Wisdom of the Elders
Wisdom of the Elders is a Portland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves Indigenous cultures by capturing Native elder knowledge through film, radio, and storytelling, and converting it into paid ecological-restoration workforce programs and free community services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Wisdom of the Elders does
Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (founded circa 2011, with predecessor activities dating to 1993) whose mission is to revitalize and sustain Indigenous cultures by capturing the knowledge of Native elders through film, radio, and story, and translating that knowledge into living practice through ecosystem restoration, traditional food and medicine renewal, and workforce development. The organization operates a multi-program portfolio rather than a single software product: the Indigenous Archive Initiative is digitizing over 100,000 hours of 30+ year-old analog recordings (8mm, reel-to-reel, VHS) in partnership with BAVC; the Native Wisdom Documentary Film Series, Wisdom Radio (Series 1-4), and Discovering Our Story TV (monthly Comcast channel 11 broadcast) distribute cultural and environmental content; the ITEK (Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge) Internship Program and Multimedia Internship Program (with Open Signal Community Media Center) provide paid training ($19/hr) to Native American adults and BIPOC individuals; and Wisdom Workforce Development LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary, hires graduates as Habitat Restoration Technicians ($21-$25/hr) on ecological restoration contracts. Revenue is sourced from foundation grants (National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Meyer Memorial Trust, Oregon Metro, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA, First Nations Development Institute, REI Cooperative Action Fund), individual donations via Donorbox and Willamette Week GiveGuide, workforce restoration contract revenue, and community fundraising. The organization serves Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and broader BIPOC populations in the Portland Metro area, with deep institutional partnerships spanning NAYA, Johnson Creek Watershed Council (since 2010), Leach Botanical Garden, Portland Parks & Recreation, OMSI, Blueprint Foundation, Sparrowhawk Native Plants, and the Northwest Indian Storytellers Association; all community-facing programs are delivered free of charge.
Wisdom of the Elders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wisdom of the Elders
- Legal name
- Wisdom of the Elders, Inc.
- Website
- https://wisdomoftheelders.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Wisdom of the Elders is a Portland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves Indigenous cultures by capturing Native elder knowledge through film, radio, and storytelling, and converting it into paid ecological-restoration workforce programs and free community services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wisdom of the Elders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indigenous Cultural Preservation & Workforce Development
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Libraries and Archives (51921)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Civic Engagement, Volunteering & Leadership Education for Seniors (EDAAAMAK)
Keywords
Where Wisdom of the Elders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Wisdom of the Elders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants & Government Funding: Primary funding from foundations including National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Oregon Metro, Meyer Memorial Trust, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, and government sources including USDA, Portland Parks & Recreation.
- Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals via Donorbox platform. Year-end fundraisers through GiveGuide and Willamette Week Give Guide. General donations and membership support.
- Workforce Development Contracts: Revenue through Wisdom Workforce Development LLC providing habitat restoration services on contracts. ITEK internship graduates can be hired for field and garden technician positions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | ITEK Internship - Paid position |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Habitat Restoration Technician - Wisdom Workforce Development |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Wisdom of the Elders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wisdom of the Elders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves and shares Indigenous cultural heritage through multimedia storytelling (film, radio, TV), paid internship pathways, and ecological restoration services. It operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, Wisdom Workforce Development LLC, which delivers habitat restoration and urban forestry services to public and nonprofit partners while employing program graduates. The organization combines Traditional Ecological Knowledge with digital archiving, having built an Indigenous Archive Initiative with more than 100,000 hours of preserved content.
Product overview
Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a multi-program cultural preservation initiative rather than a single software product. The organization's portfolio centers on capturing and transmitting Indigenous knowledge through multimedia production (documentary films, radio programs, television), educational internships (ITEK and Multimedia programs), and community-based initiatives (gardens, storytelling, workforce development). The core offerings include the Indigenous Archive Initiative for digitizing historical footage, the Native Wisdom Documentary Film Series, Wisdom Radio and Discovering Our Story TV for broadcast content, the ITEK and Multimedia Internship programs for workforce training, Wisdom Workforce Development LLC for habitat restoration employment, Wisdom Gardens for food sovereignty, Turtle Island Storytellers for oral tradition preservation, and the annual Northwest Indian Storytelling Festival. These programs collectively serve the mission of revitalizing Indigenous cultures through film, radio, story, and hands-on ecological practice.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Discovering Yidong Xinag: Native American youth leadership initiative focused on environmental and climate studies through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, peer mentoring, and video production training.
- ITEK (Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge) Internship Program
- Indigenous Archive Initiative
- Native Wisdom Documentary Film Series
- Wisdom Radio
- Discovering Our Story TV
Products and services
- Indigenous Archive Initiative
Companies that use Wisdom of the Elders
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wisdom of the Elders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Wisdom of the Elders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- Leach Botanical GardencoreLong-standing partnership for the Back 5 Project focused on restoring previously underutilized land into thriving natural space. Wisdom of the Elders contributes Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) emphasizing land stewardship without pesticides, working with ecosystems rather than against them. Project serves as educational platform demonstrating Indigenous knowledge contributions to modern environmental solutions.
- Johnson Creek Watershed CouncilcoreLong-standing collaboration since 2010 supporting meaningful education grounded in Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Creates hands-on learning experiences connecting community members with land, water, and restoration practices that sustain healthy ecosystems.
- Open Signal Community Media CentercoreRenewed partnership for Multimedia program internships providing studio production, cinematography, and hands-on camera training. Wisdom of the Elders interns use Open Signal facilities for multimedia production education.
- BAVC (Bay Area Video Coalition)corePartnership for archival digitization of over 100,000 hours of analog recordings spanning 30+ years. BAVC handles professional digitization of 8mm, reel-to-reel, and VHS formats.
- OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)strategicPartnership towards creating the new Center for Tribal Nations on the Water Front. Plans include auditorium, classrooms, and tentatively a Multimedia Studio for production and presentation where Indigenous people can utilize Wisdom's professional media services.
- Sparrowhawk Native PlantsminorSpring native plant sale partnership offering over 115 species of habitat-friendly native plants. A portion of proceeds directly benefits Wisdom of the Elders' mission to preserve Indigenous ecological knowledge.
- Portland Parks & RecreationcoreCollaboration on the Back 5 Project at Leach Botanical Garden and other environmental restoration work throughout Portland. Supports project expansion and community reach.
- Northwest Indian Storytellers Association (NISA)coreCo-presenter of the Northwest Indian Storytelling Festival (annual) and Emerging Traditional Storytellers Workshops. NISA was formed in 2005 to encourage, preserve and strengthen traditional storytelling among tribes in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
- Portland Indigenous MarketplaceminorWisdom of the Elders shares events and opportunities from Portland Indigenous Marketplace, a grassroots nonprofit providing vital space for Indigenous artists, entrepreneurs, and culture-bearers.
- NAYA (Native American Youth and Family Center)minorCollaboration on youth programs, career opportunities, and community events in the Portland Indigenous community.
- Blueprint FoundationminorCollaborative partnership on Earth Sculpting project at the Back Five. Youth from the community participate in land shaping and restoration work guided by environmental scientists, forestry mentors, and cultural educators.
- NIFSA CoalitionminorWisdom of the Elders participates in NIFSA coalition gatherings practicing decolonized leadership model. Coalition shares community-led events, resources, and opportunities including food access programs, paid internships, and environmental career opportunities.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wisdom of the Elders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Koahnic Broadcast Corporation: Anchorage-based nonprofit producing Indigenous radio and multimedia content for Native and Alaska Native audiences. Closely comparable production model to Wisdom Radio and Native Wisdom Documentary Film Series, with similar funding mix of CPB, NEA, and foundation grants.
- NAYA Family Center (Native American Youth and Family Center): Portland-based Indigenous nonprofit serving Native youth and families through education, workforce, and cultural programs. Direct peer in mission (Indigenous community empowerment) and geography, and an active GTM partner to Wisdom of the Elders.
- Vision Maker Media: Native-led nonprofit that supports Indigenous public media production and distribution. Direct peer in mission, funding sources (CPB/NEA), and target audience, with overlapping film, radio, and digital distribution activities.
- Native Public Media: National nonprofit advancing Indigenous-owned media and broadcasting capacity. Comparable in Indigenous media production, training, and advocacy orientation, particularly relevant to Discovering Our Story TV and radio programming.
- Tamástslikt Cultural Institute: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation's cultural center and museum in Pendleton, Oregon. Direct regional peer in Indigenous cultural preservation, exhibits, and educational programming for Pacific Northwest communities.
Others
- Ecotrust: Portland-based nonprofit focused on equity, environment, and economic opportunity across the Pacific Northwest. Awarding body of the Indigenous Leadership Award and overlapping funder/partner network with environmental restoration and Indigenous community development focus.
Broad incumbents
- Heard Museum: Phoenix-based museum focused on Native American art, culture, and history with major collections, exhibits, and educational programs. Comparable in cultural preservation and Indigenous arts/heritage mission, though much larger and institution-focused rather than multimedia-led.
- Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian: National museum institution preserving Native American cultures, languages, and arts with extensive collections and programming. Broad incumbent with overlapping mission in cultural preservation, language revitalization, and Indigenous knowledge stewardship.
Emerging players
- First Nations Development Institute: Long-standing Native-led nonprofit providing grantmaking, capacity building, and program support to Indigenous communities, including food sovereignty initiatives. Comparable in mission and an active funder/partner of Wisdom of the Elders.
- Indigenous Education Institute: Native-led nonprofit integrating Indigenous knowledge into STEAM education and youth programs. Comparable to ITEK internship curriculum in bridging Traditional Ecological Knowledge with Western science for Native youth.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wisdom of the Elders social profiles
Digital presenceWisdom of the Elders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wisdom of the Elders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Wisdom of the Elders subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Wisdom of the Elders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wisdom of the Elders M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wisdom of the Elders
What does Wisdom of the Elders do?
Wisdom of the Elders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves and shares Indigenous cultural heritage through multimedia storytelling (film, radio, TV), paid internship pathways, and ecological restoration services. It operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, Wisdom Workforce Development LLC, which delivers habitat restoration and urban forestry services to public and nonprofit partners while employing program graduates. The organization combines Traditional Ecological Knowledge with digital archiving, having built an Indigenous Archive Initiative with more than 100,000 hours of preserved content.
Is Wisdom of the Elders a public or private company?
Wisdom of the Elders is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Wisdom of the Elders founded?
Wisdom of the Elders was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Wisdom of the Elders based?
Wisdom of the Elders is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wisdom of the Elders make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Foundation Grants & Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are individual Donations and workforce Development Contracts.
Who are Wisdom of the Elders's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, NAYA Family Center (Native American Youth and Family Center), Vision Maker Media, Native Public Media and Tamástslikt Cultural Institute. Ecotrust is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Heard Museum and Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Emerging players are First Nations Development Institute and Indigenous Education Institute.
Does Wisdom of the Elders have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wisdom of the Elders.
What industry is Wisdom of the Elders in?
Wisdom of the Elders's product category is Indigenous Cultural Preservation & Workforce Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAI, Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations, with a secondary code of THAJADAI, Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations). Its NAICS code is 712 and its SIC code is 8600.