Native Investing Initiative

Reliable statistics for values-aligned investments in Native communities is unavailable. On average, we know that only 0.4% of all philanthropic funding from large U.S. foundations is directed to these communities. At the same time, the transformative work led by Native organizations and businesses is growing and influencing powerfully positive changes in the wellbeing of Tribal Nations and Native people.

To address the dearth of investment in Native communities, Confluence led one of the first investing collaboratives focused on Indian Country with the creation of the Rainmakers Investment Collaborative in 2011. This coordinated group of foundations deployed $3.25m in program-related investments (PRIs) to underwrite investments in affordable housing, sustainability projects, locally-owned businesses, and tribal enterprises in New Mexico and Arizona.

In 2022, Confluence sunset the Rainmakers Investment Collaborative after more than a decade of field-building and collaborative investments with our Native partners and allies in the U.S. Southwest. As a legacy of this important work, Confluence has expanded our commitment to Tribal communities and Indigenous entrepreneurs by establishing a Native Investing Initiative led by a Native Advisory Council of Confluence Members, which will work across geographies in the U.S and Canada.

This initiative is based upon principles of reciprocity and aims to shift how money is used in relationship with Native communities from a tool of exploitation to one of healing. The program focuses on three key areas:

1. Offering opportunities for investor education and learning

2. Fostering connections that promote healing and reciprocal relationships between values-aligned investors and Indigenous communities across the continent

3. Driving more and better capital towards Indigenous businesses and projects by uplifting Indigenous leadership, expertise, and knowledge

 

Native Advisory Council:

  • Stephanie Gutierrez, Executive Director, Seven Fires and CEO, Hope Nation Consulting (Oglala Sioux)
  • JoAnn Melchor, President & CEO, New Mexico Foundation (Santo Domingo Pueblo)
  • Zeke Smith, President, Empire Health Foundation (he/him/his) (Osage/Oneida descended)
  • Christian Weaver, Program Director, GRID Alternatives' Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (Shinnecock Nation)
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