Funding to address critical needs in Indian Country, including homeownership, economic development and energy sovereignty
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To support greater economic empowerment in tribal communities, the Wells
Fargo Foundation has awarded nearly $13 million to nonprofits supporting
American Indian and Alaska Native communities as part of a five-year,
$50 million commitment to expand its focus on tribal philanthropy.
The funding will help increase homeownership, energy sovereignty and
workforce development on tribal lands, promote development of native
owned small businesses, and help build capacity for nonprofits to better
serve their clients in Indian Country.
“Wells Fargo has been serving American Indian and Alaska Native
communities for more than 50 years,” said Jon Campbell, president of the
Wells Fargo Foundation. “We believe it is important to support nonprofit
and community organizations that empower tribal communities to determine
their own way of life on their own lands — according to their
time-honored cultures, traditions and beliefs — while also providing
access to the tools and opportunities that can lead to financial success
and well-being.”
The grants to 25 organizations range from $50,000 to $5 million and fall
into four broad focus areas:
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Helping tribal members succeed financially. Grants to
organizations like Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition and Cook Inlet aim
to help tribal members build financial assets that can be passed from
one generation to another or leveraged for post-secondary education or
starting a business. Grants to ONABEN and American Indian Chamber of
Commerce Education Fund will promote entrepreneurship and development
of native owned businesses.
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Advancing tribal homeownership. Grantees First Nations Oweesta,
Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Minnesota Housing Partnership
and the National American Indian Housing Council are among several
focused on tribal housing initiatives including down payment
assistance, affordable housing solutions and expanding the capacity of
Native Community Development Financial Institutions.
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Advancing energy sovereignty. A $5 million grant to GRID
Alternatives provides seed funding for the organization’s Tribal Solar
Accelerator Fund to catalyze the growth of solar energy and job
training opportunities on tribal lands.
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Capacity building for native nonprofits. Native nonprofits
serving critical needs in Indian Country — including the National
Indian Council on Aging, the Indian Land Tenure Foundation and the
American Indian Engineering and Science Society — received awards to
build their organizational capacity and expand services.
“We are very pleased to have added so many important and deserving
organizations to our national philanthropy programs,” said Cora Gaane of
the Wells Fargo Foundation. “We consulted with numerous stakeholders in
identifying where our funding could have the greatest impact, and we
value the expertise they bring in addressing the unique social, economic
and environmental issues in Indian Country.”
National nonprofit organizations serving individuals, families and
businesses in Indian Country who wish to be considered for a grant under
the foundation’s commitment should contact AIANPhilanthropy@wellsfargo.com
to determine eligibility. Community-based, local 501(c)(3) organizations
serving the American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian
communities can continue to apply for grants through Wells Fargo’s online
tool.
The following organizations received funding from the Wells Fargo
Foundation in 2018, the first year of Wells Fargo’s five-year commitment:
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Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corp.
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Americans for Indian Opportunity
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American Indian Chamber of Commerce Education Fund
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American Indian College Fund
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American Indian Engineering and Science Society
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American Indian Graduate Center
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American Indian Higher Education Consortium
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Cook Inlet Lending Center
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Enterprise Community Partners
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First Nations Oweesta
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GRID Alternatives’ Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund
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Housing Assistance Council
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Indian Land Tenure Foundation
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Local Initiatives Support Corporation
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Minnesota Housing Partnership
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Native American Finance Officers Association
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National American Indian Housing Council
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National Congress of American Indians Fund
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National Indian Council on Aging
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Native Americans in Philanthropy
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Neighborhood Reinvestment
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Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition
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ONABEN
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Operation Tiny Home
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Prosperity Now
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based
financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s
vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them
succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco,
Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and
services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,800
locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and
mobile banking, and has offices in 37 countries and territories to
support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With
approximately 259,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three
households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26
on Fortune’s 2018 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In 2017,
Wells Fargo donated $286.5 million to 14,500 nonprofits and Wells Fargo
team members volunteered a record 2 million hours. Wells Fargo’s
corporate social responsibility efforts are focused on three strategic
priorities: diversity and social inclusion, economic empowerment, and
environmental sustainability. News, insights and perspectives from Wells
Fargo are also available at Wells
Fargo Stories.