Native Americans in Philanthropy

What Native Americans in Philanthropy does

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) is a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 at the Council of Foundations conference, headquartered in Washington, D.C. with 11-50 employees operating a fully remote team. Its mission is to promote equitable and effective philanthropy in Native communities by serving as the connective tissue between Tribal Nations, Native-led nonprofits, Native youth, philanthropic foundations, and federal partners.

The organization's core programmatic portfolio centers on collaborative grantmaking and capacity building: Native Voices Rising (a community-guided pooled fund with 19 contributors, established in 2013 with Common Counsel Foundation), Indigenous Tomorrows Fund (a youth-led grantmaking initiative co-funded by Newman's Own Foundation and Novo Nordisk at $720K pilot and $1.65M year two), and Native Youth Grantmakers (leadership program for ages 18-24). Supporting infrastructure includes the Investing in Native Communities portal (a data and resources platform co-developed with Candid, the first of its kind), a job board, research and data program, annual NAPCON conference, #GenIndigenous regional convenings, and working groups. Digital properties are built on standard nonprofit web infrastructure (HubSpot CMS) rather than proprietary technology.

Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic contributions and grants rather than fees for service. Major funding sources include a multi-million unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott (2021), foundation grants (Bush, Henry Luce, Northwest Area, Marguerite Casey, Robert Wood Johnson, Weingart), and corporate partners (Newman's Own Foundation, Novo Nordisk). Programs and services are delivered free of charge to Native communities, with a membership model engaging Tribal leaders and allies. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on convenings, working groups, content marketing, and a coalition of affinity partners (CHANGE Philanthropy, ABFE, AAPIP, EPIP) rather than conventional sales motion.

Name

Native Americans in Philanthropy

Legal name

Native Americans in Philanthropy

Website

https://nativephilanthropy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Native Americans in Philanthropy is a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that promotes equitable philanthropy in Native communities through collaborative grantmaking, youth leadership programs, and data infrastructure serving Tribal Nations, Native-led nonprofits, foundations, and Native youth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy & Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

Keywords

• Native philanthropy services
• Community grantmaking programs
• Tribal partnership initiatives
• Indigenous advocacy networks
• Nonprofit convening events

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Fundraising: NAP operates through a collaborative grantmaking model. They receive funding from foundations and donors and re-grant to Native-led organizations. The Native Voices Rising fund started with two contributors in 2013 and grew to 19 contributors by 2017. Funding sources include foundations like Bush Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and major donors like MacKenzie Scott.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) is a Native-led nonprofit membership organization that advances equitable and effective philanthropy in Native communities. It does this through collaborative grantmaking funds (Native Voices Rising, Indigenous Tomorrows Fund), youth leadership programs (Native Youth Grantmakers), Tribal Nation partnership programs, annual conferences, and the Investing in Native Communities data portal developed with Candid.

Product overview

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) operates as a membership-based organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services centered on Indigenous-led philanthropy. The core offerings include the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund (youth-led grantmaking), Native Youth Grantmakers (youth leadership program), Public Private Partnerships, and the Native Voices Rising collaborative grantmaking initiative. Supporting services include a Job Board, Resource Center, Research & Data program, Conferences, Events, Working Groups & Networks, and the NAP Journal newsletter. The organization also partners with Candid to deliver the Investing in Native Communities digital portal, which provides funding data and resources for the philanthropic sector. NAP's programs work together to advocate for increased philanthropic investment in Native communities and transform the sector's relationship with Indigenous communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indigenous Tomorrows Fund: A youth-led grantmaking initiative that gives decision-making power to Native youth who understand the needs, challenges, and opportunities in their communities.
• Native Youth Grantmakers
• Native Voices Rising

Products and services

• Indigenous Tomorrows Fund A youth-led grantmaking initiative that gives Indigenous youth decision-making power to select projects related to food sovereignty and health, providing grants to youth-led initiatives addressing community wellbeing.
• Native Youth Grantmakers

Quantifiable outcome

• Native Voices Rising has awarded nearly $650,000 to over 45 grassroots Native organizations since 2013
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• River NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2024Partnership to support community-led forestry projects benefiting Native communities.
• National Conference of State Legislatures (NCEL)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2024Launched partnership to foster relationships between states and tribes for environmental issues.
• Native Hawaiian PhilanthropycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2023Partner in Power in Solidarity convenings, including 2025 Funder Tour in Hawaii.
• Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2023Partner in Power in Solidarity convenings and co-founded together at the 1989 Council of Foundations conference.
• Candid (formerly Foundation Center and GuideStar)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2019Launched first-of-its-kind Investing in Native Communities portal providing free access to funding data, grants information, research, and resources for philanthropists supporting Native communities.
• Taboo (Black Eyed Peas)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 June 2018Featured at 2018 National Philanthropy Institute, led youth-focused Generation Indigenous panel and musical performance. Shoshone artist amplifying Native voices.
• SpotifysupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 January 2018Collaborated with Taboo (Black Eyed Peas), The California Endowment, and NAP to create Spotify's first-ever playlist of Native American musicians - 'Invisible No More' with 30 songs.
• Baobab StudiossupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in #GenIndigenous Youth Fellowship creating yearlong VR fellowship opportunity for Native youth.
• Longhouse MediasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner facilitating #GenIndigenous Youth Fellowship program for Native youth in virtual reality.
• CHANGE PhilanthropycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2017Affinity partnership including ABFE, AAPIP, EPIP, Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Hispanics in Philanthropy, and Women's Funding Network. NAP represented Indigenous voices at 2017 UNITY Summit with 750+ attendees.
• Potlatch FundsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2017Convening partner for Northwest #GenIndigenous Regional Convening in Seattle.
• Philanthropy NorthwestsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2017Convening partner for Northwest #GenIndigenous Regional Convening providing regional philanthropy perspective.
• Seattle FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2017Convening partner and host for Northwest #GenIndigenous Regional Convening providing community foundation perspective.
• Indigenous Women Rise CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2017Partnership including NAP, Advance Native Political Leadership, Native Voice Network, National Indian Women's Resource Center, and others advocating for Indigenous women's rights through the Women's March.
• National Indigenous Women's Resource CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2017Received beneficiary funding from Indigenous Women Rise collective through Women's March book proceeds to address domestic violence and safety for Indigenous Women.
• Common Counsel FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Co-founded Native Voices Rising collaborative fund in 2013, providing community-guided grantmaking for Native-led organizations. Manages pooled fund with 19 contributors by 2017.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP): Co-founded alongside NAP at the 1989 Council of Foundations conference. Operates the same affinity-philanthropy model (membership, convenings, pooled funds) for AAPI communities; ongoing Power in Solidarity partner.
• Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE): Identity-focused philanthropic professional association for Black philanthropy leaders; member of the CHANGE Philanthropy coalition with NAP. Directly comparable as a racial-equity affinity funder network offering convenings, leadership programs, and pooled funds.
• Hispanics in Philanthropy: Identity-focused funder network for Latino communities operating pooled funds, policy advocacy, and leadership programs. Same CHANGE Philanthropy coalition and same federated-giving model as NAP.
• Funders for LGBTQ Issues: Affinity philanthropy network serving LGBTQ communities through pooled funds, research, and advocacy. Direct peer in the CHANGE Philanthropy coalition with comparable mission and operating model.
• Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP): National network of early- and mid-career philanthropic professionals. Coalition partner in CHANGE Philanthropy and offers overlapping programming (membership, working groups, convenings) for the same funder-adjacent audience as NAP.

Emerging players

• First Nations Development Institute: Native-led nonprofit focused on strengthening Native economies through grantmaking and capacity building for Native nonprofits and tribes. Adjacent mission (Native-led grantmaking) with overlapping grantee populations.
• Potlatch Fund: Native-led community foundation serving the Pacific Northwest that pools and regrants to Native-led organizations. Strategic convening partner for NAP's #GenIndigenous regional events and a co-grantee in Native funding ecosystems.
• Native Ways Federation: Network of Native-led foundations and Native-focused programs operating pooled funds and capacity-building for Native communities. Direct overlap in funder-collaboration model and grantee base.
• Decolonizing Wealth Project: Founded by NAP Board Chair Edgar Villanueva to reform philanthropic capital deployment toward Indigenous and BIPOC communities. Shares leadership and overlapping mission on Indigenous-led philanthropy reform.

Broad incumbents

• National Indian Education Association (NIEA): The largest Native-led education advocacy organization in the U.S. Operates an adjacent policy/advocacy model and serves overlapping tribal and Native nonprofit audiences, though its core mission is K-12/tribal education rather than philanthropy infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nativegiving
• YouTubeyoutube.com/NativeGiving
• Facebookfacebook.com/NativeAmericansPhilanthropy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nativegiving
• Instagraminstagram.com/nativegiving

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Native Americans in Philanthropy