Tribal Link Foundation

What Tribal Link Foundation does

Tribal Link Foundation, Inc. is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1993 by Pamela Kraft following the Kari-Oca Indigenous Conference preceding the Rio Earth Summit. The foundation builds pathways for Indigenous Peoples to engage with the United Nations system, protect ancestral ways of life, and develop economic opportunities. Its core offerings include Project Access Online (a self-paced UN advocacy training course hosted on UNDP's Learning for Nature platform), the Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program, Private Sector Engagement consultation services, the Inclusive Conservation Academy (co-created with WWF), and the Indigenous Voices interview series. The organization also maintains the Pamela Kraft Memorial Fund and operates the 'Supporting the Amazon' community action program.

The organization runs event-driven, community-led programs delivered through in-person training sessions prior to UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues meetings, virtual dialogues, and co-organized events at academic and cultural venues. Distribution relies on direct engagement, the UNDP Learning for Nature platform for digital training, and event co-organization with partners such as Global Canopy, WWF, and the Natural Resources Stewardship Circle of the cosmetics and aromatics industry. The website and email newsletter serve as the primary communications infrastructure alongside active social media channels.

The revenue model is donation-based, accepting tax-deductible contributions from individuals, foundations, and organizations via credit card, PayPal, and mail-in checks, supplemented by program services revenue from capacity building and consultation engagements with conservation organizations and private sector entities. All core programs are delivered free of charge to Indigenous community participants. There are no disclosed financial figures, headcount data, or pricing tiers in the available material. Roberto Mákaro Borrero (Taíno) currently serves as Interim Director following founder Pamela Kraft's death in March 2021.

Name

Tribal Link Foundation

Legal name

Tribal Link Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://triballink.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tribal Link Foundation is a New York-based 501(c)(3) non-profit, founded in 1993, that trains Indigenous leaders in UN advocacy and facilitates private sector and conservation engagement with Indigenous communities worldwide through events, online courses, and partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Rights Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Indigenous/Tribal Education Authorities & Boards (EDADABAM)

Keywords

• Indigenous rights advocacy
• Capacity building training
• Non-profit consulting
• UN advocacy programs
• Inclusive conservation education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tribal Link Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization relying on tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations. The foundation accepts donations via credit card, PayPal, and mail-in checks.
2. Program Services and Training: Revenue generated through capacity building programs, training workshops, and consultation services for Indigenous Peoples, conservation organizations, and private sector entities engaged in inclusive conservation initiatives.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tribal Link Foundation delivers capacity-building training, UN advocacy education, and consultation services for Indigenous Peoples, conservation organizations, and private sector companies. Its programs include the self-paced Project Access Online UN advocacy course hosted on UNDP's Learning for Nature platform, the Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program, the Inclusive Conservation Academy, the Indigenous Voices interview series, and the Pamela Kraft Memorial Fund. These offerings are designed to expand Indigenous communities' capacity to engage international policy processes and develop ethical frameworks for cross-sector collaboration.

Product overview

Tribal Link Foundation is a non-profit organization (501(c)(3)) that operates multiple interconnected programs focused on Indigenous Peoples' empowerment and advocacy. The core offerings include Project Access Online (a self-paced UN advocacy training course developed with UNDP), the Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program, Private Sector Engagement services, the Inclusive Conservation Academy, and Indigenous Voices interview series. The organization also maintains the Pamela Kraft Memorial Fund. These programs work together to build pathways for Indigenous Peoples to protect ancestral ways of life, engage with the UN system, and develop economic opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Access Online A self-paced online course that trains Indigenous leaders to advocate effectively at the United Nations, hosted on UNDP's Learning for Nature platform. Draws from the in-person Project Access Training Workshop that has been training Indigenous leaders for over 15 years.
• Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program Program working with Indigenous Peoples to develop livelihood strategies including entrepreneurial ideas and projects, capacity building, training, and market support. Also assists the private sector in ethically engaging Indigenous communities.
• Private Sector Engagement Consultation services helping private sector companies engage ethically with Indigenous communities, including guidelines for respecting Indigenous rights, Free Prior Informed Consent, traditional knowledge, and Access and Benefit Sharing.
• Inclusive Conservation Academy An initiative co-created with IPLC leaders to build capacity in inclusive conservation amongst Indigenous Peoples, local communities, conservation NGOs, government, donors, academia, and private sector. Features case studies and interactive dialogues.
• Indigenous Voices A series of interviews with Indigenous leaders designed to share stories of their communities, cultures, and issues with a wider audience. Has featured leaders including Chief Tashka Yawanawa and Chief Arvol Looking Horse.
• Pamela Kraft Memorial Fund A fund dedicated to documenting and sharing histories, stories, traditions, challenges, and contributions of Indigenous communities, with special emphasis on Project Access participants. Supports ongoing efforts in service of the world's Indigenous Peoples.
• Education, Leadership and Rights Training Capacity building programs supporting Indigenous Peoples' engagement with the United Nations system, including Project Access workshops conducted annually since 1993.
• Supporting the Amazon Community action program supporting Indigenous communities in the Amazon, including emergency relief efforts such as flood relief for the Yawanawa Peoples and water access initiatives in partnership with Água Camelo.

Quantifiable outcome

• Project Access training has been conducted annually for over 15 years, training hundreds of Indigenous leaders
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and secondary.

• United Nations System (UNPFII, UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Tribal Link has worked within the UN system since its founding in 1993. Active partnerships include participation in the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UNDP's Equator Initiative, Natural Resources Stewardship Circle Partnership, and Indigenous Business & Biodiversity Guidelines. The foundation serves as Vice-Chair of the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on the Inclusive Conservation Academy initiative, co-creating capacity building programs for Indigenous Peoples and local communities in inclusive conservation. Leading global consultations involving WWF and IPLC organizations.
• Global CanopykeyGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborated with Global Canopy to co-organize the 'Ancestral Futures: Water, Wealth and Wisdom in a World on Fire' two-day series of public and private events in Oxford and London featuring Amazonian Indigenous leaders.
• Natural Resources Stewardship Circle (NRSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with the NRSC of the Cosmetics, Aromatics and Perfume industry since 2009 on ways the industry can respect Indigenous Peoples' rights. Tribal Link brought together company executives and Indigenous leaders to draft guidelines for trade relationships.
• UNDP Learning for NaturekeyTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to host the 'Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations: Project Access Online' self-paced course on the Learning for Nature platform, enabling global access to UN advocacy training.
• Convention on Biological DiversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Indigenous Business & Biodiversity Guidelines and ongoing initiatives related to traditional knowledge protection and Access and Benefit Sharing.
• Água CamelosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise partnership supporting access to safe and affordable drinking water for the Yawanawa Peoples in the Amazon, featured at UN Water Conference.
• Antonio Nobre (Scientist)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned Brazilian scientist with pioneering research on Amazon's 'flying rivers' participating in Ancestral Futures events, connecting science with Indigenous ecological knowledge.
• Nia TerosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in events addressing rights violations and violence against isolated Indigenous Peoples in Brazil, including UN-side event co-sponsorship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cultural Survival: Cultural Survival is a nonprofit that advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights and supports community-led development globally — directly comparable in mission, advocacy focus, and UN-system engagement to Tribal Link Foundation.
• First Peoples Worldwide: First Peoples Worldwide supports Indigenous economic development and rights, including corporate engagement standards and capacity building — directly comparable to Tribal Link's private-sector engagement and Indigenous Entrepreneurship programs.
• Survival International: Survival International is a global movement for Indigenous Peoples' rights, running campaigns, public education, and advocacy — directly comparable to Tribal Link as an Indigenous rights advocacy organization with global reach.
• Nia Tero: Nia Tero is a global philanthropic organization supporting Indigenous-led conservation, with strong UN and global media presence — directly comparable to Tribal Link in mission overlap and an active partnership counterparty.
• Forest Peoples Programme: Forest Peoples Programme supports Indigenous Peoples' rights to forest lands and resources through policy advocacy, capacity building, and partnerships with international bodies — a close functional peer of Tribal Link in UN-advocacy and rights training.
• International Indian Treaty Council: International Indian Treaty Council is an Indigenous organization with UN consultative status that advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights at the UN and OAS — directly comparable, and notably also a former employer of Tribal Link's Interim Director.
• Global Canopy: Global Canopy is a think tank focused on deforestation and natural capital with a focus on Indigenous Peoples' land rights — directly comparable as an advocacy and convening partner (co-organizer of Ancestral Futures events).

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International: Conservation International is a large global conservation NGO working on Indigenous-led conservation and inclusive conservation policy — a broad incumbent in overlapping thematic territory with Tribal Link's Inclusive Conservation Academy.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): WWF is a leading global conservation organization with deep Indigenous engagement programs and a Core partnership counterparty to Tribal Link — a broad incumbent in conservation that overlaps substantively on inclusive conservation capacity building.

Emerging players

• Indigenous Peoples Rights International: Indigenous Peoples Rights International focuses on protecting Indigenous human rights defenders and lands — an emerging peer with overlapping UN-advocacy work and a comparable Indigenous-led programmatic frame.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/UN4Indigenous
• Facebookfacebook.com/VozDosPovos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=indigenouspeoples&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6828324164126941184

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Tribal Link Foundation