Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge & Funding Collaborative

Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge & Funding Collaborative is sponsored by Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) (with support from Biodiversity Funders Group and The Christensen Fund). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Tribal Climate & Conservation GET NOTIFIED WHEN UPDATES TO NAP ARE RELEASED. Investing in Tribal Nations is Crucial to Protecting Our Lands & Waterways There is a crucial, global effort underway to protect 30 percent of the earth’s lands, oceans, and waterways by 2030. Aptly named 30x30, this movement intends to stop some of the worst effects of climate change and our loss of biodiversity.

President Biden’s administration is leading the U.S. contribution to this work through the America the Beautiful initiative. Tribal Nations, through their nation-to-nation relationships with the federal government and their deep knowledge of the ecosystems they steward, bring unique tools and resources to the 30x30 movement. In the United States, Tribes oversee approximately 5% of the country’s landmass.

The 95 million acres of land managed by the 574 federally recognized Tribal nations encompass some of the continent’s most critically important wildlife habitat, resilient landscapes, and irreplaceable cultural assets. Indigenous Peoples have been deeply connected to these ecosystems since time immemorial and have developed generations of environmental knowledge that has helped them nurture and steward lands and waters.

U.S.-based philanthropic support of conservation efforts led by Tribal Nations has been largely non-existent and has often been approached through a Western lens that disregards the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples. As Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship continues to prove effective and gain recognition as a critical strategy to achieve the goals laid out by 30x30, it is time for that to change.

The federal government recognizes this as well and has ramped up funding for Tribally led conservation efforts. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced that it will prioritize 10% of conservation funding to Tribal Nations. Now is the time to capitalize on this unprecedented opportunity and bring public and private funding together to support conservation work led by Tribal Nations.

BREAKING NEWS – DECEMBER 2, 2024 NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $122. 5 MILLION IN CONSERVATION GRANTS FROM THE AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL CHALLENGE This press release was originally published on the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation's website and can be found here . WASHINGTON, D.

C. (December 2, 2024) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) joined its public partners today in announcing $122. 5 million in grants through the America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative: America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC).

The 61 new grants announced today will support landscape-scale conservation projects across 42 states, three U.S. territories and 19 Tribal and Native Nations. The grants will generate at least $8. 7 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $131.

2 million. ATBC grants support projects that conserve, restore and connect habitats for wildlife while improving community resilience and access to nature. The America the Beautiful Challenge is a partnership between the Department of the Interior (though the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Defense, Native Americans in Philanthropy, and NFWF.

The competitive grant awards were made possible with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, other federal conservation programs, and private sources.

"The America the Beautiful Challenge is advancing President Biden’s ongoing commitment to conserve our lands and waters by supporting locally led conservation and restoration projects in communities across the country," said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory.

"Thanks to historic investments from the President’s Investing in America agenda, these projects in communities across the nation will help ensure everyone can access the benefits nature has to offer for years to come." Tribal Nations Initiative Booklet About the Conservation Pledge and Funding Philanthropic institutions can join this effort in one of two ways.

Funders can commit to the Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge by designating a self-determined amount of funding, or a percentage of programmatic spending, for Tribally led conservation efforts through grants of their own. Please email info@nativephilanthropy. org for more information.

Funders can make a meaningful, monetary contribution to the Tribal Nations Conservation Fund. For more information or to make a larger donation, please contact info@nativephilanthropy. org "Conservation is not just about safeguarding land.

It’s about prioritizing people, especially those who hold the traditional knowledge on how to combat our climate and biodiversity crisis, and recognizing that they can chart a path forward. ” Erik R Stegman, Chief Executive Officer The Pledge provides a way for funders to support the conservation work of Tribal Nations.

The Pledge provides a way for funders to participate in the Collaborative through their charitable giving while doing so within the guidelines of their respective institutions. The Pledge calls on funders to commit to a self-determined amount of funding, or a self-determined percentage of annual programmatic funding, to support the biodiversity and conservation efforts of Tribes, inter-Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia.

Looking for more information? Read our FAQ Comments and/or questions Does your organization have a regional or national focus? * What is the focus of your organization's work?

Native Americans in Philanthropy recognizes the importance of this relationship and supports Native-led climate and conservation work. The Land, Water, and People As the first caretakers of the land in these United States, Indigenous peoples have a special connection to the land, water, and many species that share their world. The Earth is a part of their culture, creation stories, and ways of life.

Indigenous peoples have been stewards of the environment since time immemorial, preserving the land, water, and species that have sustained their communities for generations. They have long learned the delicate balance of sustainable practices while living in harmony with the environment.

Tribal Conservation Pledge & Funding Collaborative Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) has launched a Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge & Funding Collaborative (the Collaborative) that calls on the philanthropic sector to make significant investments in biodiversity and conservation projects led by Tribal Nations.

With support from Biodiversity Funders Group (BFG) and The Christensen Fund, the Collaborative provides a forum to strategize, share knowledge and educational resources, and participate in a funding mechanism to quickly move capital to Tribal Nations. For more information on NAP's Tribal Nations Initiative, please visit: nativephilanthropy. org/tni For additional information and support please email: info@nativephilanthropy.

org NFWF Announces $141. 3 Million in Grants from the America the Beautiful Challenge The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) joined its public partners today in announcing $141. 3 million in grants through the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC).

The 74 new grants announced today will support landscape-scale conservation projects across 46 States, three U.S. Territories, and 21 Tribal and Native Nations. Read the Full Press Release 2023 Request For Proposals Opens For The America the Beautiful Challenge. Tribes are Encouraged to Apply To Support Their Locally Led Conservation Projects.

NFWF expects to award at least 10% of ATBC grant funding to Tribal and Native Nations and 3% to U.S. territories. Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP),as a part of their partnership with NFWF, will be providing all match for any granted Tribally led projects up to the 10% ATBC funding set aside for Tribal Nation grantees.

Read the Full Press Release Biden-Harris Administration, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Announce Up To $116 Million for Locally Led Conservation Projects. Read the Full Press Release 14 Tribal Nations have been awarded $26.

7 million to invest in Native-led conservation projects through the 2022 America The Beautiful Challenge Read the Full Press Release Native Americans in Philanthropy Announce First of its Kind Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge and Fund to Distribute Millions to Native American Tribes for Environmental and Conservation Work in the U.S. Read the Full Press Release What is the Pledge & Funding Collaborative?

Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) has launched a Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge & Funding Collaborative (the Collaborative) that calls on the philanthropic sector to make significant investments in biodiversity and conservation projects led by Tribal Nations.

With support from Biodiversity Funders Group (BFG) and The Christensen Fund, the Collaborative provides a forum to strategize, share knowledge and educational resources, and participate in a funding mechanism to quickly move capital to Tribal Nations. What is the relationship between the Pledge and the Fund?

The Pledge is a publicly shared commitment by a philanthropic institution to support the purposes of the Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge and Funding Collaborative (the “Collaborative”) through its own direct grantmaking to support the biodiversity and conservation efforts of Tribes, inter-Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia.

The Fund, hosted by Native Americans in Philanthropy (“NAP”), is pool of contributions from funders that will quickly deploy funding and other resources to Tribal Nations in furtherance of the Collaborative’s goals. What counts toward the Pledge?

Grants, or other charitable contributions, provided to Tribes, inter-Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia for their work in biodiversity and conservation, including, but not limited to: 1. Native-led natural resource and conservation projects and programs 2. Native-led projects and programs that regrant and offer technical assistance 3.

Native-led conservation NGOs working in direct partnership with Tribes or Tribally led initiatives 4. Nonprofit fiscal agents recommended by a Tribal Nation for natural resource and conservation projects Does the Collaborative seek to reach a total dollar goal amount? Yes.

The immediate goal is to reach $100 million in commitments ($75 million in contributions to the Fund and $25 million in pledges) Is there a minimum commitment required to contribute to the Collaborative? No. There is no minimum amount required to take the Pledge or to contribute to the Fund. Funders and pledge-makers are free to decide what a meaningful contribution is for themselves.

Is my organization required to report to the Collaborative on how our grants were spent to fulfill the Pledge? No, the Pledge is on an honor system and the Collaborative will not require participating funders to provide documentation proving that they met their Pledge.

NAP and the Collaborative encourage Pledge participants to use their involvement in the Collaborative to advance their own understanding of, and public education with respect to, funding Tribal-led conservation efforts. Can foundations directly fund Tribal Nations? Yes.

There are many examples of foundations funding Tribes directly in conservation work. It is recommended that each funder consult with their own advisors on the financial and tax implications of these contributions. How do I take the Pledge?

Who do I contact? Funders can commit to the Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge by designating a self-determined amount of funding, or a percentage of programmatic spending, for Tribally led conservation efforts through grants of their own. Fill Out our form to Take the Pledge Today.

Funders can make a meaningful, monetary contribution to the Tribal Nations Conservation Fund. To contribute, please contact Amanda Tello (Esselen/Mixtec), Grant Manager – Tribal Nations Initiative at atello@ nativephilanthropy. org How will the funds be dispersed?

Who will make these decisions? NAP has developed a comprehensive, inclusive, and transparent process to disperse funding. The funding process will include participation of a Fund Advisory Committee comprised of leadership and staff from Tribal Nations and inter-Tribal organizations.

The Fund Advisory Committee will help oversee the Fund and will review and recommend projects for funding with the goal of making effective and equitable investments from the Fund that advance the goals of the Collaborative. NAP may in its discretion use an intermediary to assist with disbursement and administration of grants from the Fund.

All grants will be subject to the fi nal approval of NAP to ensure consistency with its status as a 501(c)(3) organization. How often will grant decisions be made? What kinds of projects, technical assistance, and capacity building do you expect the Fund to support?

Grants will be made in five distinct categories: 1. Grants to inter-Tribal organizations to support capacity, technical assistance, and Tribal conservation field-building work 2. Grants to conserve and restore rivers, wetlands, watersheds, and coasts 3.

Grants to conserve and restore forests, grasslands, plateau regions and other important ecosystems that serve as carbon sinks, and for land conservation and restoration also known as “Landback” projects. 4. Grants to connect and reconnect wildlife corridors, large landscapes, watersheds, seascapes and species protection and mitigation My foundation only supports work in a specific geographic area.

Can I restrict my support within the Fund to project in that area? Yes. You can designate geographic restrictions on contributions to the Fund and NAP will match your funds to appropriate projects.

Alternatively, pledge members can review projects recommended for funding by the advisory committee and provide direct support to those projects that match their geographic interests. Will the Fund publicize a list of grants made? How else will they be announced?

All grants made by the Fund will be announced through appropriate channels, such as via announcements on the NAP website, social Will NAP charge overhead or a fee to distribute the Fund resources? Yes. NAP has outlined 2 phases involved in the implementation of the Fund.

In Phase 1, funding will be used to strengthen the vital infrastructure of NAP and its partners to manage the operations of the Collaborative.

In Phase 2, the Fund will provide resources directly to Tribal Nations, during which a small portion of the funds will support NAP and its inter-Tribal partners to administer the Fund, which may take the form of providing ongoing technical assistance, providing accurate and timely reports, coordinating collaborative meetings, and other support activities such as website upkeep and communications efforts. How do I contribute to the Fund?

Who should I contact? Funders can make a meaningful, monetary contribution to the Tribal Nations Conservation Fund. For more information or to make a larger donation, please contact Amanda Tello (Esselen/Mixtec), Grant Manager – Tribal Nations Initiative at atello@ nativephilanthropy.

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