The recent halt of federal funding disbursements poses looming consequences for many marginalized communities, even if only temporarily. NDN Collective is readily prepared to respond to any attacks on our people and sovereignty, especially as the current Administration adopts an authoritarian regime.
The halt of such funding leaves Indigenous communities, Tribal governments, and our relatives in precarious conditions. These recent moves by the administration are a glaring reflection of the systemic infrastructure that was created with the intention to uplift the wealthy few and erode the working class and the poor. We anticipate that this is only the beginning of future funding cuts to climate justice programs, programs funding our languages and culturally-rooted education, schools, hospitals, and food systems.
We are seeing institutional philanthropy fail to respond with the urgency and investment that our communities need.
It is imperative that we have resources available to our communities. NDN Collectiveās infrastructure provides us with the ability to swiftly rematriate resources to our people. In only 5 years, NDN Collective has provided more than $109 million in grants across Turtle Island (North America). Nevertheless, we have only been able to fund 13.5% of all requests, which means that 86.5% of the priorities that our people have identified were not funded.
We have the solutions that will help us survive and thrive in the present and into the future. However, successfully moving through these difficult times means doubling down on the support of our movements.
For The People Campaign
We are announcing the For The People Campaign – a call to action for individuals and institutional philanthropy to support Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous-led movement infrastructure, and community-based organizations. The For The People Campaign is designed to provide critical resources through our current grantmaking programs and organizing work to strengthen our movement, enhance the resiliency of frontline actions, and catalyze transformative change under this authoritarian regime.
By directly funding those doing work on the ground, this Campaign will ensure Indigenous Peoples have resources necessary to build a future rooted in self-determination and collective liberation.
Through NDN Collectiveās movement infrastructure, we have developed a system that supports Indigenous communities, organizations, practitioners, and individuals through grantmaking, impact investing, and story telling. We hold much gratitude for those who have supported our work over the years and we appreciate your continued support. In this moment we are asking that you consider supporting us at an increased or additional amount given the urgent time we are in.
Over the last 18 months, weāve seen a significant decrease in funding to movement infrastructure organizations like ours. By deprioritizing funding in this way, funders are complacent in eroding the capacity of organizations to coordinate, strategize, support community-led efforts and sustain work long-term. This deliberate choice undermines the strength of frontline movements to build power, resist oppression, and to drive transformative change.
NDN Collective is calling on funders to respond with the urgency and investment that our communities need and deserve. This is an opportunity to address philanthropy’s failures and constantly changing strategies that uphold the very structures of white supremacy that we are seeing dominate the mainstream narrative today.
At this moment we are seeing institutional philanthropy fail to respond with the urgency and investment that our communities need and deserve. Being a true leader in philanthropy means using power to move resources effectively and commit to measurable change. We are asking philanthropy to:
- Move money quickly to movement organizations that are prepared for the fight ahead
- Support general operating activities with multi-year grants
- Increase philanthropic giving from 5% to 10%
- Invest into long-term strategies for the next 20-50 years led by movement leaders
- Endow movement infrastructure organizations
NDN Collective is establishing the For The People Campaign to increase resources available for Indigenous-led movements through:
- Community Self-Determination Fund: provides transformative, strategic grants to community-based and community-led efforts and solutions as an investment in Indigenous power. Community Self-Determination Grants are intended to support, strengthen and invest in the long-term visions, sustainability, and building the collective power of Indigenous Nations, communities, grassroots movements and Indigenous-led organizations.
- Community Action Fund: supports direct actions and organizing efforts that are often urgent and time sensitive. CAF prioritizes frontline, grassroots and community-based efforts that defend Indigenous Peoples’ rights, communities and Nations, including responses to climate disasters.
- Organizing and Action: NDN Collective works to advance the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the environment through organizing, educating, advocating, building, and growing Indigenous-led campaigns and movements to develop Indigenous power.
- Strategic and Emergent Response Needs: designed to meet evolving challenges, allows Indigenous communities to respond swiftly to crises and unexpected threats with the necessary resources and infrastructure in place. Supports our team to show up and coordinate efforts as needed throughout this administration.
NDN Collective fortifies its commitment to stand with our partners and relatives through perilous times, guided by ceremony and movement principles of collective resistance and community care. Organizers and movement organizations steward mutual aid efforts, develop communal security and safety plans, and provide direct essential services to their communities. We use grantmaking as a temporary tool with the hope that our movements for liberation and justice will end its necessity.
Money will not liberate us. However, it allows us to implement the dreams that we hold for the future of all humanity. For this reason, we are asking you to support the For The People Campaign today.
Questions & Answers
Who can support this campaign and how can they support it?
Anyone who supports the power and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. We are asking individuals and institutional philanthropy to support this campaign so that we have continued resources to support our communities. You can also support by sharing this campaign on your social media and within your networks ā your amplification will have an impact.
I work for an Indigenous-led organization, how do I access funding through this campaign?
Funding raised through this campaign will be provided through our current grant-making programs including:
- Community Self-Determination
- Community Action Fund
- Sponsorship Requests
- We will also work with current partners to identify any urgent and emergent needs.
For more information on how to access our grants please visit our our Grant Opportunities.
I am an individual, how do I access funding through this campaign?
The funding raised from this campaign campaign is intended primarily for organizational support, although individuals can apply for sponsorship support. In 2025 individuals may apply for the Radical Imagination artist grant. In 2026 individuals may apply for the Changemaker Fellowship.
- We will also work with current partners to identify any urgent and emergent needs. For more information on how to access our grants please visit our Grant Opportunities.
Isnāt NDN Collective already well-resourced? How will my contribution make a difference?
Many nonprofits experienced an influx of resources shortly after the murder of George Floyd. As the political winds shift, which they have in recent years, it is important to invest even more deeply in social justice-related work as we see the roll back of funding to movement organizations. This is a critical moment for NDN Collective to help get resources to the frontlines. All contributions of any size can make a difference. We can all be part of the movement through collective action.
I have already given to NDN Collective, how is this different?
We are in a social and political moment where our communities and movement organizations are continuously being targeted and attacked. These attacks can impact and shape the funding landscape for organizations like NDN Collective that remain steadfast and unapologetic in the efforts to liberate our people. In order to meet this moment of fascism and authoritarianism, in order to protect our people, our land, our lifeways – we need financial resources. There is a need to continue building our visions and missions, goals and plans, and to address the emerging changes during challenging times.
When will the funding from this campaign be available?
It will be available through our current grantmaking programs and will follow the timelines of those programs. For more information on our grants and their timelines, please visit our Grant Opportunities.
Why is NDN Collective launching this campaign ?
At NDN Collective, we fight on and fund the frontlines ā which is why weāre best positioned to use the infrastructure weāve built to support those most vulnerable in these turbulent times. Indigenous Peoples have endured the test of time, political regimes, wars, and countless struggles ā yet we are still here. This campaign will help our movement, communities, and Tribal Nations navigate the challenges we find ourselves in today.
Who do I contact to talk about this campaign?
You can email any questions about how to support the For The People Campaign to Liz Welch, Director of Advancement [email protected].
For current urgent needs please see our Community Action Fund.