ABOUT THE NATIVE-LED NONPROFIT LIST

Native-led organizations have the solutions to the issues that Native communities are facing. They know Native communities and their strengths and how best to help Native people. We are thrilled to host this resource highlighting Native-led organizations who are working across issue areas throughout Indian Country. We have shared answers to questions we have received or anticipate receiving about the list below.

View the List

How can my organization join the Native Nonprofit List?

Organizations Already on the List

If you want to update your profile, we can send you a link via email that pre-populate your previously submitted details so you do not have to re-enter this information. Please contact Burrell at bjones@nativeways.org to request.

Organizations that want to join the List

Submit your Native-led nonprofit here: https://nativeways.app.neoncrm.com/forms/nnl

Note: Submissions after 11/5/2024 will be reviewed after 12/3/24 and published after 12/17/24. Moving forward we anticipate publishing approximately 2 weeks after receiving a new submission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

About the Categories and Filters
What do the Focus Areas mean?
The focus areas describe the diverse work conducted by Native nonprofits. Because organizations often make an impact beyond their direct work or service, they are invited to select up to three areas that best describe their work’s primary focus. We have not provided strict definitions for these focus areas, so please feel free to browse areas that most resonate.

For example, an organization may be focused on serving Youth (Youth Development) by teaching video editing and graphic design (Media and Journalism), which in the long term provides job skills and prospects (Community and Economic Development).

What do the Geography & Community Served filters mean?
Geography & Community Served are where the nonprofit provides services or makes an impact. Organizations are invited to select as many as are relevant to their work. We have not provided strict definitions for these geographic and service areas; however, these may be understood as follows:

  • Reservation: Works with Native people on an American Indian Reservation
  • Off-Reservation: Works with Native people or communities not located on a reservation
  • Urban: Works with Native people or communities who live in a city or urban area
  • Tribal: Works with Native people who are citizens or descendants of a specific Tribe
  • Local: Works with Native people of a small geography, not necessarily bound by a reservation or specific Tribe
  • Regional: Works with Native people across a larger geography that could include multiple reservations, off-reservation areas, urban areas, counties, or states
  • National: Works with Native people and communities across most or all of the colonially imposed U.S.A. state borders
  • International: Works with Native or Indigenous people and communities across colonially imposed international borders
Tribes existed before the U.S.A. and state boundaries, why do you use states to filter by Location?
This filter can be used to find organizations based on their state geography. We acknowledge and honor Tribal sovereignty and recognize the conflict in using colonially imposed state geography to describe the location of Native and Tribal organizations and we hope to improve this element ongoing.

Due to current limitations of the directory, we have chosen to provide organization locations based on their state. Additionally, we hear from funders and donors who are seeking information about organizations within specific geographies, such as state or region, and this will help those groups to find organizations that meet their needs.

Why are certain States not listed in the filter dropdown for Location?
If a specific state is not listed, there are currently no organizations that submitted that state as their primary location or ‘headquarters’. This does not mean there are no organizations impacting Native communities in your State or community.

You may be able to find organizations working across states by using the Geography & Community Served to filter for “National” or “Regional” organizations.

What are 501c3s, 7871s, and fiscally sponsored organizations?
Nonprofits include a variety of categories that the IRS and U.S. government have determined are not paying out profits to shareholders or stakeholders, including but not limited to 501(c)3s, 501(c)4s, 501(c)5s, 7871s, and fiscally sponsored organizations. Not all nonprofits can receive tax-deductible donations. Learn more at the National Council of Nonprofits.

The #GiveNative List only includes organizations that can receive tax-deductible donations, including 501(c)3s, 7871 Tribal nonprofits, and fiscally sponsored organizations.

501(c)3s are organizations that apply for and qualify as public charities or private foundations under the Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) and are exempt from corporate income tax. Individuals or companies can provide tax-deductible, charitable contributions to organizations with 501(c)3 status.

7871s are Tribal Nonprofits. Section 7871 treats Indian Tribes like states for most federal tax purposes, including determining whether and in what amount a contribution to a Tribal government is deductible as a charitable contribution.

Fiscally Sponsored Organizations have not yet received or applied for 501(c)3 status from the IRS. They have a formal relationship with a 501(c)3 (their fiscal sponsor) who accepts tax-deductible contributions on behalf of the sponsored organization. The fiscal sponsor may also provide infrastructural and administrative support. It is common for the fiscal sponsor to charge an administrative fee for its services. Learn more at the National Council of Nonprofits.

Eligible Organizations
What organizations are eligible for the list?

We invite Native-led, U.S.-based, charitable nonprofits participating in to sign up for the list. Organizations must meet all four criteria, listed below, to qualify and must submit their information via the form by the deadlines.

Deadlines:

  • Currently, the list is open on a rolling basis for new applications and there is no deadline to submit new organizations. After submitting, it will take our team 2-4 weeks to review and publish.

Signup Form:

Criteria: To be recognized on the Native Nonprofit List, we require organizations to meet all four of the following criteria:

  1. Be Native-led. We define “Native-led” and “Native-controlled” as organizations with at least 51 percent of the Board of Directors and Leadership Team identifying as American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian.
  2. Demonstrate specific service to Native people and communities. Your organization has a mission, vision, strategic plan, or founding documents that express a commitment to serve Native Nations, communities, or people.
  3. Have U.S. nonprofit status (501c3, 7871, or fiscally sponsored). Be prepared to submit your organization’s or your fiscal sponsor’s EIN – Employment Identification Number. Or the 7871’s affiliated Tribe.
  4. Be in good standing with the IRS as a Tax Exempt Organization. In other words, your organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. To verify this for a 501c3, you can look up your organization’s or fiscal sponsor’s EIN or name at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
Why is it important for Native-led organizations to join this list?

Native Ways Federation advocates that donors, foundations, and allies increase their support of Native-led organizations. By joining this list, Native-led nonprofits are participating in a collective campaign, highlighting the incredible range and power of Native-led solutions across the country. We hope this resource advances our goal of increasing direct support to Native-led organizations and reflects the strength and diversity of this network.

How do you define Native-led?

We define “Native-led” and “Native-controlled” as organizations with at least 51 percent of the Board of Directors and Leadership Team identifying as American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian.

Can Native nonprofits that fall under the 50 percent rule still participate?

Yes and No. Organizations who do not meet all four criteria for the list, including having at least 51 percent Native board and leadership team representation, are not eligible to be published.

However, all organizations can (and should!) participate in our giving campaigns (#GiveNative and Native Nonprofit Day) by uplifting and supporting Native-led organizations! Organizations can become part of this great network of Native-led nonprofits by increasing Native leadership opportunities at their organization.

Is citizenship or enrollment in a federally recognized Tribe required for board members or leadership team?
No, we asked participating organizations to share the number of board members and leadership team who identify as Native. We do not require proof of identity, descendance, citizenship, or enrollment in a state or federally recognized Tribe.
Are Indigenous or Native organizations outside of the U.S. eligible?

While we recognize that U.S. boundaries were not created by Indigenous communities, and are often in conflict with how we identify, at this time we are only including organizations located within the U.S. and registered under the IRS (501c3s or fiscally sponsored) or Federally Recognized Tribes (7871 Tribal Nonprofits).

Who do I contact if I have a question or concern about an organization on the list?

Please contact the organization directly if you have questions about their work or how to best support them.

If you have a question or concern about an organization’s inclusion on the list, please contact us at Native Ways Federation by emailing us at: info@nativeways.org

Deadlines
What is the final deadline to sign up?

There is currently no deadline to submit your organization, submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis year-round: https://nativeways.app.neoncrm.com/forms/nnl

 After submitting it will take our team 2-4 weeks to review and publish.

How often is this information updated?

Currently information is accurate at the time submitted.

Organizations may submit updates, additions, or corrections to their profile to info@nativeways.org.

Using and Supporting This List
Why should donors, foundations, or other philanthropic entities use this listing?
Native-led organizations have the solutions to the issues that Native communities are facing. Native-led nonprofits know Native communities and their strengths and how best to help Native people. There are Native-led organizations are working across issue areas throughout Indian Country – on reservations, off-reservations, and in urban areas.

But, Native-led nonprofits are systemically underfunded, receiving just 0.23 percent of large foundation giving. Native-serving nonprofits receive just 0.15 percent of community foundation giving and giving by individuals to Native-led nonprofits is unknown. The systemic funding inequities Native-led organizations face make it harder to implement Native-led solutions.

Investing in Native-led nonprofits is the best way to enhance positive change in Native communities.

Donors, foundations, philanthropic entities, and more can use this list to find, connect with, and uplift Native nonprofits working throughout the U.S. to make an impact in addressing this inequity.

Learn more about what donors, foundations, and philanthropy need to know to better support Native-led nonprofits.

How are organizations reviewed?
Native Ways Federation staff review organizations submissions, based on self-reported details, to ensure they meet all four criteria:

  1. Be Native-led. We define “Native-led” and “Native-controlled” as organizations with at least 51 percent of the Board of Directors and Leadership Team identifying as American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian.
  2. Demonstrate specific service to Native people and communities. The organization has a mission, vision, strategic plan, or founding documents that express a commitment to serve Native Nations, communities, or people.
  3. Have U.S. nonprofit status (501c3, 7871, or fiscally sponsored). Using the organization’s or their fiscal sponsor’s provided EIN – Employment Identification Number, we search the IRS Exempt Organization Search. 7871 Tribal Nonprofits must submit the affiliated federally recognized tribe.
  4. Be in good standing with the IRS as a Tax Exempt Organization. In other words, the organization or fiscal sponsor is eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. To verify this for a 501c3, we use the IRS Exempt Organization Search to find Publication 78 Data for potential revocation status. We also use the Exempt Organization Business Master File Extract if there was a revocation listed to verify the most up to date status.
I want to donate, but how do I know these organizations are tax-deductible, fiscally responsible, legally sound, etc.?

Native Ways Federation used the organization’s or their Fiscal Sponsor’s EIN (Tax Identification Number) to search the IRS website and additional online resources to confirm the organizations were verified nonprofits and eligible for tax deductible donations at the time of our review. Some organizations were confirmed in October/November 2023 or April/May 2024. We will reconfirm all nonprofit’s status in October/November 2024.

Native Ways Federation did not review additional financial, legal, watchdog, evaluation, or accountability reporting resources.  Donors and supporters are responsible for due diligence if they are concerned about how their donations are being used.

If I donate to Native Ways Federation, will my donation go to nonprofits on the list?
No, Native Ways Federation does not accept or distribute donations on behalf of the organizations featured on the list or our founding organizations. If you would like to donate to an organization, use their donation link or contact them directly.

If you would like to donate to Native Ways Federation and support our work, including Native Nonprofit Day and #GiveNative, you can submit a donation online (click here) or mail a check to:

Native Ways Federation
101 5th St E, Suite 2400
St. Paul, MN 55101-1800

Can we advertise this listing?

Yes! All are welcome and encouraged to advertise and share the Native Nonprofit Listing. Please include a link to the listing and credit to Native Ways Federation.

I have a question that wasn’t answered!
Feel welcome to reach out at info@nativeways.org

We’re happy to help in any way we can!