National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA)

What National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) does

The National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit professional association founded in 1996 that serves HR practitioners, TERO personnel, and tribal leaders working for tribal governments, tribal enterprises, and tribal gaming operations across the United States. Its core offering is a credentialing catalog — Tribal Human Resources Professional (THRP), THRP II, Tribal Apprenticeship Program (TAP), and Tribal Management Program (TMP) — augmented by member-only resources (job board, resource library, tribal HR professionals networking group), live and virtual continuing education, an annual conference, and a Coffee with Counsel webinar series delivered in partnership with the law firm Drummond Woodsum.

The business model combines individual membership dues, certification and recertification fees priced $895–$1,650 with member/non-member tiers, paid webinars and workshops, conference registration and exhibiting, and corporate sponsorship (AMERIND, Colonial Life, Mutual of America, ZSchool, Personnel Security Consultants). Technology infrastructure is standard association SaaS: Wild Apricot for membership management, Zeffy for donation/payment processing, Zoom and Microsoft Teams for virtual programming, and Credly for issuing digital credentials. The association is small (~20 employees) and reaches a community of 1,000+ THRP-certified professionals, with a 30th Annual Conference scheduled for 2026 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and a new Women's Summit partnership with the Tribal Gaming Protection Network.

Distribution is primarily direct to individual HR practitioners within Indian Country, with a secondary institutional channel through tribal employers that subsidize staff certification; revenue concentration risk sits mainly with the small set of corporate sponsors and with the annual conference's host-region economics rather than with any single member or tribe.

Name

National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA)

Legal name

National Native American Human Resources Association

Website

https://nnahra.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NNAHRA is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit professional association founded in 1996 that issues tribal-HR credentials (THRP, THRP II, TAP, TMP) and serves HR practitioners, TERO personnel, and tribal leaders across tribal governments and enterprises, funded by membership dues, certification fees, conference revenue, and corporate sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous/Tribal Education Authorities & Boards (EDADABAM)

Keywords

• Tribal HR certification
• Professional association services
• Human resources training
• Tribal employment law
• Workforce certification programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Certifications: Revenue from certification programs including THRP I, THRP II, TAP, and TMP delivered both in-person at tribal venues and virtually. Pricing varies by membership status with members receiving discounted rates. Programs include exam fees and course materials.
2. Annual Conference: Revenue generated from the annual conference including registration fees, sponsorship packages, and exhibition opportunities. The 30th Annual Conference is scheduled for September 2026 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
3. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues for HR professionals employed by or providing services to Native American tribes. Members receive discounted pricing on all certification programs and access to members-only resources.
4. Webinar Series: Coffee with Counsel quarterly webinar series covering employment law topics. Free educational content supporting certification programs.
5. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships including Premier Leaders Circle, event sponsors, and exhibitors such as AMERIND, Colonial Life, Mutual of America, and InnoVision Talent Agency.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NNAHRA is a nonprofit professional association delivering specialized human resources certification programs (THRP, THRP II, TAP, TMP) and continuing education for HR professionals working for Native American tribes and tribal enterprises. Its core offerings include in-person and virtual certification summits, an annual conference, the Coffee with Counsel webinar series, compensation surveys, and a career/job board, all focused on tribal employment law, sovereignty, Indian Preference, and TERO compliance.

Product overview

NNAHRA is a nonprofit professional association for HR professionals working for Native American Tribes or tribal enterprises. The organization offers a portfolio of professional certification programs focused on tribal human resources, including THRP (Tribal Human Resources Professional), TAP (Tribal Adjudication Professional), and TMP (Tribal Management Professional) certifications. These certifications are delivered through in-person training summits, virtual courses, and an annual conference. NNAHRA also provides educational webinars (Coffee with Counsel series), career resources, compensation surveys, and partners with universities for online education programs through ZSchool. The organization collaborates with Drummond Woodsum law firm for legal training content and Personnel Security Consultants for adjudication certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tribal Human Resources Professional (THRP) Certification A comprehensive HR certification program for professionals in tribal governments and enterprises, addressing employment laws, sovereignty protection, discrimination, wage and hour issues, employee discipline, investigations, evaluations, leaves of absence, union activity, and Indian Preference.
• Tribal Adjudication Professional (TAP) Certification A 3-day certification program covering applicable laws and regulations regarding background checks and adjudication processes specific to tribal governments and enterprises, including federal suitability requirements compliance.
• Tribal Management Professional (TMP) Certification A three-day in-person certification program building practical management skills in a culturally relevant context, covering talent acquisition, behavioral interviewing, performance evaluation, employee engagement, and leadership development.
• Tribal Leadership Employment Certification Certification program focused on leadership development and employment practices specific to tribal organizations.
• Preference Law and TERO Certification Program Comprehensive training program on Tribal preference law and policy covering legal foundations, Tribal Employment Rights Ordinances (TERO), and practical application in employment, contracting, and economic development.
• NNAHRA Annual Conference Annual conference bringing together Tribal HR professionals, leaders, and partners for learning, collaboration, and networking, featuring keynote presentations and breakout sessions.
• Coffee with Counsel Webinar Series A quarterly virtual webinar series hosted in collaboration with Drummond Woodsum and employment law attorney Richard McGee, providing practical legal insight and HR perspectives on workplace and employment law topics impacting Tribal organizations.
• Compensation Survey Annual compensation survey providing data on salary ranges and benefits for tribal employees, including specialized surveys for tribal gaming positions.
• Career Opportunities / Job Board Job board listing employment opportunities within tribal organizations, including positions such as Managing Attorney, Chief Court Clerk, Attorney General, Inspector, and various HR and finance roles.
• ZSchool Online Education Online, self-paced university-backed professional development courses offered at 70% off for NNAHRA members, priced at $1,498 versus the regular $4,995.
• NNAHRA Foundation (Scholarships and Foundation Programs) The charitable arm of NNAHRA providing scholarships, the Amerind Golf Tournament, and other professional development support for tribal HR professionals.
• NNAHRA Membership Annual membership for HR professionals employed by or providing services to Native American tribes, providing discounted pricing on certification programs and access to members-only resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 HR professionals certified with THRP credential recognized as essential in Indian Country

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Drummond WoodsumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm collaborating with NNAHRA to develop and deliver THRP and THRP II certification programs. NNAHRA and Drummond Woodsum have joined forces to provide Tribal Human Resource Professional training to HR Professionals in Indian Country. The partnership provides practical knowledge and skills for handling unique employment challenges facing tribal governments and enterprises.
• Personnel Security Consultants (PSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Michele Justice of Personnel Security Consultants to deliver TAP (Tribal Adjudication Professional) certification. PSC specializes in training for Tribes and Tribal Organizations working to comply with federal suitability requirements and those seeking to improve existing programs.
• AMERINDmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAMERIND is the Premier Leaders Circle Sponsor. An AM Best A (Excellent) rated company, AMERIND is the only 100% tribally owned insurance carrier serving Indian Country. For 40 years, AMERIND has delivered property, liability, commercial auto, and workers' compensation insurance for Tribes, Tribal governments, and businesses.
• Richard McGeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment law attorney Richard McGee co-hosts the Coffee with Counsel webinar series, providing legal insight on workplace and employment law topics impacting Tribal organizations. Leads the Preference Law and TERO Certification Program.
• Colonial LifeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor spotlight featured on NNAHRA website, providing workplace benefits solutions to tribal communities.
• Mutual of America Financial GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor offering comprehensive array of retirement plan services and asset management services for Tribal communities and enterprises nationwide. Specializes in pension and retirement-related products and services.
• Tribal Gaming Protection Network (TGPN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to present the Women's Summit (May 12-13, 2026 at Gila River Resorts & Casinos) united by shared mission to empower, educate, and support women in tribal gaming and HR professions.
• ZSchool / University PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with several universities to offer online, self-paced professional development programs at 70% off the usual cost ($4,995 reduced to $1,498 for members). University-backed courses may qualify for tuition reimbursement programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Association for Talent Development (ATD): ATD is a professional association for talent development professionals offering certifications (CPLP) and training programs. Comparable to NNAHRA as a certification body for workforce-development professionals, but focused on general corporate training rather than tribal contexts.
• International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR): IPMA-HR serves HR professionals in the public sector. It overlaps with NNAHRA in offering HR certification and training to government employers, but does not specialize in tribal sovereignty, federal Indian law, or tribal enterprise contexts.
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): SHRM is the largest global HR professional association. It is comparable to NNAHRA as a membership and certification body for HR practitioners, but addresses the general workforce rather than the specialized tribal sovereignty, Indian Preference, and TERO contexts that define NNAHRA's niche.
• WorldatWork: WorldatWork is a nonprofit association focused on compensation, benefits, and total rewards. It is comparable to NNAHRA as a certification and education body for HR-adjacent disciplines, and is a likely competitor for tribal HR professionals seeking general compensation credentials.

Direct peers

• TribalHub: TribalHub provides training, resources, and consulting specifically for tribal government and tribal enterprise operations, including HR-adjacent programming. It is the closest direct peer to NNAHRA given its tribal-specific focus and event-driven training delivery model.

Emerging players

• National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA): NIGA is the primary trade association for the tribal gaming industry. It is comparable to NNAHRA as a national tribal-focused membership organization serving gaming operators, but its scope is industry advocacy and regulatory affairs rather than HR certification and professional development.
• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI): NCAI is the oldest and largest national organization representing tribal governments and Native American communities. It is comparable as a national tribal advocacy and convening body, though its mission centers on sovereignty and policy rather than HR professional development.
• National Indian Education Association (NIEA): NIEA is a membership organization advancing Native American education. It is comparable to NNAHRA in being a tribal-focused professional association with certification and convening activities, but its domain is K-12 and post-secondary education rather than HR and employment law.

Others

• Drummond Woodsum: Drummond Woodsum is a law firm that co-develops and delivers THRP and Coffee with Counsel programming with NNAHRA. It is comparable as a content and curriculum partner for tribal employment law training, though its primary business is legal services rather than association management.

Regional players

• American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California: AICCCAL is a regional business association serving Native American enterprises and professionals. It is comparable to NNAHRA as a tribal-focused membership organization, but operates regionally and emphasizes business development rather than HR certification.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nnahra
• Facebookfacebook.com/National-Native-American-Human-Resources-Association-104075327971032
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nnahra
• Instagraminstagram.com/nnahra_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA)