Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples has received funding from major left-of-center grantmakers including the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Novo Foundation. ^{5  6  7  8}

History and Activities

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, founded in 1984 as the Seventh Generation Fund, is a nonprofit organization that promotes indigenous communities within the United States. The organization provides grants and offers fiscal management, program training, and leadership development for other organizations. ^{1  9  2} The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples argues for promoting “social and cultural justice.” ⁴

According to its website, the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples has three primary grantmaking initiatives: Community and Cultural Vitality, the Flicker Fund, and Thriving Women. ³ Community and Cultural Vitality funds initiative promotes connections between indigenous peoples with “traditional lifeways.” ³ The Flicker Fund provides funding to communities impacted by natural disasters it claims are caused by climate change. ³ Thriving Women supports placing women in “healing” and leadership positions. ³

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples also operates as a fiscal sponsor and nonprofit umbrella for other indigenous-focused organizations and provides affiliates training in administration, technical services, fiscal management, and organizational development. ³

Additionally, the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples sponsors workshops and conferences on program planning, grant writing, sustainable agriculture, financial management, and conflict resolution. ³ The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples has been a consultant organization to the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council since 2017. ¹

Leadership

The chief executive officer and executive director of the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples is Tia Oros Peters. Peter was one of the founders of the Global Indigenous Women’s Caucus and had an executive leadership fellowship from the Center for Civic Partnerships. ^{10  11}

Financials

According to tax filings, in 2023 the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples reported $19,893,414 in revenues, $19,968,902 in expenses, and $33,135,412 in assets. Of its expenses, the organization spent $6,952,186 on promoting the language, arts, food, and communities of Native Americans; $5,944,651 on land, water, and climate change initiatives; $2,578,772 on “women/girl, and two-spirit led empowerment”; and $448,732 on its Flicker Fund to respond to natural disasters that it asserts are caused by climate change. Of its income, the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples received $18,513,490 from gifts, grants, and other contributions. ⁹

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples reported making 129 grants to nonprofit organizations within the United States in 2023. Notable grants include $50,000 to the Alaska Native Birthworkers Community, $50,000 to the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center, $40,000 to Alliance for Felix Cove, $40,000 to Attach Your Heart Foundation, $50,000 to Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits, $50,000 to Blackfeet Eagle Shields, $50,000 for Blue Heaven Harnessing Hope, $50,000 for the Changing Woman Initiative, $50,000 to Hawaii People’s Fund, $50,000 to the Healing Waters Institute, $50,000 to Indigenous Pride Los Angeles, $50,000 to the Piegan Institute, and $50,000 to the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project. ⁹

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples also receives funding from several major left-wing grantmakers, including $550,000 from the Ford Foundation from 2009 through 2012, $2.1 million from the MacArthur Foundation from 1989 through 2021, $160,000 from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation from 2021 through 2025, and $2,275,000 from the Novo Foundation in 2023. ^{5  6  7  8}