INDIGENOUS EARTH FUND

Funding Opportunity | Request for Proposal | September 2021

Decolonizing Wealth Project is an Indigenous and Black-led racial justice organization that envisions a world where racial equity has become a societal norm – where new systems ensure everyone can live their best lives, thrive in their cultures, and heal from generations of colonial trauma. Our work aims to disrupt the existing systems of moving and controlling capital by offering truth, reconciliation, and healing from the ails of colonization through education, radical reparative giving, and narrative change.

Through our fund, Liberated Capital, we move untethered resources to Black and Indigenous led-organizations and we are excited to welcome proposals for our newest initiative, the Indigenous Earth Fund.

BACKGROUND

Indigenous peoples have lived in harmony with Mother Earth, as custodians and guardians of the land for generations. The climate crisis will remain just that if Indigenous communities are not centered and leading solutions for both conservation and climate change. Indigenous leadership to support, protect and conserve land can reverse climate destruction.

Despite contributing the least to this crisis, and having ancient and traditional solutions, Indigenous-led organizations receive a small percentage of philanthropic climate funding.

In addition, Indigenous Nations and communities are largely excluded from regional and national discussions on both climate change and conservation. At the Decolonizing Wealth Project, we seek to disrupt the flow of capital to save our planet, recognizing that with Indigenous communities at the center, the Earth can heal.

WHAT IS IT?

The Indigenous Earth Fund will be seeded by a $1 million investment from our fund, Liberated Capital. We are inviting proposals from Indigenous-led organizations doing the work, building political power, building movements, and leading campaigns on climate change and conservation issues in the United States. We’re aiming for this to be a multi-year, multi-million dollar initiative to support systemic and policy change efforts that center Indigenous environmental solutions.

The work may include movement-building efforts and organizing campaigns that center Indigenous self-determination that promote sustainable food systems; land and forest management; protection and conservation of water sources and natural resources. We also value and understand the importance of our sovereign tribal governments in this work and encourage projects led by, or partnered with, tribal nations. This list is not exhaustive.

For this initial phase of funding, we are inviting Indigenous-led organizations working on environmental issues in the United States to apply. Grant awards will likely range from $50,000 – $75,000 for one year.

We operate through a trust-based model, so grants will be untethered resources that enable Indigenous-led organizations to simply get the work done how and where they see fit. The solutions and ideas will vary and that’s ok! We want to celebrate and invest in the diverse wisdom Indigenous communities have been cultivating for thousands of years.

We will also be investing in a wider ecosystem to support networking and multi-organization coalescing in support of movement building across Indigenous communities, with funding that advances these efforts to bridge the disconnect between policy, philanthropy, and Indigenous wisdom. We will help convene Indigenous-led organizations, including inter-tribal organizations and networks, to elevate and discuss strategies and best practices that address the current climate crisis.

WHO’S ELIGIBLE?

This Fund is only open to Native American/Indigenous-led organizations/coalitions. To that end, we welcome proposals from Tribes, First Nations, and Inuit-led organizations in the United States.
Grant dollars must be paid to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or tribal entity; we accept applications from fiscal sponsors.
Individuals are not eligible
Applicants must be based in the United States
Coalitions and organizations working on advocacy campaigns to center Indigenous solutions in climate and conservation discussions
Funding must be used for a charitable purpose (no direct lobbying)

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The Indigenous Earth Fund Advisory Committee includes representatives from:

Decolonizing Wealth Project
Native Americans in Philanthropy
Indigenous Grassroots and Movement Leaders

HOW TO APPLY

Visit www.justfund.us to log in. If you haven’t used JustFund before, you first will need to register for an account.
Once you are logged in, you can view this RFP in JustFund here
Return to the homepage and click “Create a New Proposal” to begin your draft
Check out the tutorial video for how to apply

For more information on how to access JustFund, see JustFund FAQs or email info@justfund.us. The JustFund team is standing by to help you with the RPF submission process!

DEADLINE

Proposals are due by October 18th, 2021 at 5 pm PST. If you have any trouble submitting, please contact the JustFund team at info@justfund.us.

RFP FAQs

Click here for the Frequently Asked Questions about the Indigenous Earth Fund RFP and the application review process.

We also held an informational webinar on October 7th to share more about the RFP, watch it here.