Sacred Pipe Resource Center

What Sacred Pipe Resource Center does

Sacred Pipe Resource Center (SPRC) is a Native-led 501(c)(3) community-serving nonprofit founded in 2007 by Cheryl Ann Kary and headquartered at 925 Basin Ave, Suite 2, Bismarck, North Dakota (firmographic city listed as Mandan). SPRC engages the urban Tribal Native American population of the Bismarck-Mandan-Lincoln area through a portfolio of programs organized around seven Community Councils — Arts, Business, Civic Engagement, Health, Housing, Native Youth, and Wellness — supplemented by named initiatives including the Wanna Wota Food Pantry (Wednesday distribution), the Leave the Couch youth program, the Wounded Healers recovery program (in partnership with Rez Recovery), Common Grounds housing forums, Know Your Rights workshops, the Swap & Shop community marketplace, and the Native-Owned Businesses directory (12+ listed businesses). The organization publishes events through sacredpipe.net, a Facebook page, and a newly launched iOS/Android mobile app, and earns earned media coverage through Buffalo's Fire / The Daily Spark.

The technology footprint is intentionally thin and non-proprietary: SPRC relies on standard website CMS, Facebook, email ([email protected]), and a mobile app distributed through Apple App Store and Google Play. There is no disclosed AI/ML, API, or proprietary software platform. Distribution is geographically concentrated in the Bismarck-Mandan-Lincoln region, with off-site events at Bismarck Depot and Sertoma Park and a 1200 sq ft meeting facility (7 Directions Room) plus a smaller conference room (Wambdi Room) available for hire to tribal organizations and community groups.

Revenue is overwhelmingly donation-driven (online via PayPal, by mail, plus in-kind office/program supplies), supplemented by a small earned-revenue stream from facility rentals and volunteer pro bono professional services (accounting, legal, promotional). Headcount is reported as 1-10 employees across an executive director and five functional directors (Advocacy, Arts and Cultural Engagement, Business Engagement, Health Engagement, Youth Engagement), with a five-member volunteer board chaired by Chadwick Kramer. Grant funding rounds, large contracts, and audited financials are not disclosed in the source material, which limits visibility into scale but is consistent with a small-budget community nonprofit.

Name

Sacred Pipe Resource Center

Legal name

Sacred Pipe Resource Center

Website

https://sacredpipe.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sacred Pipe Resource Center is a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving urban Tribal Native Americans in Bismarck-Mandan-Lincoln, North Dakota through community councils, food assistance, youth and recovery programs, and a Native-owned business directory, funded primarily by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Community resource services
• Nonprofit community center
• Native American support services
• Cultural community engagement
• Urban indigenous outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Bismarck

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts monetary donations online via PayPal and by mail, as well as donations of office supplies, equipment, furniture, and program supplies. Donations are the primary funding source for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2. Room Rental Revenue: SPRC rents out two meeting rooms — the 7 Directions Room (capacity 30, half-day $50, full-day $100) and the Wambdi Room (capacity 10, full-day $25). This provides a modest earned revenue stream from the Bismarck-Mandan community for tribal meetings and events.
3. Volunteer and In-Kind Contributions: The organization recruits volunteers for Community Council service, as well as pro bono professional services (accounting, legal, promotional), which represent an in-kind contribution model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sacred Pipe Resource Center is a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a community center for urban Tribal Native Americans in the Bismarck-Mandan-Lincoln area of North Dakota. It provides sociocultural, emotional, and spiritual support through seven Community Councils (Arts, Business, Civic Engagement, Health, Housing, Native Youth, and Wellness) and delivers programmatic services including a food pantry, youth programs, recovery support, and an online swap-and-shop marketplace. The organization also generates earned income by renting its meeting rooms (7 Directions Room and Wambdi Room) to tribal organizations and community groups.

Product overview

Sacred Pipe Resource Center operates as a community-serving organization offering a portfolio of programs and services centered around community engagement, cultural support, and wellness for the urban Tribal Native American population in Bismarck-Mandan-Lincoln, North Dakota. The core offerings include seven Community Councils addressing areas such as Arts, Business, Civic Engagement, Health, Housing, Native Youth, and Wellness. Additional services include room rental facilities for community gatherings, the Wanna Wota Food Pantry, the Leave the Couch youth program, Wounded Healers recovery program, an online Swap & Shop marketplace, a Native-Owned Businesses directory, and a mobile application. These programs work together to provide holistic support addressing social, cultural, emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical needs of Native community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Councils A community engagement structure comprising seven specialized councils (Arts, Business, Civic Engagement, Health, Housing, Native Youth, and Wellness) that meet monthly to plan activities and address issues affecting the urban Tribal Native American population in Bismarck-Mandan-Lincoln.
• Room Rental Services Rental of community meeting spaces including the 7 Directions Room (capacity 30, 1,200 sq ft, half-day $50/full-day $100) and the Wambdi Room (capacity 10, full-day $25), with Wi-Fi, whiteboard, TV/HDMI, audio setup, and optional Indigenous food catering.
• Wanna Wota Food Pantry Food assistance program providing food to community members, operating on Wednesdays at the SPRC facility in Bismarck.
• Leave the Couch Youth Program Summer youth program for Native youth offering cultural events, educational workshops, and recreational activities including tipi raising, powwow dance sessions, art programs, and civic engagement activities.
• Wounded Healers Program Recovery and wellness program delivered in collaboration with Rez Recovery, offering weekly events alternating between standard recovery meetings and Indigenous-based wellness programming with traditional healing practices.
• Swap & Shop Online buy-sell-trade community resource for urban Tribal Indigenous community members in the Bismarck-Mandan-Lincoln area, enabling community members to exchange items without relying solely on cash transactions.
• Native-Owned Businesses Directory Directory showcasing Native-owned businesses in the Bismarck-Mandan area, promoting local Indigenous entrepreneurs across food service, contracting, beauty services, and retail sectors.
• SPRC Mobile App Mobile application available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store that provides community members access to SPRC resources, events, news, and program information.

Named customers1 record

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.

• Mni Wichoni Health CirclecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPRC partners with Mni Wichoni Health Circle to conduct the Baby Welcoming Ceremony and host the Mni Wichoni Health Circle event focused on baby care and baby's first foods (July 28, 2026). This collaboration integrates traditional Indigenous practices with maternal and infant health support.
• Rez RecoverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPRC collaborates with Rez Recovery on the Wounded Healers program, starting in July with weekly events alternating between standard Rez Recovery meetings and Indigenous-based programming focused on recovery, wellness skills, and traditional healing practices. This addresses a critical gap for Indigenous recovery support options.
• NDSU ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPRC partnered with NDSU Extension on a project examining Social Determinants of Health. Findings indicated that the Native community thrives in community settings and suffers in isolation, informing SPRC's community programming approach.
• Bismarck Public Schools (BPS) Indigenous EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPRC partners with Bismarck Public Schools for the annual Back-to-School-a-Palooza event, serving Indigenous students and families in the district. BPS Indigenous Ed Director Tomi Cimarosti co-organizes vendor recruitment, food, and programming for the event.
• National Urban Indian Family Coalition (NUIFC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSPRC promotes NUIFC's 'Democracy is Indigenous' voting campaign art opportunity to local artists, helping NUIFC source artwork nationally while connecting SPRC community members to a $3K award and national promotional platform.
• Approved Indigenous Food Caterers (Frybread Mama's, Rez Lemonade, others)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSPRC maintains a list of approved Indigenous food vendors for events at its facility, including Frybread Mama's (701-751-2549) and Rez Lemonade (701-390-3386). These vendors provide catering services for SPRC-hosted events and are featured in SPRC's business directory.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission: A North Dakota state agency serving as liaison between the state's Native citizens and government. Comparable as a regional Native-serving institution in SPRC's operating geography, with overlapping scope on civic engagement, education, and community issues.

Emerging players

• Mni Wichoni Health Circle: An Indigenous maternal and infant health partner of SPRC. Listed as a peer because it operates as a Native health council in the same region with overlapping mission (Indigenous wellness, family support) and serves the same Bismarck-Mandan Native community.
• National Indian Education Association (NIEA): A national Native education advocacy organization. Comparable because SPRC partners with Bismarck Public Schools Indigenous Education and addresses Native youth outcomes (DMC, civic engagement) that intersect NIEA's policy and program scope.

Direct peers

• American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO): A Duluth-based Native-led nonprofit providing housing and community services to urban Indigenous residents. A direct peer in model — both serve urban Native populations with culturally grounded, multi-program community centers addressing housing, youth, and cultural connection.
• IllumiNative: A Native-led nonprofit amplifying contemporary Indigenous narratives, civic engagement, and narrative change. A direct peer in mission and population served — both organizations work to build Native civic power and cultural visibility through community-led programming.
• Center for Native American Youth (CNAY): A Native youth-focused policy and advocacy organization within the Aspen Institute. Directly comparable because SPRC's Native Youth Council addresses juvenile justice and youth engagement — the same population CNAY serves.
• National Urban Indian Family Coalition (NUIFC): A national coalition advocating for urban Native families and communities. NUIFC is a direct peer because SPRC already partners with it on civic engagement campaigns and both organizations target the same urban Indigenous demographic across U.S. cities.

Broad incumbents

• American Indian College Fund: A national Native-led nonprofit supporting American Indian and Alaska Native post-secondary education. Comparable as a Native-serving nonprofit with a board, leadership structure, and donor base similar to SPRC's, though focused on education rather than community services.
• First Nations Development Institute: A Native-led nonprofit strengthening Native economies and communities through grantmaking, capacity building, and research. Comparable as a larger Native nonprofit ecosystem builder that supports community-level organizations like SPRC.
• Native Americans in Philanthropy: A national Native-led nonprofit promoting equitable philanthropic investment in Native communities. Comparable as a Native-led nonprofit intermediary that mobilizes funding and capacity for community-based Indigenous organizations like SPRC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sacredpiperesourcecenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sacred-pipe-resource-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 Sacred Pipe Resource Center