About NAPNative Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) promotes equitable and effective philanthropy in Native communities. We have more than a 30-year presence in the field and work closely with our counterpart organizations advocating for Tribal nations and other communities of culture. As the only Native-led organization in the country specifically focused on the philanthropic sector, we are also the only organization that nurtures and supports networks of diverse Native stakeholders in the philanthropic field. Restoring Native communities to full health and sustainability will take all of us. Join our sacred circle.Native Americans in PhilanthropyNAP_ab4ce8bc-ce47-11eb-a7fe-25e10883ea00Native CommunitiesRelativesThe cornerstone of our work is our relatives, our networks. We support several communities of stakeholders that work together to share knowledge and resources and build priorities and power in the sector. These communities include the Native Program Officers working group, the Tribal Nations Philanthropy Imitative, and our new Native youth philanthropy leadership program.Native Program Officers Working GroupTribal Nations Philanthropy ImitativeNative Youth Philanthropy Leadership ProgramIndigenous-Led NonprofitsWe also support several communities of Indigenous-led nonprofits, particularly through our Native Voices Rising fund in partnership with the Common Counsel Foundation. We leverage the power and wisdom of these networks to: * Increase the authentic visibility of Native people and communities * Develop tools and resources to educate funders * Establish more meaningful relationships that align with our Indigenous values * Increase funding to Indigenous-led organizations Native Voices Rising FundCommon Counsel FoundationU.S. FoundationsIn 2019, total charitable giving in the United States was nearly $500 billion. Only 0.4% of funding by large U.S. foundations is directed to Native communities.Candid It is commonplace to find that funding decisions in philanthropy are too often disconnected from those who are most impacted. To this end, NAP co-developed the Investing in Native Communities platform with Candid so that funders had a resource to learn about the basics of working with tribal communities while exploring where current funding is being directed.FundersWe are also in the process of redeveloping all our training programs so that we can provide opportunities for funders to learn about tribal communities and their priorities. Additionally, NAP provides strategic consulting and partnership to foundations and other funders on specific issue areas and advance meaningful conversations that lead to meaningful relationships. Native PeoplesNative peoples are the first philanthropists, but Native people remain invisible. This is why it is crucial for Native people to build voice and power in the philanthropic sector. Native Americans in Philanthropy TeamErik StegmanExecutive Director ~ Erik R. Stegman (Carry the Kettle First Nation Nakoda) serves as Executive Director of Native Americans in Philanthropy, a national organization advocating for stronger and more meaningful investments by the philanthropic sector in tribal communities. Previously, he served as the Executive Director for the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute. He has held positions at the Center for American Progress on their Poverty to Prosperity team, as Majority Staff Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and in the Obama administration as a Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Education. Erik began his career in Washington, D.C. at the National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center. He holds a J.D. from UCLA School of Law, an M.A. in American Indian Studies from UCLA’s Graduate Division, and a B.A. from Whittier College.Kelli Wilson BegayChief Strategy and Operations Officer ~ Kelli Wilson Begay, MBA, MS, RDN belongs to the Kickapoo, Seminole, and Muscogee (Creek) tribes. She is an auntie, entrepreneur, dietitian, and cultural connection builder for Indigenous communities. For the past 20 years, she has been dedicated to resolving and highlighting social determinants of health, and how they relate to lifespan discrepancies, through the lens of Indigenous worldviews. Kelli has worked with organizations large and small, from government agencies to tribal leaders on nutrition, cultural competency, community engagement, and program development. Kelli is the current Chief Strategy and Operations Officer for Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP), where she oversees programs and leads teams. She has recently provided leadership of responsive shifts in offerings at NAP for Indian Country during one of the most challenging times in recent history, including the pandemic health crisis, the social/racial reckoning, and environmental crisis. As an Indigenous woman, Kelli has an in-depth understanding of the unique qualities within Indian Country and embraces her work through innovative strategies that uplift and best serve Indigenous communities. Greg MastenVice President of Tribal Nations Engagement & Special Projects ~ Greg Masten is an enrolled member of the Yurok Tribe and a descendant of the Hupa and Karuk Tribes. He grew up both on and off reservations throughout his life in the Pacific Northwest. Greg comes from a family of Tribal leaders that taught him the value of carrying on the hopes of our elders of the past for our people by utilizing our gifts and talents to contribute in some way to our Native communities. Greg’s background is rooted in education with a Master’s degree in Education (M.Ed.) with a special focus on Indigenous education and a Bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies. With over 20 years of experience in advocating for our Tribal Nations and Native communities, Greg has lead regional, state, and national initiatives in education and philanthropy. Greg has worked with tribes, tribal leaders, and Native serving organizations across the nation to develop strategies to create more awareness, advocacy, and ultimately more resources to support their communities. In the philanthropic sector, Greg has worked with some of the nation’s largest foundations and corporations to develop strategies to engage and positively impact Native American communities. “Ayekwee’ to all of my relatives and friends. I’m excited to work for NAP to create a platform for more awareness and partnerships between our Tribal Nations and the philanthropy sector to rewrite the narrative and direct more resources to support our Native communities.”Brittany SchulmanDirector of Indigenous Knowledge & Power Building Networks ~ Brittany Schulman is an enrolled citizen of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe and grew up in rural North Carolina. As a traditional storyteller, Brittany’s perspective is grounded in her experience growing up with her mother, siblings and grandparents on their family farm and her Waccamaw Siouan community. Brittany is a lifelong learner and educator and integrates her Indigenous values into everyday life. She is a results-driven educator, public speaker with a track record of maximizing efforts through relationships. As an advocate, Brittany has served in many leadership roles to ensure that Native Americans and Indigenous values are not only included but also at the forefront in every conversation. Recognized for providing practical, sustainable solutions to business challenges with exceptional communication skills and project management with a passion for Indigenous peoples, Brittany is currently the Director of Indigenous Knowledge and Power Building Networks, where she continues her work as an organizer and educator. Brittany is married to a wonderfully supportive husband, Joseph (Leech Lake Ojibwe) and they have two children.Dawn KnickerbockerMember Outreach Manager & Development Support ~ Dawn Knickerbocker (Anishinaabe, White Earth Nation) began her career in grantmaking and philanthropy as a professional nonprofit consultant, grant writer, and project supporter. She worked as a grant-maker in Washington state when she designed and implemented Spokane Arts Grant Awards (SAGA). Dawn recently worked as the Director of Foundation Relations at Antioch College. She was also the co-director of the Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition. Dawn holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Whitworth University, completed graduate work in social impact from Claremont Lincoln University, and a master’s in arts in human rights practice from University of Arizona. Dawn is the former elected Chair of the Advisory Commission on Diversity for the most diverse city in the State of Washington, Renton from 2006-2010. She is a published nonfiction writer, poet, columnist, and speaker, and the 2020 Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice Award recipient. Her latest anthology, NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC: Stories of Hope and Resilience, is now under contract with Page Publishing and is set to be released in December 2020. Her collaborative coffee table book, Edible Ohio, is scheduled to be released in 2021. Dawn resides in Yellow Springs, Ohio with her husband and four sons.Toni Sanchez Engagement & Communications Coordinator ~ Toni Sanchez (Seminole Tribe Of Florida) is beginning her non-profit career as she joins the Native Americans in Philanthropy team as Engagement & Communications Coordinator. After trying her hand at special event planning, corporate marketing, and entertainment journalism she feels she’s finally found her calling in the philanthropic sector. Toni is excited to focus all of her accumulated skills towards the benefit of Indigenous peoples. She holds a BA in Creative Writing from Florida State University.Kristen PrattProject Assistant ~ Kristen Pratt is a proud member of the Osage Nation of Oklahoma and brings more than 10 strong years of experience from areas including tribal government, national non-profits, tribal colleges and universities, program and project management, and federal grant management. Kristen attended college at the University of Central Oklahoma before beginning her professional career with the Osage Nation. Kristen is excited to join the NAP team and to continue serving indigenous and tribal communities!Joseph Ironhawk LittleIndigenous Philanthropy Fellow ~ Joseph Ironhawk Little (Oglala Lakota and Gabrieleno Tongva) joins Native Americans in Philanthropy as the inaugural Indigenous Philanthropy Fellow. Joseph is driven to support Indigenous communities through highlighting the importance of addressing community-based challenges by taking action. He has held positions as a Policy Fellow for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and as a Marketplace Capacity Analyst Intern for the Nike N7 Division at Nike, Inc. He is a recent graduate from Stanford University with a B.A. in Public Policy.NAP Board of DirectorsEdgar VillanuevaChair (Lumbee) ~ Schott Foundation for Public EducationVicky StottSecretary (Ho-Chunk) ~ W.K. Kellogg FoundationCarly Bad Heart BullDirector (Dakota/Muskogee Creek) ~ Native Ways FederationMatt MortonDirector (Squaxin Island) ~ Meyer Memorial TrustChad PoitraDirector (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) ~ Tiwahe FoundationSarah EchoHawkVice-Chair (Pawnee) ~ American Indian Science and Engineering SocietyJo-Anne E. StatelyTreasurer (Anishinaabe, White Earth Nation) ~ The Minneapolis FoundationJackie BlackbirdDirector (Gros-Ventre/Assiniboine) ~ Island Mountain Development Group Megan Bang, PhDDirector (Ojibwe) ~ Spencer Foundation | Northwestern University School of Education and Social PolicyAll Native communities to be restored to full health and sustainability through responsibility_ab4ce9c0-ce47-11eb-a7fe-25e10883ea00To promote equitable and effective philanthropy in Native communities._ab4cea9c-ce47-11eb-a7fe-25e10883ea00HealthSustainabilityResponsibilityDiversityEquityEffectivenessPhilanthropyCommunityInvestmentIncrease philanthropic investment in Native communities to strengthen and expand community-based solutions._ab4ceb6e-ce47-11eb-a7fe-25e10883ea001Native Communities_ab4cec36-ce47-11eb-a7fe-25e10883ea00SupportStrengthen supports for Native, philanthropic and nonprofit leaders to further diversify the sector._ab4cee02-ce47-11eb-a7fe-25e10883ea002Native LeadersPhilanthropic LeadersNonprofit Leaders_ab4cef1a-ce47-11eb-a7fe-25e10883ea00Data & ResearchImprove the availability of regular, reliable data and Indigenous-led research on philanthropic giving to Native communities._ab4cefec-ce47-11eb-a7fe-25e10883ea003Native Communities_ab4cf0be-ce47-11eb-a7fe-25e10883ea002021-06-15https://nativephilanthropy.org/our-mission/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net