NCAI Foundation

A Historic Endeavor in Philanthropy and Tribal Empowerment
NCAI Foundation

Empowering Tribal Nations: A Historic Endeavor

The National Congress of American Indians Foundation (NCAIF) emerges as a historic undertaking, uniquely situated at the nexus of both time-honored and contemporary cultural legacies of Native Peoples, the power of tribal governments, and authentic partnerships with the philanthropy sector. As the philanthropic arm of NCAI, our mission is profound and unprecedented: to support Tribal Nations in a transformative journey toward shared prosperity and resilience.

Join us in this extraordinary journey of empowerment.

Our approach is multi-faceted, firmly rooted in four core pillars—Upholding Tribal Sovereignty, Empowering Tribal Leadership, Cultivating Youth Leadership, and Fortifying Tribal Nations. However, we're more than just a source of financial support; we're a bridge, a connection point that opens doors for Tribal Nations to engage with the philanthropic sector, fostering collaboration, strategy development, partnerships, and the directed flow of resources to uplift Tribal Nations across a multitude of endeavors.

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Our Vision

NCAI Foundation envisions a future where Tribal Nations are centered as beacons of collaboration and global leadership. Guided by ancestral wisdom and contemporary innovation, we strive for well-resourced Tribal Nations, empowered voices, and united efforts that support healthy, sustainable communities.

Our Mission

The NCAI Foundation's mission is to rally Tribal Nations toward shared prosperity and resilience through an equity and sovereignty framework. Serving as a nexus for tribal and philanthropic collaborations, we channel expertise and assets to confront challenges and ensure a seamless distribution of funds to Tribal communities. With unwavering dedication, NCAIF empowers Tribal Nations to develop solutions with global significance.

Strategic Focus Areas

Strategic Focus Areas

About the NCAI Foundation

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities. For the past 80 years, NCAI has stood on the front lines protecting, convening, and advocating on many issues and policies impacting tribal sovereignty and Native peoples. The National Congress of American Indians Foundation (NCAIF) emerges as a historic undertaking, uniquely situated at the nexus of both time-honored and contemporary cultural legacies of Native peoples, the power of tribal governments, and authentic partnerships with the philanthropy sector.

As the philanthropic arm of NCAI, our mission is profound and unprecedented: to support Tribal Nations in a transformative journey toward shared prosperity and resilience. Through a multi-faceted approach, grounded in four core areas—Upholding Tribal Sovereignty, Empowering Tribal Leadership, Cultivating Youth Leadership, and Fortifying Tribal Nations—we aim to be far more than a financial resource. NCAIF provides a connecting point for greater access between Tribal Nations and the philanthropic sector to convene, develop strategies, partner, and direct more resources to support tribal communities in multiple bodies of work.

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Get in touch with us:
ncaifcontactinfo@ncai.org

The NCAI Foundation Team

Cheryl Martinez

Cheryl Martinez

External Partners Director

Cheryl joins the NCAI Foundation with more than two decades of dedication to building equitable relationships in support of a shared mission. With an emphasis on collaboration and cultural competencies, Cheryl works to build impactful programs and a heart-led approach to philanthropy.

Prior to joining the team, Cheryl spent ten years at The Nature Conservancy, supporting Indigenous-led projects at the global scale. In addition to raising funds she led communications for Indigenous Peoples' Day, and founded the Native Network as a gathering space for Indigenous staff to connect. Cheryl also serves as a board member for Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim, a nonprofit improving the health and wellbeing of the Maya community based in Omaha, Nebraska, and served as an expert panel reviewer for the W. K. Kellogg Foundation's Racial Equity 2030 project.

Cheryl belongs to the Tewa and Zapotec families of the Pueblos of northern New Mexico, and also has Mexican and English ancestry. Born and raised in the UK, Cheryl is a graduate of the University of Wales. Cheryl enjoys traditional Pueblo pottery making, cooking, and going on adventures with her dog, Champ.

Josh Williams

Joshua Williams

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Mr. Williams has spent 20 years in the golf, technology , hospitality and corporate industries . After graduating college with a degree in Business management Joshua work as an assistant golf professional training with his cousin who was also a golf professional. Joshua has served as a golf professional, Director of golf, General Manager and has worked in corporate development and branding for the Swinomish Tribe , The Lummi Nation and numerous fortune top companies.

Joshua is on the Nike Swoosh advisory team and is a Srixon Staff Member. Joshua has served as an advisor to the NFL alumni association and consulted with Microsoft, Top Golf, PGA, LPGA , Champions tour and WEB.com players, tournaments and activation teams. Joshua has served as an advisor to MLB and NBA teams and owners in developing corporate activations and strategies . Joshua has managed and developed sales and partnership programs for retail, marketing and corporate strategies . Joshua has been a consultant for MGM resorts and numerous gaming and hospitality facilities.

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