Participants at Strengthening the Circle
BY JODI RAVE
Publisher of Buffalo’s Fire
Some of the greatest innovators in Indian Country are making a difference in their communities by creating nonprofit organizations. In order to ensure their success, nonprofit leaders can participate in a year-long training program called Strengthening the Circle.
The next gathering will be in Keystone, S.D. Oct. 21-24. North Dakota and South Dakota nonprofit leaders are encouraged to apply. Check out the leadership program details. Successful applicants travel and lodging expenses are paid for by Strengthening the Circle. The deadline is Sept. 15.
As the founder of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a nonprofit media organization, I’m thankful for Strengthening the Circle. I first attended the leadership program in Bozeman, Mont., home base for Hopa Mountain, one of four STC collaborators. Other organizers include Wolfstar Productions, Artemisia Associates and Seventh Generation Fund.
More than 400 Native-led nonprofits from seen states have participated in Strengthening the Circle since 2007. While Strengthening the Circle began training sessions in Bozeman, Mont., the leadership program extended to South Dakota in 2013. The growth of Native-led nonprofit work is intriguing as grassroots organizers lead their communities towards self-reliance by tackling myriad issues at home.
Nonprofits in Indian Country are an emerging entrepreneurial force in areas such as language schools, social services, LBGTQ, digital archives, buffalo management and recognizing Native American Hall of Fame superheroes. So much more work can be done. No one, however, does this work alone.
Strengthening the Circle training emphasizes four program goals, including: organizational development; sharing traditional leadership knowledge among organization participants; developing culturally appropriate training materials; and encouraging more private foundations to support Native nonprofits.
Large foundation support to Native organizations declined 29 percent from 2006 to 2014, a $35 million drop.
First Nations Development Institute
Many nonprofit leaders often get burned out by trying to do much. It’s even harder with little moral or financial support. On that note, STC trainings create a welcoming environment for all. Program organizers also typically invite large and small foundations to meet with nonprofit leaders.
Independent evaluations show STC training and mentoring have aided dozens of nonprofit organizations. Overall, grassroots leaders are rising day by day to better serve Native families.
In 2017, the number of Native-led organizations in the Northwest and Great Plains included the following: Idaho, 3; Montana, 70; South Dakota, 82; Washington, 150; Oregon, 61; and North Dakota, 17. The October training is a great opportunity for North Dakota leaders to help increase the number of nonprofit organizations in the state.
The work of Strengthening the Circle is especially important today in helping nonprofits understand how to run a successful organization. Tackling issues such as fundraising is never easy. How do Native-led nonprofits get ahead with a decline in big donor foundation support? Large foundation support to Native organizations declined 29 percent percent from 2006 to 2014, a $35 million drop, according to the First Nations Development Institute.
“This means since 2006, on average, large foundations have given $4.3 million less every year to Native American organizations and causes,” according to a 2018 First Nations Development Institute report.
Our tribal governments can’t do everything. Nor should we expect them too when our grassroots leaders often have the best pulse on the community. Strengthening the Circle helps Native nonprofits do important work. Apply today for the October training session in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Remember, the deadline is Sept. 15.
Jodi Rave is the founder of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance. She is a past recipient of a Nieman Fellowship for journalists at Harvard University.
