Welcome to First Nations Development Institute

Our Mission

Through a three-pronged strategy of Educating Grassroots Practitioners, Advocating Systemic Change, and Capitalizing Indian Communities, First Nations Development Institute is working to restore Native 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 communities.

Our Vision

First Nations Development Institute was founded more than 27 years ago on the seemingly simple belief: “We believe that, when armed with appropriate resources, Native peoples hold the capacity and ingenuity to ensure the sustainable, economic, spiritual, and cultural well-being of their communities.”

 

Underlying this belief is the understanding that solutions can be found and built upon many millennia of cultural knowledge and tradition. Basically, what we are saying is that if we, as Native people, just value, trust, and practice what we have been doing for thousands of years, we can affect our own self-sufficiency and our own self-determination.

 

To learn more about what we do, please visit “About Us” or click here to access a short video presentation about First Nations.

New Donor Advised Fund will Support Native American Families in Low-Income Areas

Raymond James Tax Credit Funds (RJTCF) has partnered with First Nations Development Institute to establish the Raymond James Native American Development Fund (RJTCF). This inaugural donor advised fund will provide small grants to programs that have a positive impact on Native American families in low-income areas. First Nations President, Michael E. Roberts, says he is “honored that Raymond James Tax Credit Funds has chosen to recognize and support the meaningful work that First Nations Development Institute is doing in Indian Country.”

To make a contribution and become a charter donor, or to learn more about the RJNADF, click here.

Now Available! “Borrowing Trouble: Predatory Lending in Native American Communities,”

On March 14th 2008, First Nations Development Institute released “Borrowing Trouble: Predatory Lending in Native American Communities,” a report detailing the predatory practices of lenders that target Native American communities. This landmark report is the result of a research study conducted by First Nations under a grant funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. To learn more about predatory lending in Indian Country or to download the report, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007 Annual Report Now Available for Download

Since its inception, a significant part of First Nations’ work in Indian Country has been focused on recognizing and supporting Native peoples’ long-standing traditions of giving. As such, the 2007 annual report focuses on the importance of philanthropy.  Recognizing this importance, First Nations created its “Strengthening Native American Philanthropy” (SNAP) program in 1995 to empower tribes and Native organizations to exercise self-determination by taking control of their financial assets through the creation of Native-controlled grantmaking philanthropic vehicles. Thirteen years later, First Nations continues to be a leader in supporting and strengthening Native American philanthropy and carefully weaves it into each and every one of its programs. To learn more about First Nations and our activities in 2007, click here to download the 2007 annual report. 

 

 

First Nations Announces FY 2008-2009 Native Youth and Culture Fund Grantees

First Nations Development Institute is pleased to announce that it has awarded 24 tribal organizations and entities with grants under its Native Youth and Culture Fund (NYCF) program. First Nations launched the grant program in 2002, with support from the Kalliopeia Foundation and other generous supporters, to partner with tribes, Native nonprofit organizations and Native community groups working in rural and reservation-based communities seeking ways to preserve, strengthen, and/or renew Native culture and tradition among Native youth. Grants awarded this year ranged from $3,200 to $20,000. To view the list of 2008 – 2009 NYCF grantees, click here.

 

 

14th Annual Oweesta/LEAD conference held in Denver Colorado March 17-20th.

The 2008 Oweesta/LEAD Institute Conference provided American Indian Tribes, organizations and individuals the opportunity to receive training through five unique tracks: Nonprofit Management and Development, Financial Literacy/Investment Education &  Literacy, Asset Management & Policy in Indian Country, Creating an Enabling Environment for Entrepreneurship, Native Philanthropy, and Economic Development in Indian Country. Please continue checking our website for information about our 2009 LEAD Institute National Conference. Click here to view photos from the 2008 conference.

 

 

Integrated Asset Building Strategies: A 27-Year Retrospective of First Nations Development Institute
In late 2007, First Nations produced a report that documents over a quarter-century of work on several key asset-building strategies in Native communities, including financial education, individual development accounts (IDAs), community development financial institutions (CDFIs), entrepreneurship development, and building Native controlled philanthropic foundations and funds. Drawing upon a unique mix of practitioner perspectives and academic research, this report presents data on asset-building programs in Native communities and documents successful models. Click here to read the report.