Native American
OUR cause
Native philanthropy at the Foundation
The Santa Fe Community Foundation is committed to Native philanthropy by partnering with Native-led organizations, supporting systems and practices that empower Native people, and by addressing inequities in the sector.
Did you know that Native Americans receive 0.4 percent of grant dollars, on average, from philanthropic institutions, while representing two percent of the population? And only 20 percent of large foundations give to Native communities and causes? This has remained consistent over the past 15 years*.
While explicit funding for Native Americans has been sporadic and unreliable on the national level, locally, the Native American Advised Fund (NAAF) of the Santa Fe Community Foundation and its partners have worked hard to counter the dearth in funding for Native communities. Santa Fe Community Foundation has been among one of the largest community foundations to grant to Native Communities.
*Retrieved from Investing in Native Communities
Native American Advised Fund
The Native American Advised Fund at the Santa Fe Community Foundation, was established in 1993 with a gift from the late Allan Houser (Chiricahua Fort Sill Apache), a humanitarian and one of the world's great artists. Grants are made from the fund based on the recommendations of an advisory committee. All members of the advisory committee are drawn from the local Native American communities.
The purpose of the Native American Advised Fund is to enhance Native lifeways now and for future generations in New Mexico by promoting a spirit of sharing and supporting community initiatives. The Fund supports efforts that emphasize the commitment to Native core values: community, language, culture, and environment. Since 1997, the Native American Advised Fund has granted over $800,000 to 50+ different tribes, schools, and organizations.
The Native American Advised Fund will operate in perpetuity, benefiting this and future generations. Only the income from the fund is used to make grants. The fund considers grants in the fall, corresponding to the Santa Fe Community Foundation’s respective competitive grant cycle.
NAAF Advisory Committee
We are grateful to the members of the advisory committee for their representation of their communities, and commitment and service to this cause:
- Jhane Myers, Chair (Comanche, Blackfeet)
- Joseph (Woody) Aguilar, PhD (San Ildefonso Pueblo)
- Ashley Avila (Sandia Pueblo)
- Ross Chaney (Osage, Cherokee)
- Emily Haozous, PhD, RN(Chiricahua Fort Sill Apache)
- Lisa LeFlore Davis (Fort Sill Apache)
- Amber Morning Star Byars(Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma)
- Jesse Morris (Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska)
- Stephine Poston (Sandia Pueblo)
- Oscar S. Rodriguez (Lipan Apache)
- Porter Swentzell, PhD (Santa Clara Pueblo)
- Luci Tapahonso (Diné)
Top row, left to right: Jesse Morris (Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska), Andrea Hanley (Diné), Joseph "Woody" Aguilar (San Ildefonso Pueblo), Ross Chaney (Osage, Cherokee), Lisa LeFlore Davis (Fort Sill Apache) | Bottom row, left to right: Jhane Myers, Chair (Comanche, Blackfeet), Emily Haozous (Chiricahua Fort Sill Apache), Oscar S. Rodriguez (Lipan Apache)
NAAF Grant Recipients
Native American Advised Fund considers grants in the fall, corresponding to the Santa Fe Community Foundation’s respective competitive grant cycle.
2023 grantees
SFCF provides grants to eligible applicants so long as funds are available, without regard to the race, creed, color, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, country or place of origin, ethnicity, or citizenship status of the applicants.
Featured story
Native American Advised Fund awards $60,000 to Native-serving nonprofits
The Native American Advised Fund (NAAF) at the Santa Fe Community Foundation is pleased to announce $60,000 in grants to 17 nonprofits serving Native communities across New Mexico. The 2023 grants support NAAF’s mission of enhancing Native lifeways and promoting the Indigenous core values of community, language, culture, and environment.
