Native Americans in Philanthropy
Winoka Yepa currently serves as the Director of Research and Education at Native Americans in Philanthropy, a position held since July 2022. Previously, Winoka held various roles at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, including Senior Museum Education Manager, where responsibilities involved managing digital content and community engagement programs. Winoka's experience also includes positions at The University of New Mexico as a Research Associate and Graduate Research Assistant, contributing to Indigenous language program research and educational curriculum development. Additional roles include Story Maps Fellowship Manager at Santa Fe Art Institute and Indigenous Outreach and Curator of Inclusion at SITE Santa Fe. Winoka holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Language, Literacy & Sociocultural Studies from The University of New Mexico and a Master of Arts (MA) in American Indian/Native American Studies from the University of Arizona.
Native Americans in Philanthropy
A Native-led organization moving philanthropic dollars into Indian Country. Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) promotes equitable and effective philanthropy in Native communities. We have more than a 30-year presence in the field and work closely with our counterpart organizations advocating for Tribal communities. The cornerstone of our work is our relatives and our networks. We support several communities and partners that work together to build knowledge, community, priorities, and power in the sector. These networks include Native professionals in philanthropy, elected Tribal leaders, Native youth leaders, Native philanthropic executives and board members, and Native nonprofit leaders. We leverage the power and wisdom of these networks to: - Increase the authentic visibility of Native people and communities - Develop tools and resources to educate funders - Establish more meaningful relationships that align with our Indigenous values - Increase funding and accountability to Indigenous-led organizations, grassroots movements, and Tribal Nations. Native peoples are the first philanthropists, but Native people remain invisible. This is why it is crucial for Native people to build voice and power in the philanthropic sector. Our vision is for all Native communities to be restored to full health and sustainability through responsibility. To accomplish this, we commit to the following goals: 1. Increase philanthropic investment in Native communities to strengthen and expand community-based solutions. 2. Strengthen supports for Native, philanthropic, and nonprofit leaders to further diversify the sector. 3. Improve the availability of regular, reliable data and Indigenous-led research on philanthropic giving to Native communities. 4. Restoring Native communities to full health and sustainability will take all of us. Join our sacred circle.