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The Seventh Generation Fund For Indigenous Peoples Inc

Annual Giving
$6.2M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,200,000 (FY 2023-2024)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Up to 12 weeks for Land, Water, and Climate program
  • Grant Range: $50 - $50,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: United States (with emphasis on Indigenous communities)

Contact Details

Website: https://7genfund.org
Phone: 707-825-7640
Fax: 707-825-7639
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5248, Eureka, California 95502
Email: grants@7genfund.org
Application Portal: https://7genfund.submittable.com

Overview

Founded in 1977 by Daniel Bomberry (Salish/Cayuga) alongside chiefs, clan mothers, youth, and community activists, the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples emerged during the cultural and political renaissance of the 1960s-70s. Named after the Haudenosaunee Great Law of Peace, the organization is dedicated to Indigenous Peoples' self-determination and the sovereignty of Native nations. With assets of $33.1 million (2023), the organization has dramatically increased its annual grantmaking from $3.2 million in FY 2020-2021 to $6.2 million in FY 2023-2024—a 94% increase. From 2020 to 2024, it provided over $19 million in direct support across 465 nations and peoples. The organization holds UN Economic and Social Council consultative status since 2017 and earned a Four-Star rating (97%) from Charity Navigator. CEO Tia Oros Peters (Shiwi) emphasizes that "slow, mindful growth has always been what the organization has done. I think that is why we have lasted."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Land, Water, and Climate
$500 - $50,000 (average: $10,000 - $25,000)
Supports Indigenous Peoples' traditional relationships and responsibilities to land, water, community, and spirit, including land defense, water protection, sacred sites protection, renewable energy development, and climate adaptation projects. Applications due June 7, September 7, and December 7 with up to 12-week review periods.

Community Vitality
Up to $50,000 (average: $20,000 - $30,000)
Strengthens Indigenous identities through cultural revitalization, language preservation, traditional foodways, community-based healing, and creative expression. Supports projects rooted in relationship to land, healing, cultural revitalization, knowledge sharing, and intergenerational kinships.

Thriving Women
$600 - $5,000 per year
Supports Indigenous women/girl and two-spirit led empowerment including trauma recovery, MMIWG2T responses, and body sovereignty. Requires 80% or more Indigenous women-identified Board of Directors and an Indigenous woman Executive Director or Project leaders.

Flicker Fund
Grant amounts vary
Emergency response initiative providing direct support to crisis-impacted Indigenous communities, including pandemic response, climate fires, drought, and other disasters. Focuses on basic/urgent health, traditional healing, and historic/cultural teachings.

Mini Grants
$50 - $500
Rolling applications accepted year-round with 1-2 page letter of intent. Can be submitted at any time for small-scale projects.

Priority Areas

  • Cultural revitalization and language preservation
  • Traditional food systems and food sovereignty
  • Land back and water back initiatives
  • Sacred sites protection
  • Indigenous women and two-spirit leadership
  • Community-based healing and wellness
  • Climate change adaptation rooted in cultural values
  • Renewable energy development
  • Emergency response for crisis-impacted communities

What They Don't Fund

  • Non-Indigenous organizations
  • Religious missionizing efforts
  • Purchase of vehicles or heavy equipment
  • Capital campaigns
  • Scholarship funds

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Tia Oros Peters (Shiwi) - CEO & Executive Director
A founder of the Global Indigenous Women's Caucus with over 25 years in community organizing and Indigenous advocacy. Peters emphasizes the importance of walking "in many worlds" while maintaining core values. She states: "We can't just be in our communities. We need to have all sides going" and believes that "if we can maintain our core, we can remain steady."

Ryder Perez (Yaqui) - Executive Support

Board of Directors

  • Helene Gaddie (Chair, Oglala Lakota)
  • Jake Edwards (Vice-Chair, Onondaga Eel Clan)
  • Deborah Sanchez (Vice President & Treasurer, Chumash, O'odham and Raramuri)
  • Tāwera Ngaronoa Tahuri (Secretary)
  • Chris Peters (President, Puhlik-lah/Karuk)
  • Dr. Luis Macas (Saraguro)
  • Henrietta Mann, Ph.D (Cheyenne)
  • Brian Monongye (Hopi)
  • Edward Wemytewa (Shiwi)

Advisors

  • Sandra Creamer (Waanyi/Kalkadoon)
  • Naomi Lanoi Leleto (Maasai)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through the online portal at https://7genfund.submittable.com. Different programs have different schedules:

  • Land, Water, and Climate: Fixed deadlines (June 7, September 7, December 7 by 11:59pm Pacific Time)
  • Mini Grants: Rolling basis, 1-2 page letter of intent accepted year-round
  • Community Vitality and Thriving Women: Check website for application periods (currently closed as of late 2025)

Organizations can apply for one grant per calendar year. Applicants must complete all previous grant reporting requirements before reapplying and be in good standing with the organization.

Decision Timeline

For the Land, Water, and Climate program, applicants should allow up to 12 weeks for review after submission deadlines. Other programs' decision timelines are not publicly specified.

Success Rates

In FY 2023-2024, the organization awarded 175 grants. Historical data shows 141 awards in 2024, 119 awards in 2023, 119 awards in 2022, and 107 awards in 2021. Specific success rates (percentage of applications funded) are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations must be in good standing without reports due or outstanding issues. Organizations are eligible for one grant per calendar year. If currently receiving grant support, applicants must complete all previous grant reporting requirements before reapplying. Specific policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly detailed.

Application Success Factors

Indigenous Leadership is Non-Negotiable

Applications must have 80% or more Indigenous Peoples in decision-making leadership as the Board of Directors or other decision-making entity, with an Indigenous Executive Director, Indigenous co-Directors/Project leaders, and Indigenous Peoples engaged throughout all aspects of the organization. For Thriving Women grants, this extends to requiring 80% Indigenous women-identified board members and an Indigenous woman Executive Director.

Community-Led and Community-Rooted

Successful applications "emerge from, are led by, and grounded in the Indigenous Peoples served and who are most impacted by the project." The organization prioritizes projects that demonstrate leadership authority and decision-making activities are clearly vested in the people impacted by the project.

Cultural Centering

Applications must "nurture and center the culture, language, values, traditional knowledge systems, and healthy lifeways of the Indigenous Peoples involved in and served by the project." The organization emphasizes that "Indigenous wisdom and prophecy have always informed Seventh Generation Fund's vision, direction and methodology."

Right-Sized Organizations

Priority is given to community-based projects with annual operating budgets of less than $150,000 (for some programs) or project budgets under $500,000. The organization specifically targets grassroots initiatives rather than large institutions.

Focus on Self-Determination

Projects should promote and enhance the language, culture, traditional institutions, values, and way of life of constituents, advancing Indigenous Peoples' self-determination and sovereignty.

Recent Funded Project Example

The SAGE Development Authority renewable energy project received capacity-building grants, recoverable grants, administrative support, and financial sponsorship since 2020. The Anpetu Wi Wind Project represents the first 100% Native-led renewable energy commercial project on Turtle Island, born from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's commitment to developing sustainable energy for self-reliance and self-determination.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Demonstrate authentic Indigenous leadership: Ensure your organization meets the strict 80% Indigenous leadership requirement across all decision-making levels, not just token representation
  • Center cultural values and traditional knowledge: Applications should clearly show how projects are rooted in Indigenous wisdom, prophecy, and traditional knowledge systems
  • Keep it grassroots: The organization prioritizes smaller, community-based projects over large institutional programs—operating budgets under $150K are ideal
  • Show community accountability: Emphasize that the project emerges from and is accountable to the Indigenous Peoples most impacted, with clear decision-making authority vested in community members
  • Choose the right program: Match your project carefully to one of the three main programs (Land/Water/Climate, Community Vitality, or Thriving Women) and tailor your application to that program's specific focus
  • Be strategic about timing: For Land, Water, and Climate, plan around quarterly deadlines with 12-week review periods; for mini-grants, take advantage of rolling submissions
  • Complete reports on time: The organization requires applicants be in good standing—late reports will disqualify you from future funding

References

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