NDN Collective Inc
NDN Collective Inc is a public charity based in Rapid City, South Dakota. Founded in 2017, it supports Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations through grantmaking and other efforts to build collective power and advance self-determination.
NDN Collective Inc at a glance
In short: NDN Collective Inc gave $10.3M across 72 grants in 2024 (avg $143K), top state California. 63% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,298,200
- -35.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 72
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $143,031
- -28.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $49,672,156
- -45.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (40 of 63, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (19% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to NDN Collective Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 408 Knollwood Dr, Rapid City, SD 57701-2837
Phone: (605) 791-3999
Website: https://ndncollective.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from NDN Collective Inc
Changemaker Fellowship
NDN Collective Inc
Amount
US $75,000 - US $150,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Community Action Fund
NDN Collective Inc
Amount
$15,000 - $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Radical Imagination Grant
NDN Collective Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who NDN Collective Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kumano I Ke Ala O Makaweli ($1.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
515 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 204 grants of 515 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NDN Collective identifies its grantmaking focus as Turtle Island: the post-colonial regions of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Hawaiʻi, Borikén/Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its 2024 grant dollars were distributed most heavily among recipients in California (19%), Alaska (15%), Hawaiʻi (11%), Arizona (8%), and Montana (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 72 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is NDN Collective Inc open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 40 of 63 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $147K; repeat grants $193K. How we count
Medians: $47K first-time, $250K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.0M (2021) to $18.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 72 grants totaling $10.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Energy Nexus Oakland, CA | JUSTICE40 Fund - Project Support | $1,000,000 |
| Kumano I Ke Ala O Makaweli Waimea, HI | JUSTICE40 Fund - Project Support | $800,000 |
| Spruce Root Inc Juneau, AK | JUSTICE40 Fund - Project Support | $540,000 |
| Native Conservancy Cordova, AK | JUSTICE40 Fund - Project Support | $450,000 |
| Center Pole Garryowen, MT | Community Self-Determination - General Support | $250,000 |
| DUK DUK Goose Barrigada, GU | Community Self-Determination - General Support | $250,000 |
| Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute Inc Kykotsmovi Village, AZ | Community Self-Determination - General Support | $250,000 |
| Hopi Utilities Corporation Flagstaff, AZ | Community Self-Determination - General Support | $250,000 |
| Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, MN | Community Self-Determination - General Support | $250,000 |
| Naatsiilid Initiative Dennehotso, AZ | Community Self-Determination - General Support | $250,000 |
Ready to take the next step with NDN Collective Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $49,672,156 | $12,635,459 | $49,651,725 | $10,298,200 | 72 | $1,165,987 |
| 2023 | $90,847,440 | $21,636,589 | $51,136,295 | $15,952,000 | 80 | $1,117,068 |
| 2022 | $119,873,304 | $70,831,698 | $41,872,003 | $18,043,500 | 90 | $-97,515 |
| 2021 | $80,445,041 | $58,730,089 | $25,997,735 | $6,955,484 | 73 | $-26,353 |
| 2020 | $41,493,213 | $48,166,899 | $18,656,026 | $8,662,800 | 200 | $28,865 |
| 2019 | $10,388,581 | $11,369,310 | $2,710,586 | — | — | $167 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NDN Collective’s stated mission is to build the collective power of Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations to exercise their inherent right to self-determination, while fostering a world founded on justice and equity for all people and Mother Earth. Its grantmaking supports Indigenous self-determination, free and liberated thought and expression, Indigenous ingenuity, and sustainable, community-based solutions. The organization describes its strategies as Defend, Develop, and Decolonize.
NDN Foundation says it provides grants to Indigenous-led organizations, Tribes, groups, projects, and individuals whose work aligns with its mission, values, principles, and strategies. It defines Indigenous-led as having an entirely Indigenous board or decision-making body and at least 70% Indigenous staff. It prioritizes community-led and community-based solutions.
Grantee missions in the 2024 grant list illustrate the range of supported work. Native Conservancy describes its mission as supporting Indigenous efforts to preserve, repatriate, and restore ancestral lands through Indigenous land conservation trusts. Spruce Root describes work to improve economic, social, and environmental resilience in Southeast Alaska, including micro and small business lending. Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute describes community-based solutions, cultural knowledge transmission, and projects engaging Hopi youth. These are grantees’ own descriptions, not statements of NDN Collective’s mission.
Grantmaking
The 2024 filing lists 72 grants totaling $10,298,200. Grants ranged from $5,600 to $1,000,000, with a median of $50,000. Separately, the organization’s description of its 2024 activities says it invested nearly $24 million in grants to hundreds of community partners.
The largest listed 2024 grants included $1,000,000 to New Energy Nexus for Justice40 Fund project support, $800,000 to Kumano I Ke Ala O Makaweli for Justice40 Fund project support, and $540,000 to Spruce Root. Other listed awards included $450,000 to Native Conservancy and $250,000 each to Center Pole, Duk Duk Goose, Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute, Hopi Utilities Corporation, Lower Sioux Indian Community, Naatsiilid Initiative, Native American Community Board, and Niamuck Land Trust.
The organization’s listed opportunities include the Radical Imagination Grant, which offers $50,000 for one year to eligible Indigenous artists, artist cooperatives, and small nonprofits for community-engaged creative work proposing solutions to societal problems. NDN Collective has sunset its Changemaker Fellowship, a two-year fellowship for Indigenous leaders, and is no longer accepting applications for it. The Community Action Fund provides modest urgent-response grants to frontline organizers and movements. The Collective Abundance Fund supports wealth building for Indigenous people residing in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
For Community Self-Determination, NDN Collective says there will be no open call in 2025 and that its 2025 process is for current or previous grantee-partners. Its program page lists a grant cycle opening in 2026, annual awards of $200,000, and terms of up to two years. The page describes support for Tribal Nations, communities, and Indigenous-led organizations working on self-determination, climate solutions, community economic development, Indigenous rights, and cultural continuity.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Judith Le Blanc as board chair, Camille Kalama as board vice chair, Edgar Villanueva as board treasurer, and Princess Daazhraii Johnson as board secretary. Other listed board members are Dave Archambault II, Kristine Archie, Melina Laboucan-Massimo, and Leroy Fairbanks. Nicholas Tilsen is listed as president and CEO, and Tracey Zephier as general counsel.
NDN Collective Inc is led by Nicholas Tilsen, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; all 20 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nicholas Tilsen
President & CEO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$176K (2019) → $230K (2024)
Judith Le Blanc
Board Chair
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$15K (2021) → $15K (2024)
Kimberly Pate
Managing Director & Ndn Fund
Vice President → Managing Director & Ndn Fund, 2023
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$167K (2019) → $206K (2024)
Korina Barry
Managing Director & Ndn Action
Managing Director Ndn Action → Managing Director & Ndn Action, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$117K (2021) → $152K (2024)
Robinson Burroughs
Managing Director & Ndn Holdings
Managing Director Ndn Partners → Managing Director & Ndn Holdings, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$110K (2022) → $140K (2024)
Tina Kuckkahn
Managing Director & Ndn Foundation
Associate Director Ndn Foundation → Associate Director & Ndn Foundation, 2023
Associate Director & Ndn Foundation → Managing Director & Ndn Foundation, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$132K (2022) → $164K (2024)
Andrew Bentley
Director of Finance
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$33K (2019) → $126K (2024)
Dawn Mackety
Director of Research & Evaluation
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$117K (2021) → $155K (2024)
Davis Price
Director of Climate Justice Initiative
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$137K (2024)
Janene Yazzie
Director of Policy & Advocacy
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$136K (2024)
Camille Kalama
Board Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$15K (2021) → $15K (2024)
Dave Archambault II
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$15K (2021) → $15K (2024)
Edgar Villanueva
Board Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$15K (2021) → $15K (2024)
Melina Laboucan-Massimo
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$15K (2021) → $15K (2024)
Princess Daazhraii Johnson
Board Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$15K (2021) → $15K (2024)
Gabrielle Strong
Vice President
Managing Director Ndn Foundation → Managing Director & Ndn Foundation, 2023
Managing Director & Ndn Foundation → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$116K (2020) → $221K (2024)
Tracey Zephier
General Counsel
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$194K (2023) → $192K (2024)
Kristine Archie
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
$15K (2024)
Leroy Fairbanks
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
$15K (2024)
Teresa Peterson
Associate Director & Ndn Foundation
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$122K (2024)
Former officers (6)
- Former: Crystal Echo Hawk (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Johnson (2020–2022) — Director of Advancement
- Former: Lycia Maddocks (2022) — Political Director
- Former: Michelle Fox (2020–2021) — Managing Director Ndn Partners
- Former: Nicole Pieratos (2020) — Managing Director
- Former: Wahleah Johns (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $230K, to Nicholas Tilsen (President & CEO). 20 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about NDN Collective Inc
How much does NDN Collective Inc give each year?
NDN Collective Inc gave $10.3M across 72 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $16.0M across 80 grants.
What is NDN Collective Inc's typical grant size?
NDN Collective Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $143,031, across 72 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from NDN Collective Inc that year got $147K on average.
Where does NDN Collective Inc give grants?
NDN Collective Inc's top state is California, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Alaska (15%) and Hawaii (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rapid City, SD (5 grants), Fairbanks, AK (4 grants), Oakland, CA (3 grants) and Fort Yates, ND (3 grants).
Does NDN Collective Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 35% of NDN Collective Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 72) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "President's Partnership Fund - Project Support" (19 grants), "Community Action Fund - Project Support" (18 grants) and "JUSTICE40 Fund - Project Support" (7 grants).
Who are NDN Collective Inc's largest grantees?
NDN Collective Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Kumano I Ke Ala O Makaweli ($1,000,000 across 2 grants), New Energy Nexus ($1,000,000) and Spruce Root Inc ($540,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is NDN Collective Inc?
NDN Collective Inc reported $49.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.6M.
What does NDN Collective Inc fund?
NDN Collective’s stated mission is to build the collective power of Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations to exercise their inherent right to self-determination, while fostering a world founded on justice and equity for all people and Mother Earth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from NDN Collective Inc?
NDN Collective Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ndncollective.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is NDN Collective Inc's EIN?
NDN Collective Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3776329. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in NDN Collective Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). NDN Collective Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ndn-collective-inc-morg_42c5a88167304d1a926b7edb6bd3a347
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_823776329_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{NDN Collective Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ndn-collective-inc-morg_42c5a88167304d1a926b7edb6bd3a347},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from NDN Collective Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
NDN Collective Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?