The Nathan Cummings Foundation Awards $10,000 To Support Native American Philanthropic Programs

LONGMONT, Colorado (January 5, 2012) – First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) has received a $10,000 grant from The Nathan Cummings Foundation to support First Nation’s Strengthening Native American Philanthropy program (SNAP), with the goal to provide organization capacity building technical assistance to two Native American philanthropic programs (the New Mexico All-Indian Community Foundation and the White Earth Nation Education Foundation) and raise the profile of philanthropy directed toward Native-controlled programs and organizations.

SNAP's goals are to strengthen the climate for tribal and individual Native participation in philanthropy and social investment in tribes and the Native American nonprofit sector; develop new mechanisms for enabling Native American tribes and organizations to be self-sustainable – to control their financial [and other] assets, and to create new philanthropic assets; and create and strengthen autonomous grantmaking institutions that will support tribal and community-based organizations working to address critical community needs.

“We thank The Nathan Cummings Foundation for their renewed support of the SNAP program, and for believing and investing in Indian Country,” shared Michael E. Roberts, President of First Nations.

About The Nathan Cummings Foundation
Rooted in the Jewish tradition and committed to democratic values and social justice, including fairness, diversity and community, the Nathan Cummings Foundation seeks to build a socially and economically just society that values nature and protects the ecological balance for future generations; promotes humane health care; and fosters arts and culture that enriches communities. For more information, visit www.nathancummings.org.

About First Nations Development Institute
For over thirty years, using a three-pronged strategy of Educating Grassroots Practitioners, Advocating for Systemic Change, and Capitalizing Indian Communities, First Nations has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own - be they land, human potential, cultural heritage, or natural resources - and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native communities. First Nations serves rural and reservation-based Native American communities throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.firstnations.org.