W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grant to First Nations Will Help Build Capacity of Local & Regional Native Nonprofits

LONGMONT, Colorado (August 6, 2014) – First Nations Development Institute (First Nations [ http://www.firstnations.org ]) has been awarded a $306,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation [ http://www.wkkf.org ] of Battle Creek, Michigan, under the foundation's "Catalyzing Community Giving" effort. First Nations will use the grant to collaborate with smaller local or regional Native American nonprofit organizations to build their internal capacity while engaging new donors – both Native and non-Native – around those organizations' efforts in building sustainable food systems and strengthening Native culture among youth.

First Nations will work with 10 organizations in its two-year pilot project, called "Nurturing Native Giving," that is intended to strengthen their fundraising effectiveness, with a primary focus on individual giving. First Nations will create a web portal that profiles the 10 participants, highlights their work, and which allows convenient donations to each organization. Further, First Nations will assist them in publicizing and marketing the portal and all funds raised will be directed back to these communities.

First Nations also will provide significant training and technical assistance to the participating organizations through coaching, webinars and an online learning community to share resources and build the group's collective knowledge and best practices from their own organizations. It will also facilitate a dialogue between project participants and Native grantmaking tribes and other funding entities in hopes that mutually beneficial partnerships can be established. Three convenings and a white paper will summarize the learnings and policy recommendations that can lead to increased giving in Native communities and, ultimately, grow the body of knowledge about Native philanthropy.

"First Nations has long known that developing a strong and healthy nonprofit sector in Native communities is one key to economic diversification and service delivery," said First Nations President Michael E. Roberts. "This program will expand the reach of local Native nonprofits and improve charitable giving to Native causes and communities."

About First Nations Development Institute

For 34 years, using a three-pronged strategy of educating grassroots practitioners, advocating for systemic change, and capitalizing Indian communities, First Nations has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own – be they land, human potential, cultural heritage or natural resources – and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native American communities. First Nations is a national nonprofit organization that serves Native American communities throughout the United States. For more information, visit http://www.firstnations.org [ http://www.firstnations.org ].

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Mich., and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit http://www.wkkf.org [ http://www.wkkf.org/ ].