International Funders for Indigenous Peoples

What International Funders for Indigenous Peoples does

International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) is a Sacramento-based nonprofit founded in 1999 that operates as the only global membership-based philanthropy network exclusively dedicated to Indigenous Peoples. The organization connects philanthropic foundations, institutional funders, and Indigenous-led organizations across at least seven countries (United States, Australia, Mexico, Kenya, Canada, Indonesia, Philippines) and engages in global and regional convenings, including the 2025 IFIP Global Conference in Naivasha, Kenya, and side events at COP29 in Baku. Its programmatic structure rests on three pillars: the IFIP Global Community (member coordination, working groups, regional convenings), Philanthropy Ecosystems (influencing funder practice and research, including the Indigenous Philanthropy Institute and "Aunties in Philanthropy" program), and Indigenous Movement Support (centering Indigenous leadership, with dedicated programs for Indigenous-Led Funds, Indigenous Women, and Indigenous Youth Voice). The organization has formalized its Indigenous Women work since 2018 and updated the Indigenous Youth Manifesto in 2025. The technology surface consists of a public website at internationalfunders.org and a separate members-only portal at members.internationalfunders.org, providing access to working groups, resources, and a Knowledge Hub of research publications.

IFIP produces proprietary research that constitutes differentiated content assets in the field, including the Indigenous Funding Trends Report (2016-2020 data), the Global Analysis of Funding to Indigenous Women (documenting that only 1.4% of $28.5 billion in women-and-girls grants reached Indigenous women), and the Indigenous-Led Funds Governance Models scan of 23 funds co-developed with Indigenous Collaboration. These publications, alongside the Rooted in Trust Funder Toolkit, are central to its thought leadership positioning. The business model is a hybrid of recurring membership dues from philanthropic funders and grants/donations from institutional donors and supporters, complemented by co-invest functionality on the website. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization is led by Executive Director Lourdes Inga and governed by a Board of Directors, including Board Member Salote Soqo. IFIP's go-to-market is event-driven and relationship-based, focused on convenings, working groups, UN climate conference advocacy (UNFCCC, LCIPP, COP engagements), and strategic partnerships with organizations such as FIMI, WINGS, the Arctic Indigenous Fund, and UNFCCC LCIPP rather than traditional sales cycles. The organization is highly lean (1-10 employees) relative to its global convening footprint, suggesting heavy reliance on member volunteer engagement and project-specific grant funding.

Name

International Funders for Indigenous Peoples

Legal name

International Funders for Indigenous Peoples

Website

https://internationalfunders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

International Funders for Indigenous Peoples is a Sacramento-based nonprofit founded in 1999 that operates the only global membership network connecting philanthropic funders with Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous-led organizations across at least seven countries, through convenings, research publications, working groups, and UN climate forum advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Indigenous philanthropy network
• Funder membership organization
• Philanthropic research publications
• Climate finance advocacy
• Indigenous rights advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

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. Membership Dues: IFIP operates as a membership organization for funders. The website features a membership portal (members.internationalfunders.org) with registration and login functionality, suggesting annual or recurring membership fees from philanthropic organizations and foundations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IFIP is a global membership-based philanthropy network that connects funders with Indigenous Peoples worldwide. The organization offers paid membership, hosts global and regional convenings, produces research publications on funding trends, operates working groups (e.g., Indigenous Women, Indigenous Youth), and advocates for direct, equitable funding access for Indigenous-led organizations at UN climate and biodiversity forums.

Product overview

International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) is a global network organization rather than a traditional software product company. Its core offering is a membership-based collaborative platform (IFIP Global Community) that connects funders dedicated to Indigenous Peoples worldwide. The organization operates through three main programmatic pillars: Philanthropy Ecosystems (advising and influencing philanthropy), IFIP Global Community (member coordination and peer learning), and Indigenous Movement Support (centering Indigenous leadership and self-determination). Key products include the Indigenous Women Working Group, the Knowledge Hub (a digital resource library), and various research publications such as the Indigenous Funding Trends Report and Global Analysis of Funding to Indigenous Women. Additional offerings include toolkits like Rooted in Trust and governance model analyses. IFIP organizes regional and global convenings and participates in international forums like COP climate conferences to advocate for Indigenous Peoples' rights and funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IFIP Global Community Membership A membership-based collaborative platform connecting philanthropic funders dedicated to Indigenous Peoples worldwide, facilitating peer learning, networking, working group participation, and coordinated grantmaking initiatives.
• Knowledge Hub A comprehensive digital resource library providing tools, publications, and research reports including the Indigenous Funding Trends analysis, funding for Indigenous Women reports, governance models, and funder toolkits.
• Indigenous Funding Trends Report A global analysis of philanthropic funding for Indigenous Peoples from 2016 to 2020, documenting funding gaps, regional disparities, and recommendations for equitable funding practices.
• Global Analysis of Funding to Indigenous Women A comprehensive report analyzing funding flows to Indigenous women organizations, revealing that only 1.4% ($392 million) of $28.5 billion in grants supporting women and girls reach Indigenous women's organizations.
• Rooted in Trust Toolkit A funders' toolkit for strengthening Indigenous-led funds, based on insights from governance analysis of 23 Indigenous-led funds worldwide.
• Indigenous-Led Funds Governance Models A governance scan developed by IFIP and Indigenous Collaboration examining structures, values, and practices of 23 Indigenous-led funds globally.
• Indigenous Youth Manifesto A collective declaration of vision, demands, and commitment from Indigenous youth gathered at IFIP Global Conference in Naivasha, Kenya.

Quantifiable outcome

• Indigenous Peoples receive only 0.6% of global philanthropy despite being 6.2% of global population and custodians of 80% of biodiversity
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Indigenous CollaborationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFIP collaborated with Indigenous Collaboration (a public benefit corporation 100% Indigenous-owned) to develop the Indigenous-Led Funds Governance Models analysis examining governance structures, values, and practices of 23 Indigenous-led funds worldwide. This partnership produced foundational research on Indigenous philanthropy governance.
• Arctic Indigenous FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFIP supported the Arctic Indigenous Fund (AIF) by offering guidance and encouragement in its early stages. AIF is a kinship-based collective of 100% Indigenous advisors and staff seeking to transform philanthropy across the Circumpolar North, working with Inuit, Northern Dene, and Sámi communities.
• FIMI (International Indigenous Women's Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFIP partnered with FIMI for COP29 side events calling for shifting unequal power dynamics in philanthropic funding. FIMI is a key global platform for Indigenous Women's rights and advocacy, and IFIP's Executive Director highlighted FIMI's findings on funding gaps for Indigenous women.
• WINGSsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFIP joined WINGS-organized events at COP29 calling for shifting unequal power dynamics in philanthropic funding and climate financing. WINGS is a philanthropy support organization.
• UNFCCC LCIPP (Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFIP actively engages with the UNFCCC Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform which works for collaboration between Indigenous Peoples and State parties in climate negotiations. IFIP plans strategic collaboration and advocacy with LCIPP for COP30 in Brazil.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WINGS (Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support): A global philanthropy support organization that convenes and strengthens funders worldwide. WINGS is a direct peer to IFIP, both operating as membership networks serving philanthropy infrastructure and having co-organized events at COP29.
• Global Greengrants Fund: An environmental grantmaking organization that supports community-led action, including Indigenous-led initiatives. Global Greengrants is comparable to IFIP as it also channels funds to Indigenous-led environmental work and convenes funders in this space.
• International Funders for Indigenous Peoples — sister networks (e.g., NEXUS, Ariadne): Ariadne is a peer network of funders interested in social justice and human rights grantmaking. It is comparable to IFIP as a funder peer-learning network, though it is broader in cause focus and primarily European in footprint.

Regional players

• European Foundation Centre (Philanthropy Europe Association): A membership association for European foundations. It is comparable to IFIP as a funder membership network, though it serves European geography and broader causes rather than Indigenous issues globally.

Emerging players

• NDN Collective: An Indigenous-led organization building collective power and providing grants to Indigenous movements. NDN Collective is comparable to IFIP in mission focus on Indigenous self-determination and philanthropy, though it operates more as an active grantmaker than a funder network.
• Grassroots International: A public foundation supporting Indigenous, peasant, and social movement organizing worldwide. It is comparable to IFIP in channeling resources to Indigenous-led movements and in participatory grantmaking philosophy.
• Cultural Survival: An Indigenous rights organization supporting Indigenous Peoples' self-determination, including through grantmaking and advocacy. It is comparable to IFIP as an Indigenous-focused infrastructure and advocacy organization engaging funders and UN mechanisms.

Broad incumbents

• Aga Khan Foundation: A major international development foundation supporting community development globally. It is comparable to IFIP as a large-scale grantmaking entity engaging Indigenous and marginalized communities, though at significantly larger scale.
• Macdoch Foundation: An Australian family foundation that funds Indigenous-led climate solutions and produced cited analysis on the 1-3% of philanthropy reaching Indigenous Peoples. It is comparable to IFIP as a funder actively engaging in Indigenous philanthropy data and advocacy.
• Candid (formerly Foundation Center + GuideStar): The dominant philanthropy data and research infrastructure provider. Candid is comparable to IFIP as a philanthropy-support organization, though it serves all causes globally rather than focusing on Indigenous Peoples.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IFIPphilanthropy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-funders-for-indigenous-peoples

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Funders for Indigenous Peoples