Utah Dine Bikeyah

What Utah Dine Bikeyah does

Utah Diné Bikéyah (UDB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in Bluff, Utah (PO Box 315, Salt Lake City mailing references also appear). The organization's name, pronounced di-NAY bi-KAY-yuh, translates from Navajo to mean "the human relationship between the sole of your foot and the earth," and its stated mission is to preserve and protect the cultural and natural resources of ancestral Native American lands for the benefit and healing of people and the Earth. UDB leads the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition with five sovereign tribal nations — Hopi, Navajo (Diné), Zuni, Ute Mountain Ute, and Uintah Ouray Ute — and was the architect of the first tribally-led national monument proposal in U.S. history, culminating in the designation of Bears Ears National Monument on December 28, 2016, its reduction in 2017, and its restoration in 2021.

UDB operates through a portfolio of community programs rather than a commercial product stack. Core offerings include the annual Bears Ears Summer Gathering (multi-day cultural camp-out), the Traditional Foods Program featuring the Four Corners Potato (Solanum Jamesii) reintroduction in partnership with Red Butte Garden and the Natural History Museum of Utah, free monthly Bears Ears Tours, mandatory Cultural Sensitivity Training, the COVID-era Seeds and Sheep food sovereignty initiative with I-Collective, and an e-newsletter plus reference-materials repository. The underlying methodology is traditional Indigenous knowledge integrated with community organizing; no proprietary technology platforms, APIs, or software products are disclosed.

UDB's business model is donation-based rather than revenue-generating. Revenue streams comprise small-dollar individual donations (one-time and monthly, $10 minimum), merchandise sales (Protect Bears Ears T-shirts at a $20 donation minimum, with translations in Hopi, Ute, Zuni, and Navajo), and grant funding consistent with 501(c)(3) status. All programs are free to participants, and pricing is not disclosed for merchandise shipping or training beyond the minimum donation. GTM motion is community-led and event-driven: grassroots organizing, an annual Summer Gathering, an active social media presence (Twitter @UtahDineBikeyah, Instagram @ProtectBearsEars), a bi-weekly e-newsletter, blog content, volunteer mobilization, and earned media including statements to the UN. Customer segments are five primary tribal-nation partners in the Inter-Tribal Coalition, broader Indigenous communities across the Four Corners, and a long tail of individual donors and public supporters; Tribal Food Producers (Indigenous farmers and food activists) constitute an emerging secondary segment.

Name

Utah Dine Bikeyah

Legal name

Utah Diné Bikéyah

Website

https://utahdinebikeyah.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Utah Diné Bikéyah is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 that leads the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition of five sovereign tribal nations to protect ancestral Native American lands in southeastern Utah, delivering community programs in cultural preservation, food sovereignty, and Indigenous-led advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Land Conservation

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

Keywords

• Indigenous land conservation
• Cultural preservation services
• Nonprofit advocacy
• Food sovereignty programs
• Tribal coalition organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters. Minimum donation of $10. Funds used to support Bears Ears protection and strengthen Native communities, cultures, and collaboration across Tribes.
2. Merchandise Sales: T-shirt sales priced at $20 minimum donation. Unisex 100% cotton 'Protect Bears Ears' T-shirts with translations in Hopi, Ute, Zuni, and Navajo. Includes Inter-tribal medallion design.
3. Grant Funding: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, likely receives grant funding from foundations and government programs for conservation, cultural preservation, and community development initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Utah Diné Bikéyah is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that protects ancestral Native American lands and cultural resources in southeastern Utah, primarily through the Bears Ears National Monument initiative. It delivers free community programs including the annual Bears Ears Summer Gathering, Traditional Foods Program, Cultural Sensitivity Training, Seeds and Sheep Program, and free guided Bears Ears Tours, while also arranging cultural sensitivity and advocacy services. Revenue is generated through individual donations, merchandise sales, and grants to support its Indigenous-led conservation work.

Product overview

Utah Diné Bikéyah is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering community programs and advocacy services rather than a commercial product portfolio. Its offerings include the Bears Ears Summer Gathering (annual cultural camp-out), Traditional Foods Program (food heritage revitalization including Four Corners Potato reintroduction), Cultural Sensitivity Training, free Bears Ears Tours, Seeds and Sheep Program (food justice initiative), Protect Bears Ears merchandise (T-shirts), e-newsletter subscriptions, and reference materials. These programs collectively support Indigenous communities and protect culturally significant ancestral lands in the Bears Ears region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bears Ears Summer Gathering Annual multi-day cultural camp-out celebrating Indigenous cultures of the Bears Ears region, featuring Pueblo, Diné, Ute and other Inter-Tribal cultural activities, Indigenous foods, dance, ceremony, and healing. Offered free to participants through community-based delivery.
• Traditional Foods Program Program focused on revitalizing Indigenous food heritage by strengthening traditional food cultures and promoting Indigenous food preservation among Tribes living adjacent to the Bears Ears National Monument, including the Four Corners Potato (Solanum Jamesii) reintroduction initiative.
• Cultural Sensitivity Training Cultural sensitivity trainings provided to anyone interested in Indigenous storytelling or cultural awareness, offered as a mandatory requirement when working alongside the organization.
• Bears Ears Tours Free monthly guided tours across Bears Ears National Monument, encompassing historical facts about the area and the community it serves.
• Seeds and Sheep Program Food justice initiative providing drought-resilient seeds and supporting livestock restoration to help Indigenous communities address COVID-19, climate crisis, and food system oppression through cultural solutions.
• Protect Bears Ears Merchandise 100% cotton Protect Bears Ears T-shirts featuring the Inter-tribal medallion with translations in Hopi, Ute, Zuni, and Navajo, available for $20 donation. Sizes from Kids Small to Adult 4X-Large.
• E-Newsletter Free bi-weekly email updates providing information about Bears Ears National Monument and the organization's initiatives.
• Reference Materials Official documents and reference materials for Bears Ears National Monument including land planning documents, maps, research reports, and proposals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bears Ears National Monument designated December 28, 2016 - first tribally-led national monument in U.S. history
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Red Butte GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer Agricultural Extension Service for growing and revitalizing the Four Corners Potato (Solanum Jamesii) on Indigenous lands. Draws upon farmers' expertise and facilities to expand production.
• Natural History Museum of UtahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with UDB and Red Butte Garden on the Four Corners Potato reintroduction program, providing research and preservation support.
• SLC Air ProtectorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that supported the Youth Prayer Run (350-mile run from Bears Ears to Salt Lake City). Provided running gear, safety support, and miles during the five-day event.
• Bears Ears Inter-Tribal CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of five sovereign tribal nations (Hopi, Navajo, Zuni, Ute Mountain Ute, Uintah Ouray Ute) that developed the Bears Ears proposal and works jointly on monument protection and management.
• I-CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous food activists (Karlos Baca, Josh Nez, Frankie Peralto, Dinéh Tohe) who prepare pre-contact dishes and bring Indigenous food knowledge to UDB's Traditional Foods Program and Indigenous Healing Kitchen.
• Rural Community Assistance CorporationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConducted entrepreneurial training program for Native business startups and business owners, with focus on Native arts and crafts businesses.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Grand Canyon Trust: Indigenous-supported conservation organization operating across the Colorado Plateau, including the Four Corners region where UDB works. Both organizations blend cultural preservation with landscape-scale conservation advocacy.
• Cultural Survival: Indigenous rights organization focused on cultural preservation, traditional knowledge protection, and supporting Indigenous community self-determination. Closely aligned with UDB's cultural heritage mission beyond a single landscape.
• Indigenous Environmental Network: National Indigenous-led environmental and climate justice organization. Operates with similar grassroots organizing, coalition-building, and tribal nation engagement model as Utah Dine Bikeyah.
• Great Old Broads for Wilderness: Grassroots wilderness advocacy organization with a stewardship trip model similar to UDB's Summer Gathering. Both blend community engagement with public lands protection.
• National Parks Conservation Association: National advocacy organization working to protect and enhance the U.S. National Park System. Bears Ears National Monument advocacy directly aligns with NPCA's core mission of safeguarding national parks.
• Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance: Salt Lake City-based grassroots advocacy organization protecting Utah's redrock wilderness. Shares the public lands protection mission, multi-channel advocacy model, and community organizing approach used by Utah Dine Bikeyah.
• Center for Biological Diversity: Aggressive nonprofit using public campaigns, litigation, and grassroots organizing to protect endangered species and wild places. Overlaps with UDB in legal advocacy and public mobilization around public lands.
• Friends of Cedar Mesa: Southeastern Utah nonprofit focused specifically on protecting the Bears Ears cultural landscape from looting, development, and resource extraction. Most direct geographic and mission overlap with Utah Dine Bikeyah, advocating for the same monument region.

Others

• National Congress of American Indians: Oldest and largest national organization representing tribal governments and Indigenous peoples. Provided UDB with formal support from 270 tribal nations for the Bears Ears proposal, indicating direct operational alignment.

Broad incumbents

• Conservation Lands Foundation: National foundation that awarded UDB its 2013 Conservation Leadership Award and supports multiple grassroots public lands organizations. Functions as an umbrella funder and capacity-builder for the same advocacy ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UtahDineBikeyah
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCin4kyRVPjBjl8hKXwJQxwg
• Facebookfacebook.com/utahdinebikeyah
• Instagraminstagram.com/protectbearsears
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utah-dine-bikeyah

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Utah Dine Bikeyah