Price, director of the Climate Justice Initiative at NDN Collective. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong>NDN Collective<\/em><\/a> is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power. Through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building, and narrative change, we are creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To Request an Interview Contact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

press@ndncollective.org<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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