Tonight in Seattle, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will recognize five nonprofits for their innovation and leadership in promoting social change.  These five organizations, awarded the Foundation’s prestigious National Leadership in Action Award, are being honored for their work in communities of color.  They were nominated by peers in the field, and screened by a national committee of nonprofit and philanthropic leaders, including one Kellogg Board member.  Alandra Washington, Program Director at the Foundation, sees the Awards as an opportunity to “recognize, celebrate, and promote great philanthropic work across the country.”  The recipients of the 2007 Award – First Nations Development Institute, Associated Black Charities of Maryland, The Asian American Federation of New York, Asian Immigrant Women Advocates, and Hispanics in Philanthropy – will each receive a $50,000 grant and an original piece of art. 

First Nations Development Institute, headquartered in Longmont, Colorado, assists Native peoples in controlling their own assets and in building capacity to direct their economic futures.  It supports projects that encourage development and reflect the cultural values of Native communities.  It builds tribal capacity through training seminars, publications, and direct consultation services.  And it evaluates the larger trends shaping the course of Indian Country to uncover systemic barriers to asset control and retention in Native communities.  According to Mike Roberts, First Nations’ president, the organization has had “a long history with Kellogg” through the Foundation’s Food Systems and Rural Development program, but this grant is the first from Kellogg’s Philanthropy and Volunteerism program.   

The Kellogg Foundation’s Philanthropy and Volunteerism program area has concentrated its efforts into a single strategy, known as Unleashing New Resources.  According to the Foundation’s website, this strategy involves “strengthening and connecting youth, women, communities of color, social entrepreneurs, corporate social innovators, and new wealth creators through three integrated approaches:  supporting emerging leaders and donors, creating and sharing knowledge, and building tools for nonprofit sustainability and innovative giving.”  The National Leadership in Action Award evolved out of the Unleashing New Resources strategy. 

Headquartered in San Francisco, Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), is a transnational network of grantmakers committed to strengthening Latino communities across the Americas.  It currently has over 150 funders in its Collaborative.  HIP received the National Leadership in Action Award for its work to increase philanthropic investment in Latino communities, and by supporting participation of Latinos in philanthropy and fostering policy change to enhance equity and inclusiveness.  As Diana Campoamor, President of HIP said, “The Award means recognition from our peers and greater credibility in our field.  That is as good as gold.  It gives others a vote of confidence in our work, our leadership, our network.  The grant is much appreciated, but the recognition is even more meaningful.”

Both Roberts and Campoamor will be on hand tonight to accept the Award.

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