Natem Foundation

“Natem” is a word from the indigenous Amazonian Shuar language for ayahuasca, a potent psychedelic brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine. ^{18 19}

Grantmaking

As of 2024, the latest available filling year, the largest total grant recipients are as follows: ²⁰

Tides Foundation

The Tides Foundation is a left-of-center grantmaking organization, donor-advised fund, and pass-through funder for other left-of-center nonprofits. Natem Foundation has granted a total of $22.7 million to Tides. ²¹  Of the various purposes attached to each grant, the most common descriptions regard the contemplative sciences, local food production, “solutions journalism,” and education reform. ^{21 22}

University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Healthy Minds

Natem Foundation has granted $16.5 million The University of Wisconsin–Madison Center for Healthy Minds. ²¹ Founded by neuroscientist Richard J. Davidson, the Center studies human well-being by investigating contemplative practices and qualities of mind. ²³ Since its founding, its focus has expanded to left-of-center racial identity politics and environmentalism, such as the Loka Initiative. ^{24 25}

Sante Fe Community Foundation

The Santa Fe Community Foundation is a left-of-center community philanthropy institution that manages donor funds and makes grants to support nonprofits and community initiatives across northern New Mexico, prioritizing LGBTQ, Black, and Native American communities. Natem Foundation has directed $4.9 million to the Sante Fe Community Foundation, 72% of which has been earmarked for “healing intergenerational trauma,” “programming for indigenous women,” and “social justice activities.” ^{26 21}

Ella Baker Center for Human Rights’ Restore Oakland Project

Between 2015-2019, Natem Foundation contributed $1.9 million to Ella Baker Center for Human Rights to support the Restore Oakland Project. ²¹ The initiative, jointly organized by the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC United), endeavored to create a community advocacy and jobs-training center in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood. The project was centered around an upscale restaurant and commercial kitchen named Colors that would provide a workforce-training program for immigrants and former convicts. ²⁷ Originally set to open in the fall of 2019, delays were continuously announced. By March of 2020, partnership strains became public when the Ella Baker Center sued ROC United over Restore Oakland construction/operating cost allocations. By September 2021, two years after the planned opening, ROC United officially abandoned the project. ²⁸ As of 2026, the building constructed through the program is today used for “political education” and “power-building” for efforts such as police and prison abolition. ²⁹

Financials

According to its latest available filing from 2024, the Natem Foundation reported $7.1 million in revenue, $2.7 million in expenses, of which $2.56 million of which were in charitable grants; and $6.7 million in net assets. ³⁰ The Foundation began in 2009 with a sum of $60 million. ³¹