NUIFC Announcement // NUIFC Receives Significant Investment To Strengthen Its Advocacy for American Indian Families Living In Urban Areas
NUIFC Receives Significant Investment To Strengthen Its Advocacy for American Indian Families Living In Urban Areas
SEATTLE, WA — Today, the National Urban Indian Family Coalition received a historic and significant grant from MacKenzie Scott. In a year riddled with challenges, Ms. Scott has accelerated and expanded her charitable support to people and communities suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic's economic devastation. The process for selecting grantees was rigorous and data-driven on community needs, program outcomes, and capacity to effectively use the funding. The NUIFC was one of 384 organizations, from an initial pool of 6,490 organizations from across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C., to be selected to receive Ms. Scott’s generous support. This investment solidifies the organization’s financial position and allows the NUIFC to advance its on-going efforts to strengthen its network of urban Indian organizations and support their capacity to serve their communities.
“To say that we are excited is an understatement! This grant is a testament to the collective impact NUIFC’s board, staff, and members have made on Urban Indian communities across the country. We have always been a small and agile organization. This investment will allow us to strategically build our capacity in programming, research, and technical support.”
“To say that we are excited is an understatement! This grant is a testament to the collective impact NUIFC’s board, staff, and members have made on Urban Indian communities across the country,“ stated Janeen Comenote, NUIFC Executive Director. “We have always been a small and agile organization. This investment will allow us to strategically build our capacity in programming, research, and technical support.”
The gift was structured as a general operating grant to sustain NUIFC’s mission, provide the necessary financial stability to grow staffing capacity and core programs for the next five years. A critical component of the NUIFC’s work is to raise awareness about the issues and challenges facing urban Indian communities by conducting community-based, participatory research with member organizations around the country.
Over the last two years, the NUIFC has orchestrated the most ambitious voter engagement initiative of urban Indian America in history, working in 18 states with 24 urban Indian organizations to make sure urban American Indian communities are heard. In a challenging year for civic engagement initiatives, the NUIFC also concentrated its efforts on the 2020 Census as it launched a national campaign and activated member and grantee organizations across the country to address the historic undercounting of American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban areas. Ultimately this gift will help the NUIFC work towards its vision – thriving American Indian and Alaska Native urban communities.
About the National Urban Indian Family Coalition
Founded in 2003, the mission of the NUIFC is to elevate a national voice and sustain Indigenous values and culture through a strong network of urban Indian organizations. The goals of the NUIFC are to build a movement that promotes advocacy, enhances resources, and mobilizes systems to integrate Urban Indian issues in policy discussions and implementation and to sustain indigenous values and culture within urban communities. Learn more by visiting www.nuifc.org.