APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 17, 2024, at 5 pm PT

BACKGROUND 

Indigenous peoples have lived in the right relationship 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, invested in, and leading solutions for both conservation and climate change. Indigenous leadership to support, protect, and conserve land can reverse and mitigate 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 and tribal leaders have been largely excluded from regional and national discussions on both climate change and conservation. Decolonizing Wealth Project is disrupting the flow of philanthropic capital to save our planet, recognizing that with Indigenous communities at the center, Mother Earth can heal.

Since 2021, our fund Liberated Capital has redistributed over $3 million to Indigenous-led organizations and tribes driving solutions on climate and conservation issues. Building on this work, we are excited to announce an additional $1 million funding opportunity for both current and Indigenous Earth Fund grantee partners and new organizations. We are most interested in supporting systemic and policy change efforts driving Indigenous climate change and conservation solutions in the United States.

THE OPPORTUNITY 

This year, the Indigenous Earth Fund will invest an additional $1 million in Indigenous-led organizations and tribes working to build political power, movements, and lead campaigns to drive Indigenous solutions around climate change and conservation issues in the United States. 

This year we will prioritize movement-building efforts and advocacy campaigns that center Indigenous self-determination and promote:

• Power building, advocacy, convening, and/or capacity building around Native-led climate and conservation efforts
• Sustainable food systems
• Land and forest management
• Protection and conservation of water sources and natural resources
• Indigenous-led data and research to advance advocacy efforts on climate and conservation solutions

We value and understand the importance of our sovereign tribal governments in this work and encourage projects led by, or partnered with, tribal nations. We also welcome joint proposals between tribes and/or Native-led organizations working toward common goals. 

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 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 cultivated for thousands of years. 

Grant decisions will be made by the IEF Advisory Committee, all of whom are Indigenous experts and leaders.

WHO’S ELIGIBLE? 

• Only Indigenous-led organizations/coalitions are eligible.
• We welcome proposals from tribes, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native-led organizations.
• Grant dollars must be paid to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or federal tribal entity; state-recognized tribes must apply through a 501(c)(3). 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 efforts.
• Funding must be used for a charitable purpose (no direct lobbying).
• We will also prioritize current grantee partners deeply engaged in climate and conservation campaigns, policy and advocacy work.

DEADLINE

Proposals are due by September 17th, 2024, at 5 p.m. PT. 

If you have any technical issues submitting your application, please contact the JustFund team at info@justfund.us. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Frequently Asked Questions

• Click here for the IEF FAQ document. This document will be updated as additional questions are received.

Informational Webinar

We will hold an informational webinar and Q&A session for interested applicants on August 27th, 2024, at 4 p.m. ET. To register, please click here.

A recording will be available and uploaded to our YouTube Channel.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please note there are different instructions for current grantee partners of the Indigenous Earth Fund grant in 2023 and new applicants. To avoid delay in processing your application, please follow the instructions applicable to your situation. 

CURRENT GRANTEE PARTNERS

(recipients of Indigenous Earth Fund grant in 2023)

Your organization will receive an emailed invitation to apply, and like last year, applications will be submitted via the JustFund platform. If you have not received an emailed invitation, please contact JustFund at info@justfund.us. 

As a reminder, JustFund utilizes a Common Application where you will detail your organization’s mission statement, team description, and financial need. For steps on how to update this information, click here. 

We also will ask for the following additional information:

• What progress have you made on your project/campaign over the last year? What are the specific short or long term goals of your campaign over the next year? (recommended less than 1000 characters)

• What are you most proud of that you have accomplished in the last year and where do you need the most support in the year ahead? (recommended less than 1000 characters)

Current grantee partners must include the following additional information: 

• A project plan. Please attach a document detailing your goals for the campaign for the new year of funding. It should include how your organization is building Indigenous power to address climate change or conservation efforts,  the specific short and long-term goals of your work, and how you will enact this.

• A budget. What is the budget for the campaign? What is your organization’s budget size? What funding is secured or pending?

• Impact Update. Current grantees can attach existing impact reports or any other documents outlining the impact your organization/tribe has had over the past year. Since DWP’s funds are untethered, there is no requirement to share how the dollars were spent but rather what the funding has contributed to that you are proud of. There is no requirement to create lengthy reports- a brief description, links, or reports you have used for other funders is just fine! 

NEW APPLICANTS

Applications will be submitted via the JustFund platform. You must be registered with JustFund to submit an application. 

Step 1: Visit www.justfund.us to create an account, or if you already have an account, login. If you are having trouble creating an account, please contact info@justfund.us.

NOTE: It takes approximately 48 hours for an account to become active- this means you may need to wait up to two days to submit your proposal after you create your account. Please take this timeline into consideration when deciding when to submit. 

Step 2: Submit application. JustFund utilizes a Common Application where you will detail your organization’s mission statement, team description, and financial need. Learn more about the Common Application here. 

We also will ask for the following information:

• How is your organization building Indigenous power to address climate change or conservation efforts? (recommended less than 1000 characters)

• Tell us the specific (short or long-term goals of your campaign) and how your work can achieve this? Are you working in coalition with others (who?) and who are the targets of your campaign? (recommended less than 1000 characters)

• Do you see value in coming together with regional and national climate and conservation policy/decision makers and funders to form a broader coalition? Are you willing to participate in a broader coalition:? If yes, under what conditions? (recommended less than 1000 characters)

REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS

All competitive applications will include these documents. Without this information, your application will be considered incomplete. 

• A project plan. Please attach a document detailing your goals for the campaign for the new year of funding. It should include how your organization is building Indigenous power to address climate change or conservation efforts,  the specific short and long-term goals of your work, and how you will enact this.

• Budget. What is the budget for the campaign? What is your organization’s budget size? What funding is secured or pending?

• Leadership. Please share a list with information on the race/ethnicity and gender of your leadership (e.g., board/staff/community advisors).

DEADLINE

Proposals are due by September 17th, 2024, at 5 p.m. PT. 
If you have any technical issues submitting your application, please contact the JustFund team at info@justfund.us. 

2023-2024 GRANTEE PARTNERS

The new grantee partners for the Indigenous Earth Fund:

• Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy – Washington, DC
• Amah Mutsun Land Trust – Santa Cruz, CA
• Bering Sea Elders Group – Anchorage, AK
• Great Plains Action Society – Iowa City, IA
• Hawaiʻi Peace and Justice – Honolulu, HI
• Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute – Kykotsmovi, AZ
• INDIGENOUS LED – Santa Fe, NM
• Local Video Productions – Tulsa, OK
• Mālama Loko Ea Foundation – Haleiwa, HI
• Nihikeya – Pinon, AZ
• Nisenan Miwok Collective – the Lands of the Hill Nisenan of the Sierra Nevada Foothills

The continuing grantee partners for the Indigenous Earth Fund:

• Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians – Portland, OR
• Aloha Kuamoʻo ʻĀina – Kailua-Kona, HI
• Brave Heart Society – Lake Andes, SD
• Children of the Setting Sun Productions – Bellingham, WA
• Ekvn-Yefolecv – Weogufka, AL
• Flower Hill Institute – Jemez Pueblo, NM
• Honor the Earth – Ponsford, MN
• Native Movement – Fairbanks, AK
• Northern Chumash Tribal Council – Guadalupe, CA
• Resources Legacy Fund – Sacramento, CA
• Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples – Santa Monica, CA
• SAGE Development Authority – Fort Yates, ND
• San Juan Collaborative for Health Equity, Dine’ Centered Research Evaluation – Yatahey, NM
• Save California Salmon – Orleans, CA
• Sicangu CDC – Mission, SD
• Water Protector Legal Collective – Albuquerque, NM
• Wishtoyo Foundation – Ventura, CA

PREVIOUS GRANTEE PARTNERS 

On January 20, 2022, we announced the redistribution of $1M+ to the following organizations:  

• Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians – Portland, OR
• Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition – Sacramento, CA
• Children of the Setting Sun Productions – Bellingham, WA
• Indian Country Grassroots Support – Farmington, NM
• Indigenous Environmental Network– Bemidji, MN
• Indian Land Tenure Foundation – Little Canada, MN
• Native Movement – Fairbanks, AK
• Native Organizers Alliance – New York, NY
• Northern Alaska Environmental Center – Fairbanks, AK
• Protect the Sacred (Harness) – Marina del Rey, CA
• SAGE Development Authority – Fort Yates, ND
• Save California Salmon – Orleans, CA
• Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, In – Arcata, CA
• Sicangu CDC– Mission, SD
• Sogorea Te’ Land Trust – Oakland, CA
• Water Protector Legal Collective – Albuquerque, NM

WHAT’S NEXT?

We keep raising money and awareness to support this multi-year campaign.

And the work doesn’t stop with our grants. We’re committed to identifying the best ways to elevate the work of Indigenous-led conservation and climate efforts across the country.

Interested in supporting this work? Reach out to us at lauren[at]decolonizingwealth.com,

Press inquiries: decolonizingwealth[at]sunshinesachs.com