Relationships, Respect and Revitalization: Grantmaking Strategies--A Guide for Native American Education and Philanthropy. Observations from a Grantmakers for Education Member Briefing (Denver, Colorado, February 21-23, 2006)

Overview & Synopsis

American Indian education has an important place in U.S. education, and grantmakers can form lasting relationships with indigenous communities that will have a broad impact on not only Native education, but on education in the U.S. as a whole. These relationships can yield transformational change in Indian communities and can be rewarding for grantmakers as they see the results of their efforts and investments. American Indians have some of the lowest educational attainment rates of any ethnic group in the United States. Not coincidentally, one in four American Indians live below the poverty line, and reservation communities are among the poorest in the nation. Across all levels of education, Native people still struggle to access and succeed in education. Despite these facts, there is hope. A new era of self-determination in Indian education and growing partnerships with the philanthropic community have yielded tremendous breakthroughs in recent years. In February 2006, a Grantmakers for Education member briefing brought together grantmakers, American Indian educators, directors of innovative Native educational programs and scholars to discuss cultural and educational issues in Indian Country and appropriate strategies for grantmaking. This report is a summary of key findings from the briefing. Its purpose is to provide grantmakers with an overview of contemporary topics in Native education as well as a clear set of strategies they can employ to make policy and funding decisions in the following areas: early childhood education, K-12 education, tribal colleges and universities, post-secondary education and graduate school, language and culture, and teacher training. (Contains 13 resources.)