Native American Fund, United States
Fundraiser Result: $51,306 USD
In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous nations across the United States faced disproportionate challenges: food insecurity, limited healthcare access, contaminated water supplies, and systemic neglect. In response, we launched the Native American Fund, a GoFundMe campaign to support six Native nations during the crisis.
The campaign raised $51,306, surpassing its original $33,333 goal. Funds provided food, basic supplies, and emergency support to families across the Ramapough Lenape, Apache, Diné (Navajo), and Tohono O’odham Nations. Weekly conversations with elders ensured that resources flowed directly to where they were most needed.
Impact Areas
Project Overview
From delivering propane to Indigenous elders living far from grocery stores to supporting Navajo communities under strict lockdowns, as well as neglected urban Native Communities in highly impacted cities, the Native American Fund embodied the principle of kinship in action.
This campaign not only met urgent needs during the pandemic but also reminded supporters worldwide of the resilience, prayers, and leadership of Native communities across Turtle Island.
PEOPLE
Native Communities across Turtle Island
LOCATION
United States
FUNDS RAISED
$51,306
DATE
2019
Elders shared the reality on the ground:
“Our community is uniting in prayer and O’odham songs – and has mobilized to cook food and hand them out for those most in need; butchered 5 cows as of today and handed the meat out; and is providing care packages containing food and basic paper goods to the community. We average serving 200 families per event.”
~ Austin Nunez, Tohono O’odham, San Xavier Reservation
“There are many who are immunocompromised in our community of Ringwood, NJ, and Hillburn, NY… They are in need of the basics – toiletries, food, water, masks, sanitizer.”
~ Clara Soaring Hawk, Ramapough Lenape
“There is 1 hospital with 25 beds in a community of 18,000 people. Our hospital will need support. There is also the appreciation of the basics of life that has been greatly under-appreciated.”
~ Twila Casadore, Apache