After five years of grantmaking to Indigenous communities, foundation expands work to full program.
SAN FRANCISCO—The Schmidt Family Foundation’s 11th Hour Project announced today the launch of a new grantmaking program in support of Indigenous communities across the country. The program evolved out of the foundation’s intersectional work to advance clean energy access, sustainable agriculture and human rights, and models how new programs can help to address urgent issues that fall outside the traditional areas of grantmaking. Over the past five years, the foundation has issued 86 grants to 57 organizations in support of Indigenous-led work across the United States and Canada.
In its first year, the Indigenous Communities program aims to continue building relationships with existing indigenous grantees, as well as to fill key gaps and support new opportunities.
The foundation is supporting a variety of work, including land purchase in California, and the efforts of regional and national Indigenous re-grantors, working with smaller and new grassroots organizations to promote early funding, self-determination and re-Indigenization. Re-Indigenization involves practicing and revitalizing cultural lifeways and relationships as well as ways of Indigenous being, knowing, and governing; examples include learning and speaking Indigenous languages, gathering foods and medicines, and thinking holistically and for seven-generations.
Another focus is narrative change regarding Indigenous peoples and their history, with emphasis on the removal of Native mascots from three professional sports teams – Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Blackhawks, and Atlanta Braves – and from nearly 2,000 K-12 public and private schools across the country.
The Indigenous Communities program prioritizes general operating support to give organizations maximum flexibility in using the funds for the needs and programs deemed most critical.
“The lands and waters so essential to our lives were once entirely, and capably, stewarded by Indigenous peoples,” said Wendy Schmidt, president of the Schmidt Family Foundation. “Our work across the foundation to restore balance between people and planet owes much to the holistic and scientific knowledge of Native people, who have received less than 1% of U.S. philanthropic dollars during the past 20 years. We are excited to continue and grow our support for them through the Indigenous Communities program.”
The program’s commitment to reclaiming narrative recognizes the foundation’s belief that Indigenous peoples cannot be seen accurately or treated equitably until damaging stereotypes have been removed. By supporting Native mascot removal and narrative change regarding the diversity and abilities of Indigenous peoples today, the foundation hopes to support their accurate representation and increased visibility in society.
“Indigenous communities and peoples are resilient, and people are healing from colonization while restoring balance to their communities and the world,” said Hester Dillon (Cherokee Nation), director of the Indigenous Communities program. “Removing Native mascots and the colonial narrative about Indigenous peoples is a fundamental part of supporting Indigenous stewardship of lands, waters, keystone species and ecosystems.”
The Indigenous Communities program will support re-grantor organizations in recognition of the importance of the ecosystem for Indigenous-led philanthropy. Organizations that serve as granting intermediaries are able to respond more quickly to community needs and can address areas such as language and culture revitalization, food systems revitalization, and the protection and restoration of land and water.