🎉 Dollar a Day Fund's 150th Grant Milestone: $150,000 in 1.5 Years to Native-led Work! 🌟To celebrate, here are 9 insights for Transformative Philanthropy 🚀

1. #GiveNative 🌐So many amazing Native-led organizations, including @NativeWays, @firstnations, @ndncollective, @nativesinphilanthropy, @decolonizingwealth have already brought attention to this: Native-led organizations are chronically underfunded yet still doing some of the most transformative work. Whether you are a foundation or an individual, prioritize giving to Native-led work.🌟Have questions about where to give? Reach out! 📞 

2. Participatory grantmaking can be both simple and effective 🤲 Some funders hesitate to adopt participatory processes, fearing complexity and increased project management. However, it can be streamlined. Every organization we support comes through a referral from an Indigenous-led funder or nonprofit within their community. They autonomously decide how the raised funds are allocated, and it has proven to work seamlessly. 🌟 

3. Supporting ecosystems is paramount 🌱 Our participatory approach enables us to understand key organizations in a community. This empowers us to grant and offer technical assistance to all interested organizations, fostering support for the entire ecosystem. Recognizing that no single organization can address all community needs, and understanding the interconnectedness of these issues, is key. Moreover, if an organization's work doesn't neatly align with conventional environmental justice, we still see the value in supporting them. The communities’ priorities are our priorities. 🌏

4. Technical Assistance is invaluable 💼 The Dollar a Day Fund is proud to provide unlimited pro bono technical support to each of our grantees. We collaborate with organizations and Tribes on diverse areas such as grant writing, fundraising, strategic planning, web development, budgeting, monitoring & evaluation, communications, project management, and more. These supports are essential, making a significant impact on organizations and leaders facing stretched resources and tight budgets. 🚀

5. Having someone to call is transformative ☎️ If offering extensive technical assistance feels overwhelming, simply being available to answer questions for grantees navigating philanthropy and grants can be incredibly impactful. Numerous organizations have reached out to us for a quick review of their budget formatting or insights on handling conversations with funders. Letting grantees know that we are a source of support goes a long way in building trust and relationships. 🌐

6. Corporate partnerships matter and philanthropy has a role to play 🤝 Many organizations lack the capacity to pursue corporate partnerships, and Native-led organizations are often not top-of-mind for corporate donations. By understanding our partners' needs, we identify opportunities for corporate support. Currently, we're developing a program to provide donated solar panels to grantees and have already directed $25,000 in corporate donations to build a 21 kilowatt solar array at North Leupp Family Farms on the Navajo Nation. 🌞

7. Existing funding areas miss key issues 🌐 While diversifying grantees within existing program areas is crucial, there's a need to recognize that standard funding focus areas and strict guidelines fail to consider vital intersectional work that doesn't neatly fit into common funding parameters. Our grantees addressing Birth Justice, Language Revitalization, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and Two-Spirits (MMIW2S) face limited funding opportunities, even though their work is essential. We encourage funders to think beyond guidelines to support critical work. 💪

8. Tribes need funding too 🤝 Most foundations do not even know that they can make tax-deductible donations/outright grants to Federally Recognized Tribes. They can, and many Tribes need the funding to cover key overhead costs not covered by government funding, to hire grant writers to apply for government grants, and other project costs. 💰 

9. Donors/Volunteers are eager 🙌 All our funding comes from individual donors and corporate matches, achieving tremendous success with over $200,000 raised in just 1.5 years. Our donors and volunteers, often without direct connections to Native communities, deeply understand the importance and value of this work. Never assume people aren't interested in helping. A donation model that is significant but not overly burdensome resonates well with Millennials and Gen Z 💸

🤝 Interested in working with or supporting us? Reach out! 🌟 

#EnvironmentalJustice #GiveNative #Philanthropy #trustbasedphilanthropy #fundraising