NDN Collective is an Indigenous-led 501(c)(3) public charity based in Rapid City, South Dakota, on Oceti Sakowin Territory. Founded in 2017 and granted tax-exempt status in 2018, the organization provides an integrated approach to empowering Indigenous communities through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building, and narrative change. The organization employs 117 staff members and operates with an all-Indigenous team of grassroots organizers, practitioners, community builders, and media-based strategists from diverse Nations throughout Turtle Island.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$49.7M
-45.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.3M
-35.4% YoY
Grant Count
72
-10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$143K
-28.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Build the collective power of Indigenous Peoples, communities, and Nations to exercise our inherent right to self-determination, while fostering a world that is built on a foundation of justice and equity for all people and Mother Earth.
Core Programming:
- Grantmaking and wealth rematriation
- Narrative amplification and storytelling
- Predevelopment support
- Low-interest investments and braided capital
- Community organizing and power building
- Capacity-building and leadership training
Strategic Framework - Defend. Develop. Decolonize:
- Defend: Protect Indigenous peoples, communities, and nations against negative resource extraction, environmental degradation, and human rights violations through community organizing, advocacy, and tactical media strategies.
- Develop: Support Indigenous communities in regenerative and sustainable development aligned with Indigenous values, connection to land, culture, and identity, including renewable energy investments and social enterprise development.
- Decolonize: Strengthen Indigenous identity and sovereignty through revitalization of Indigenous ceremonies, cultures, languages, and life ways.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Housing development
- Economic development
- Energy resources
- Community improvement and capacity building
- Nonprofit management
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NDN Collective's grantmaking focus encompasses Turtle Island (North America), including:
- Post-colonial regions of the United States
- Canada
- Mexico
- Island Nations of Hawai'i
- Boriken/Puerto Rico
- American Samoa
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- U.S. Virgin Islands
The organization prioritizes community-led solutions and community-based organizations, recognizing that these are most often under-funded, under-resourced, under-invested, and underestimated. While national or international organizations may be supported, NDN emphasizes local, community-based approaches.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $49,672,156
- Total Revenues: $12,635,459
- Total Expenses: $49,651,725
- Total Giving: $23,865,000
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $90.8 million
- Total Revenues: $21.6 million
- Total Expenses: $51.1 million
- Total Liabilities: $19.6 million
Rating: NDN Collective holds a Four-Star rating with a 96% overall score, reflecting strong performance in accountability, finance, impact measurement, culture, community, leadership, and adaptability.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $49,672,156 | $90,847,440 | $119,873,304 |
| Revenue | $12,635,459 | $21,636,589 | $70,831,698 |
| Expenses | $49,651,725 | $51,136,295 | $41,872,003 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,165,987 | $1,117,068 | $-97,515 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Ndn Collective Inc
Changemaker Fellowship
NDN COLLECTIVE INC
Amount
US $75,000 - US $150,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Collective Abundance Fund
NDN COLLECTIVE INC
Amount
$25,000 - $50,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Community Action Fund
NDN COLLECTIVE INC
Amount
$15,000 - $30,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President & CEO: Nick Tilsen
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUDITH LE BLANC | BOARD CHAIR | 1 | $15,000 |
| CAMILLE KALAMA | BOARD VICE CHAIR | 1 | $15,000 |
| EDGAR VILLANUEVA | BOARD TREASURER | 1 | $15,000 |
| PRINCESS DAAZHRAII JOHNSON | BOARD SECRETARY | 1 | $15,000 |
| DAVE ARCHAMBAULT II | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $15,000 |
| KRISTINE ARCHIE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $15,000 |
| MELINA LABOUCAN-MASSIMO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $15,000 |
| LEROY FAIRBANKS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $15,000 |
| NICHOLAS TILSEN | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $230,367 |
| TRACEY ZEPHIER | GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $192,019 |
| ANDREW BENTLEY | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $126,486 |
| GABRIELLE STRONG | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $221,178 |
| KIMBERLY PATE | MANAGING DIRECTOR, NDN FUND | 4 | $206,444 |
| TINA KUCKKAHN | MANAGING DIRECTOR, NDN FOUNDATION | 40 | $164,398 |
| KORINA BARRY | MANAGING DIRECTOR, NDN ACTION | 40 | $152,481 |
| DAWN MACKETY | DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & EVALUATION | 40 | $154,818 |
| TERESA PETERSON | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, NDN FOUNDATION | 40 | $122,330 |
| ROBINSON BURROUGHS | MANAGING DIRECTOR, NDN HOLDINGS | 40 | $139,997 |
| DAVIS PRICE | DIR. OF CLIMATE JUSTICE INITIATIVE | 40 | $136,707 |
| JANENE YAZZIE | DIRECTOR OF POLICY & ADVOCACY | 40 | $135,505 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2024 Community Action Fund:** Rematriated $700,000 to Indigenous frontlines through the 2024 Community Action Fund
NDN Collective Rematriates $700,000 to Indigenous Frontlines Through 2024**Collective Abundance Fund:** Distributed another $8 million through the Collective Abundance Fund to build Indigenous wealth
NDN Collective Rematriates $700,000 to Indigenous Frontlines Through 2024**2024 Community Self-Determination Grants:** Announced grantee partners for the 2024 Community Self-Determination Grantmaking program
NDN Collective Announces 2024 Community Self-Determination Grantee Partners**EPA Partnership:** Selected as an outreach partner for major EPA grants
NDN Collective Selected As Outreach Partner For Major EPA Grants - NDN COLLECTIVE**Leonard Peltier Release:** Organized for the successful release of Leonard Peltier
**2024 Impact Report:** Published comprehensive impact report documenting organizational achievements and theory of change implementation
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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