Indigenous-Led Grantmaking Empowering Visionary Indigenous Women-Led Initiatives

ANNOUNCEMENT

Join us in celebrating one year of Return to the Heart Foundation!

As an Indigenous women-led organization, founded by Sarah Eagle Heart, Red Dawn Foster and Gina Jackson, we started with a dream to empower and amplify our fellow Indigenous sisters. The contributions of Indigenous women have not been visible or significantly included in contemporary social causes. We stepped in to help change this.

This past year, we have supported and uplifted numerous Indigenous women and their projects that are bringing help and healing to their communities by creating a transformative impact in mental, physical, spiritual and cultural health.

Thank you to all our supporters, partners and allies who joined our cause and shared their voices along the way. View the highlights video from our first year!

Donate Now

THE PROBLEM

The contributions of Indigenous women have not been visible or significantly included in contemporary social causes.

Even before this decade of Times Up, Me Too, Climate Crisis and the 100th Anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage, the contributions and struggles of Indigenous women and girls has not been visible or been significantly included in contemporary social causes and initiatives. Therefore, the solutions of and for Indigenous women and girls have not been present at the decision-making table.

Against this backdrop, this is the critical moment and opportunity to support an Indigenous Women-led organization, Return to the Heart Foundation, which is focused on uplifting initiatives to achieve long-term narrative change strategies from within social movements.

Donate Now

*Return to the Heart Foundation is fiscally sponsored by Amalgamated Foundation.

COVID-19 RESPONSE

Responding In This Moment

One in every 475 Native Americans has died from COVID-19, according to the data APM Research Lab’s Color of Coronavirus project. Coronavirus-related deaths among Native Americans occurred in January up 35% from December and the biggest rise among other groups. Native Americans are dying at disproportionate rates. Losing 1% of our people is the equivalent of losing 3 million Americans.

The Return to the Heart Foundation created the Native Covid Action Fund in response to knowing that Tribal Nations are resilient to all that has come against us such as colonization, biological warfare, and even genocide as we are still here. We are also a vulnerable population as treaties and policies created in exchange for health care and education have been left unfulfilled. The health of Indigenous Peoples is hit hardest during times such as COVID-19 – and yet our knowledge and solutions have yet to be heard and centered in dialogue and action. Our Covid work will continue and we will continue to bring inspiration through lifting up the voices of Indigenous Womxn who are bringing help and healing into our communities.

WHAT WE DO

Our Focus Areas

01

Civic Engagement

History was made in 2019 with the first Native Women being elected to Congress, as State Representatives, and to local government in states and on the national level. Native people have been called the “sleeping giant” and our voices in many states could turn the elections, change America and even change the world.

02

Climate Justice

Indigenous Women have endured the violent impact of the fossil fuel industry and the Indigenous Women led organizations on the front lines need support now more than ever to continue their fight for their rights related to health, land, territory, culture, language, livelihoods, sovereignty, self-determination and development.

03

Narrative Change

Our voices, our stories, our narratives are only beginning to be heard. History is fraught with stereotypes, misinformation, and unacknowledged contributions and struggles of Native people, most especially Native women. Pocahontas is used as a racialized slur from the leader of America. This is unacceptable.

04

Restorative and Regenerative Development

Return to the Heart Foundation’s vision is to open doors that have never been opened to innovate and catalyze Native women-led economic and business activity by expanding access to capital, increasing asset development, and expanding local employment opportunities.

WHO WE ARE

Meet the Team

The co-founders are visionary Native women experienced in community bridge building, called to bring healing and action to native communities through their ancestral wisdom. They believe impact and cultural shifts come from a diversity of perspective and skill. This team holds unique expertise in advocacy, civic engagement, community development, healing, narrative change, philanthropy, strategic planning and leadership development.

Sarah Eagle Heart

Co-Founder/Co-CEO

ABOUT SARAH

Sarah is an Emmy-award winning social justice storyteller, non-profit leader, consultant, activist, author, media strategist, and producer focused on advocacy on behalf of Indigenous Peoples rooted worldview as an Oglala Lakota raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She is an internationally accomplished executive with a diverse background in tribal, corporate, and non-profit organizations. Ms. Eagle Heart is the former CEO of Native Americans in Philanthropy. She has raised over $20M for native people. You can reach Sarah at sarah@return2heart.org.

Red Dawn Foster

Co-Founder/COO

ABOUT RED DAWN

Red Dawn is currently the South Dakota State Senator with over ten years of experience working with Tribal communities in economic development fields. Red Dawn is passionate about utilizing her education and experience to promote positive planning, design, and construction for the future growth and development of Tribal Nations. Red Dawn received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado and received her Master of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. You can reach Red Dawn at reddawn@return2heart.org.

Gina Jackson

Co-Founder/Co-CEO

ABOUT GINA

Gina Jackson, MSW is Western Shoshone and Oglala Lakota. She is a dreamer and a doer. She worked on groundbreaking Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Guidelines and Regulations then joined the Obama White House Community Solutions Team. She recently worked for Native Americans in Philanthropy bringing the Truth and Healing Movement to the philanthropic sector. She has 20 years experience encompassing state/tribal justice, collaboration, policy, and philanthropy. She is a connector, igniter, innovator, and equity builder to bring healing for our nation. You can reach Gina at gina@return2heart.org.

Staff & Advisory Committee
Kelly Drummer
Anita Fineday
Tenzin Seldon

Dollars Raised

Years of Bridge Building Experience

Tribal Community Building Experience

WHY WE’RE DIFFERENT

Our Unique Combination

50% Bridge Building and Storytelling

Our co-founders hold a unique vantage point in culture shift and narrative change strategies with philanthropy initiatives and influencers: Anne Hathaway, Dispatch, Indigenous Women Rise, John Legend, Mark Ruffalo, Portugal the Man, Mumford and Sons, Shailene Woodley, Taboo, Tonia Jo Hall, and Women’s March.

50% Community Building

Native women are the heart of our nations. In communities where women are supported children and families thrive. Entrepreneurial endeavors, new technology, innovative problem-solving, and community capital increases as women are invested in.

WHO WE WORK WITH