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Northwest Area Foundation Awards Grants for Native American Jobs Creation, Financial Education and Asset-Building

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (December 7, 2010) Efforts to overcome poverty are taking a decidedly green turn, supported by Northwest Area Foundation grants. The Foundation has announced five grants totaling $550,000 to nonprofit organizations that work to build assets and leadership abilities among Native Americans. They are among $1.79 million in awards the Foundation approved. Funded initiatives span Tribal classrooms in South Dakota to green jobs training in Oregon.

Amid the rolling prairies of South Dakota, Native tribes have realized their next generation needs tools to break the cycle of poverty. One strategy is to offer financial education as early as elementary school. A grant of $100,000 to Four Bands Community Fund will help make that a reality on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Four Bands is developing the Making Waves curriculum and will market it to other South Dakota tribes so they, too, can introduce it in their schools.

Nearly 2,000 miles away in Portland, Ore., a $125,000 grant to the Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA) focuses on developing green jobs and small businesses. NAYA will form partnerships to establish career development services and a job training center focused on green energy opportunities. A new Family Center Marketplace will offer small entrepreneurs a place to test business plans before launching their ventures.

“These grants reflect the commitment we have to increasing prosperity among Native Americans living on and off the reservation. We’re supporting projects designed to build personal assets through new jobs and strong communities,” said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of the Foundation. 

The $550,000 granted will support workforce development, asset-building and community leadership.

For workforce development and small-business strategies - $250,000 was awarded to two nonprofits:

• Montana Community Development Corporation of Missoula, Mont. received $125,000 to expand jobs creation and economic development in eastern Montana and on five Native American reservations.
• Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA) of Portland, Ore. received $125,000 to support the Green Job Training & Small Business Development project.

To combine asset-building with community development - $200,000 was awarded to two nonprofits:

• Four Bands Community Fund of Eagle Butte, S.D. received $100,000 to introduce the Making Waves youth financial education in Tribal schools.
• Oregon Native American Business & Entrepreneurial Network (ONABEN) of Tigard, Ore. received $100,000 to continue its work increasing family assets, the Indian Entrepreneurship Development System, and partnerships to create new sources of Native capital.

To build leadership to reduce poverty - $100,000 was awarded to one organization:

• Native Youth Leadership Alliance of Pine Ridge Reservation received $100,000 through a grant to its fiscal sponsor, Native Americans in Philanthropy, to assist in launching a leadership development and advocacy program for Native American college students in South Dakota, Washington and Montana.

The Foundation also supports efforts to improve public policy that affects low-income families. For a description of all the grants, visit www.nwaf.org.

The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by the people, organizations and communities in eight states to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. The Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill, served these states. Hill’s son, Louis W. Hill, established the Foundation in 1934.

The Foundation is currently accepting grant proposals only on an invitation basis. For more information, please visit www.nwaf.org.                                                                 

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