IFIP Global Community
Funding Practice
As things stand, only 5% of global human rights funding goes to supporting Indigenous Peoples. Our work areas are designed to change this narrative by bridging the gap between funders and Indigenous Peoples. Only through a collective effort can we reshape existing funding practices to prioritize Indigenous voices. IFIP educates its members and allies to practice a new paradigm of giving based on “The Five R’s of Indigenous Philanthropy”—Respect, Reciprocity, Responsibility, Relationships and Redistribution. These five principles provide a guide for philanthropic organizations and individuals to engage with Indigenous communities in a respectful, equitable, and empowering manner.
Why It Matters
Indigenous Peoples to increasing challenges with traditional practices being phased out by technological advancements. From the looming climate crisis to displacements from their ancestral lands, these adversities are made worse by systemic marginalization and limited access to essential services like education and healthcare, posing significant threats to Indigenous communities worldwide.
Within the global philanthropic landscape, Indigenous communities face marginalization and severe underfunding, hindering their capacity to effectively address these pressing issues. Despite well-intentioned efforts such as training sessions, educational tools, and diversity-focused events, Indigenous funding remains disproportionately low, failing to reach the communities most affected by these issues. In essence, Indigenous Peoples are among the most overlooked groups in the funding community. IFIP is dedicated to bridging the Indigenous funding gap by advocating for fair and transparent funding practices that amplify Indigenous voices within the philanthropic community.
What we are doing
To achieve our mission of shifting power, mobilizing resources and building partnerships, IFIP centers Indigenous voices and is by, for, and with the Indigenous Peoples’ movements. We collaborate with our global community to shift funding practices and deepen partnerships with Indigenous organizations. IFIP advocates for direct access to funding for Indigenous Peoples and promotes transparency and accountability in philanthropy.
IFIP does this by elevating and supporting Indigenous leadership and advocating for direct funding to Indigenous-led initiatives and organizations, and Indigenous-led Funds.
As a practice, we are focused on cultivating value-based partnerships that integrate the “5Rs of Indigenous Philanthropy”—Respect, Reciprocity, Responsibility, Relationships and Redistribution. Using these principles as a guide for our members and allies paves the way for a new paradigm of philanthropy that can contribute to impactful action and meaningful change while honoring the unique cultures and voices of Indigenous peoples.
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