FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Shash Yazhi Moreno Charley
Native Voices Rising
shashyazhi@commoncounsel.org
November 14, 2024 – Native Voices Rising (NVR) announces today $4 million in grants awarded to 145 Indigenous and Native-led advocacy and organizing groups. Within this round of awards, NVR also awarded sixteen multi-year grants to organizations deeply aligned with NVR’s theory of change. This year’s grant awardees focus on an array of critical issues, including environmental and climate justice, water protection, food sovereignty, culture and language revitalization, women- and two-spirit-led activism, among others.
NVR aims to address the longstanding underfunding of Native-led efforts, which remains around 0.3-0.4% of all philanthropic grantmaking. NVR’s collaborative, community-led approach to grantmaking engages funders and individual donors at all levels to invest directly in Native-led organizations focused on systemic change. Through its participatory grantmaking process, NVR invites non-Native donors and institutions to learn from and build partnerships with Native grassroots leaders, supporting Native-led organizing and advocacy. This process not only supports Native-led solutions but also strengthens community control within Native communities.
“These Native-led organizations are creating transformative change for our communities through culturally grounded, community-driven approaches. The Native Voices Rising grants represent a vital shift in philanthropy—one where Native people set priorities, shape funding, and recognize the leadership of their peers,” says Erik Stegman (Carry the Kettle First Nation- Nakoda), CEO, Native Americans in Philanthropy. “This commitment strengthens our collective impact and centers Native voices in every decision.”
In addition to grant support, Native Voices Rising offers a capacity-building program called Supportive Assistance, which focuses on strengthening organizational capacity and connecting grant partners with skilled Native consultants. Facilitated by Native practitioners, this program invites NVR partners to discuss topics such as organizational development, fundraising, communications, and financial management.
“Native-led efforts remain central to today’s social movements, and Native Voices Rising continues to build the foundation needed to amplify Native voices and solutions,” says Sangeeta Chowdry, Executive Director, Common Counsel Foundation. “Looking to the future, NVR is also expanding its philanthropic advocacy efforts to further support Native-led initiatives.”
As one of the few participatory grantmaking initiatives in the country led by Native people, NVR empowers Native communities by placing decision-making directly in their hands. Through a community-led process, applicant organizations are reviewed by eight regional committees composed of Native community members and leaders.
“The strength of Native Voices Rising lies in its commitment to honoring Indigenous self-determination,” says Shash Yazhi Moreno Charley (Diné), Grants Manager, Native Voices Rising. “By centering Native leadership and vision, we’re not only shifting resources but reinforcing the power of Native communities to lead on their own terms. It’s inspiring to witness Native organizers shape solutions that directly respond to their community’s needs and aspirations.”
For a complete list of organizations funded by Native Voices Rising, please visit NativeVoicesRising.org and learn about these inspiring initiatives
About Native Americans in Philanthropy
Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) promotes equitable and effective philanthropy in Native communities. We have more than a 30-year presence in the field and work closely with our counterpart organizations advocating for Tribal communities. The cornerstone of our work is our relatives and our networks. We support several communities of stakeholders that work together to build knowledge, community, priorities, and power in the sector. These networks include Native professionals in philanthropy, elected Tribal leaders, Native youth leaders, Native philanthropic executives and board members, and Native nonprofit leaders.
About Common Counsel Foundation
Common Counsel Foundation has more than 35 years practicing progressive philanthropy, funding grassroots social movements and centering the leadership of communities that have historically been marginalized by intersecting systems of oppression. We partner with families and individual donors and are home to multi-funder collaborative initiatives, all with the goal to expand philanthropic resources for progressive social movements. In 2023, Common Counsel directed nearly $48 million in grants to community-led organizations.
About Native Voices Rising
Native Voices Rising was founded in 2013 as a collaborative grantmaking initiative between Native Americans in Philanthropy and Common Counsel Foundation. Since its inception, NVR has distributed a total of $16.5 million in flexible support to Native-led grassroots and advocacy efforts empowering American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities.
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Interested donors are encouraged to visit NativeVoicesRising.org or email Shash Yazhi Moreno Charley at shashyazhi@commoncounsel.org.
