Inside Philanthropy: “This New Youth-Led Grantmaking Program Backs Indigenous Approaches to Health”

“It’s been a year since Newman’s Own Foundation reps attended the Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) conference and brought NAP and Novo Nordisk US on board to develop what became the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund (ITF).

With more funders likely to join them, [Erik] Stegman and his colleagues envision the ITF as a source of steady support — and a reminder to their grantmaking peers of the importance of transferring power beyond the foundation’s four walls. ‘In conventional grantmaking models, decision makers are typically removed from community realities,’ he said. ‘Native youth witness and experience the harmful impacts of persistent underinvestment in education, mental health, food security and more. And they know firsthand what is needed to improve their environments in a way that is rooted in culture and place. We believe this can and should be a new paradigm for philanthropic practice.’”