WGNNC created this guide to provide those working in philanthropy and other key allies and supporters of Native Nations and communities with a basic understanding of:
- The history, evolution, and current landscape of Native workforce development;
- The wide range and distinct roles of Native, federal, state, and nonprofit workforce development service providers serving Native people living on – and outside of – Tribal lands;
- Federal policies historically and currently impacting Native workforce development;
- The effective solutions Native workforce development service providers are developing and implementing across the country;
- The significant resource gaps (financial and otherwise) Native service providers face as they address Native people’s distinct workforce development needs; and
- The unique and vital role philanthropy must play in closing that gap and strengthening federal and state policies and resources in support of Native-designed and led workforce development solutions.
The guide equips users with an informed understanding of how they and their organizations can:
- Establish and grow impactful philanthropic partnerships with Native Nation governments, Native nonprofits, tribal colleges and universities, and other Native entities to expand and enhance the quality and accessibility of workforce development services designed by and for Native people; and
- Support policies designed to expand and strengthen the ability and capacity of – and resources available to – Native workforce development service providers to develop and implement self-determined, effective workforce development solutions.
To view the “Supporting Native Workforce Development: A Guide for Funders” document, please click here.
Related Resources for Further Learning
Below is a comprehensive list of related resources that those working in philanthropy can use to further their understanding of Native workforce development and how best to support it.
- Workforce Grantmaking in Native Nations and Communities Initiative
- Developing the Native Workforce: Understanding Indian Country and the Role of Philanthropy (webinar video)
- Developing the Native Workforce on Native Terms: Success Stories from Indian Country and Their Lessons for Philanthropy (webinar video)
- Native Workforce Development Policy and Data: The Current Landscape and Ways Philanthropy Can Strengthen Them (webinar video)
- Workforce Matters: Workforce Grantmaking in Native Nations and Communities
- National Congress of American Indians (NCAI): Tribal Workforce Development Decision-Framing Toolkit
- NCAI Tribal Workforce Development Video Playlist (videos)
- NCAI: Tribal Nations and the United States: An Introduction
- Native Americans in Philanthropy and Candid: Investing in Native Communities: Philanthropic Funding for Native American Communities and Causes
- Native Americans in Philanthropy: Language and Learning Resource for Non-Indigenous People
- Native Americans in Philanthropy: Philanthropy Self-Assessment for Working with Tribal Communities
- Native Americans in Philanthropy and Candid: Investing in Native Communities: Funding Map
- The Center for Effective Philanthropy: Overlooked (Part Two): Foundation Support for Native American Leaders and Communities
- One Fire Development Corporation, Context Is Everything: Reflections on Strengthening Partnerships Between the Philanthropic Community and Native Americans
- Common Counsel Foundation and Native Americans in Philanthropy: Native Voices Rising: The Case for Funding Native-led Change
- Funder Perspectives: From a Baseline of Knowing Absolutely Nothing...to Learning So Much About Supporting Work in Indian Country (First Nations Development Institute)
- Karla Miller (Northwest Area Foundation): Listening, Learning, and Re(de)fining Grantee-Grantor Alliances to Build Out Our New Funding Approach
- Christianne Lind (Northwest Area Foundation): I Want to Build Relationships in a More Reciprocal Way
- Native Governance Center: Beyond Land Acknowledgment Action Planning Worksheet (and Guide)
- Native Governance Center: Indigenous Wealth Guide
- First Nations Development Institute: We Need to Change How We Think: Perspectives on Philanthropy’s Underfunding of Native Communities and Causes
- Candid GuideStar: Identifying Native-Serving Nonprofit Organizations
- Center for Indian Country Development: Native Labor Market Dashboard
- Center for Indian Country Development: Dissimilarity on the Career Path: The Occupational Structure of the American Indian/Alaska Native Workforce
- Reclaiming Native Truth: Changing the Narrative about Native Americans: A Guide for Allies