Page 43 - NAAF 2019 Annual Report

“We [youth] will sustain
Our first year Worked with Fast Track Grantees: our tribes. We will be

• Conducted a Fast Track grantee meeting of over 30
organizations the ones up next at the
The Native American Agriculture Fund was officially launched
in August 2018. As a part of the Keepseagle settlement, the • Developed and published a report of the Fast Track podium, serving as tribal
court appointed a 14-member Board of Trustees to govern grantees highlighting their work
the organization and Janie Simms Hipp as the organization’s council leaders. Not a
Chief Executive Officer. Through their leadership and expert Worked in the Community: lot of youth realize how
guidance, NAAF has expanded its talented team to include
• Spoke at over 50 meetings, conferences and gatherings
experts in Native agriculture.
important they are, how
In that short time since its creation, NAAF has: • Facilitated farmer and rancher listening sessions
big of a role they have in
Built an Organization from the Ground Up: • Presented at Food Sovereignty Summit meetings and
our futures.”
the Intertribal Agriculture Council annual conferences
• Hired our core employees to begin operation and
established policies • Developed supplemental funding for COVID-19 LEARNING AT GILA RIVER
activities by our grantees – Ellise David (Confederated Tribes
• In our first year, we have worked hard to develop strong "Learning about agricultural practices at the Gila of Warm Springs), Education
fiscal management of the fund’s portfolio, implement Built Partnerships: River Indian Community in Arizona."
financial systems, and manage the organization’s Program Assistant, Oregon State
investment program. This includes establishing • Met with Farm Credit System leadership to explore ag
financial and operational reporting, risk management, finance improvements throughout the system University – Warm Springs
internal controls, corporate governance and regulatory Extension
• Met with FFA and supported Native youth at the FFA
compliance practices.
Washington Leadership Conference to push forward
• Through comprehensive financial controls, regular on key assessments of FFA curriculum
auditing and clearly established procedures for the
• Met continually with USDA to push additional
distribution of funds, we strive to operate at the highest
changes that will improve Native farmer/rancher
levels of transparency, ethics and good governance.
federal program access
Protected our Investment:
• Planned and hosted ag development breakout
workshops at numerous intertribal meetings
• Selected a new investment manager
• Established a NAAF program officer point of contact
• Analyzed investments on an ongoing basis
system with each of our grantees
• Drafted new investment policy statement
• Connected with thought leaders within the Native
• Prepared for and experienced our first external audit CDFI, educational institutions, Tribal governments and
nonprofit organizations to build cohesive visions for the
Drafted and Implemented the 2019 Request for future and identify challenges and opportunities
Applications: NAAF in action

• Implemented the Foundant grant software system Over the past year, NAAF staff have traveled across the
country to meet with Native producers, provide and support
• Received and responded to over 500 inquiries during
technical assistance to grantees, strengthen partnerships with SHARING WITH TRIBES
RFA webinars and by phone
Native-led organizations in this field, present at relevant "Toni Stanger-McLaughlin (left) and Valerie
conferences and advocate on behalf of Native agriculture.
• Reviewed and vetted over 150 applications seeking over Segrest (right) presented to the Affiliated Tribes
50 million in funding in 2019 of Northwest Indians convention."
• Developed supplemental funding for COVID-19
activities by our grantees

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