Other publications

More than 100 sources were interviewed, consulted, or literature reviewed for information for this study on Native American Philanthropy.

"Native communities have always practiced various forms of giving, from rituals and religious ceremonies to auctions and art fairs." Read on as this study explains how Native American communities have always been involved with, and are increasing their visibility in philanthropy.

Download pdf from Native Americans in Philanthropy.

First Nations Development Institute and Native Americans in Philanthropy convened a group of Native philanthropic leaders in Minneapolis/St. Paul on September 14 2005, to discuss how we can better support the development of Native foundations and Native philanthropy. The objective of this meeting was to provide insight and input into the design and implementation of a structure to support the further development of Native foundations and Native philanthropy through technical assistance, advocacy and research.

A Native critique of American life, featuring the best of Indian Country Today's editorials and perspectives since 2000. Contemporary Native thinkers and writers meet the dominant issues in both Indian and non-Indian public life head-on in this unique publication. The book is a must-read for anyone who needs a contemporary view of the major issues affecting tribal communities across the country.

Available from Indian Country Today.

This report presents key findings from a study of large foundations' giving to Native American causes and concerns. It addresses the real dollar value of grantmaking from 1989-2002, top donors and top recipients, and the general purposes to which grants are targeted. The pamphlet concludes with a discussion of what the data imply (and in particular, what action they ought to motivate) for foundations, Native-serving nonprofits, and tribal governments.

This brief article offers a concise and practical look at the important difference between "outcomes" and "impact" in measuring the effectiveness of grants and programs, and provides information on designing evaluation methods and what measures to best apply.

Posted courtesy of the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

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   On the Frontlines (312Kb)

The story of how the Boston Foundation became the first community foundation to develop and implement policy on exercising its proxy votes on investments to advance its mission.

Posted courtesy of Stanford Social Innovation Review

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   What Works (5.9Mb)

This article demonstrates how the income tax break for charitable contributions effectively creates an inequitable federal subsidy of some charitable organizations over others, and proposes policy changes that would address this situation.

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   Failure of Philanthropy (362Kb)

This book features profiles of 18 family foundations and giving groups that have developed unique or noteworthy programs of arts giving, reflecting the values and character of the donors in a variety of ways. Interviews with principals and trustees from each foundation provide further insights to how these programs were developed and realized.

90 pages, perfect bound
ISBN 0-9705157-4-X

This Field Resource Book profiles nine foundations that provide general operating support to arts organizations. The featured foundations reflect geographic and institutional diversity, as well as myriad grantmaking approaches. The chapters are the result of research and interviews with senior staff at each of the nine foundations.

Each chapter includes six sections:

"Learning and the Arts: Crossing Boundaries" was a meeting of 120 funding professionals in the arts, education, or children, youth and family programs of fifty foundations, that was organized by the Getty Trust, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. Together with a group of outstanding researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, they explored the value philanthropy can add to education and child development by integrating the arts into schools and non-school programs for children and youth.