Native American Organizations Serving the Community
(Please note this is not a complete listing of all AI/AN National Organizations.)
American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL)
American Indian Business Leaders is a nonprofit organization designed to support and promote the education and development of future Native American leaders, while maintaining and incorporating cultural values.
The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships and other support for American Indian students. The Fund disburses approximately 6,000 scholarships each year for American Indian students seeking to better their lives through higher education. The Fund also provides support for tribal college needs ranging from capital support to cultural preservation activities.
National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA)
The mission of NICOA is to advocate for improved comprehensive health, social services and economic well-being for American Indian and Alaska Native Elders. In addition to providing service through several grants from agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NICOA operates as a National Sponsor of the federal Senior Community Service Employment program (SCSEP) in fourteen states through a grant from the Department of Labor.
Americans for Indian Opportunity
Americans for Indian Opportunity advances, from an Indigenous worldview, the cultural, political and economic rights of Indigenous peoples in the United States and around the world.
American Indian Society of Washington, DC
The American Indian Society of Washington DC, AISDC, was established in 1966 by a group of young American Indian professionals working in Washington DC. For more than 50 years, AISDC has worked to preserve Indian Culture through teaching and promoting customs and Arts. AIS has put an emphasis on celebrating the unique and rich culture of America's indigenous nations and their contributions to society, promoting health education, and other civic duties that continue to contribute to the social advancement and well-being of American Indian communities.
National Indian Child Care Association
The National Indian Child Care Association is a representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the 266 tribal CCDF grantees that represent Tribal communities across the nation. Tribal child care and early childhood programs work hard to provide children, families, and communities with high quality child care services all across Indian Country.
The Redhawk Native American Arts Council is a small grassroots not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 and maintained by Native American artists and educators who reside in and around New York City. It is dedicated to educating the general public and breaking stereotypes by presenting the traditions and societal contributions of Native Americans through song, dance, art, crafts and other forms of expression.
The mission of the news magazine and public service website is to bring forward thought-provoking journalism, while bringing people closer together by broadening perspectives of Native American peoples, marginalized by traditional stereotypical images.
Native American Journalists Association (NAJA)
The Native American Journalists Association serves and empowers Native American journalists through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Native cultures.
Indian Country Media Network is an online media hub that focuses primarily on youth/education, cultural preservation and sovereignty.
National Native American AIDS Prevention Center
The NNAPC's mission statement is to eliminate HIV/AIDS and confront related health and social determinants that negatively impact American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Indigenous peoples. The Center has programs, resources and publications dedicated to supporting prevention efforts and fostering healthy attitudes toward sexuality.
American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) is a national, nonprofit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, First Nations and other indigenous peoples of North America in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies and careers.
American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC)
The American Indian Higher Education Consortium is the collective spirit and unifying voice of our nation's 37 Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)—a unique community of tribally and federally chartered institutions working to strengthen tribal nations and make a lasting difference in the lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Native American Disability Law Center
The Law Center's mission is to advocate for the rights of Native Americans with disabilities in the Four Corners area and ensure they are enforced, strengthened and brought in harmony with their communities. This private, non-profit works to ensure that Native Americans with disabilities have access to justice and are empowered and equal members of their communities and nations.
Association of American Indian Affairs (AAIA)
The AAIA has played an integral part in drafting a number of important laws, including the Indian Child Welfare Act, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and the Tribal Governmental Tax Status Act.
National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association (NANAINA)
The National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association’s mission is to promote a continuum of health among Native Americans; to serve the professional needs of Native American nurses; to cooperate with other professional associations, health care organizations and governmental entities in matters affecting the purposes of NANAINA; and to recommend culturally appropriate health-service delivery solutions where barriers to Native American consumers exist.
National Native American Law Enforcement Association (NNALEA)
The mission of the National Native American Law Enforcement Association is to promote and foster mutual cooperation between Native American law enforcement officers, agents and personnel, their agencies, tribes, private industry and public.
Native American Capital fosters and promotes business and economic development in Indian Country through investment of private equity capital in promising new and developing high growth businesses in Native American and Alaskan Native communities. NAC also provides the technical assistance necessary to ensure the growth, development and profitability of these enterprises.
Native American Financial Official Association (NAFOA)
The Native American Financial Official Association’s mission is to improve the quality of financial and business management of tribal governments, their entities and their businesses.
Native American Rights Fund (NARF)
The mission of the Native American Rights Fund is to preserve tribal existence, protect tribal natural resources and promote Native American human rights.
The Native American Times is an online news source focusing on news stories directly affecting Native populations.
National Native American Bar Association (NNABA)
The National Native American Bar Association serves as the national association for Native American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. Founded in 1973 as the American Indian Lawyers Association, NNABA works to promote issues important to the Native American community and works to improve professional opportunities for Native American lawyers.
Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations
Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations (WEWIN) exists to provide Native women with the knowledge, support, and resources necessary to achieve success in their personal and professional lives. The WEWIN Annual Conference is an opportunity for Native women to engage in professional renewal, inspire others and network.