Partnership with Native Americans

“Process to review form 990: the organization works with an independent accounting firm to prepare the 990. Once prepared, the cfo and ceo review the form with the finance committee and the board of directors.”

“Process to monitor compliance with conflict of interest policy: the board of directors, the ceo and all senior employees sign conflict of interest statements annually. Additionally, our employee reference guide has a section on our conflict of interest policy and new employees receive and sign an acknowledgment of the policy and completed questionnaire upon hire. Conflicts of interest, if any, are resolved as they arise. If any director discloses a conflict of interest, they are also asked to abstain from voting on matters related to the potential conflict.”

“Review of ceo or top management official compensation: the board of directors annually conducts a formal performance appraisal of the ceo, including the ceo's compensation. Every 2-3 years compensation data for ceo's of similarly sized non-profits is gathered and compared with the compensation provided to the organization's ceo. The final performance review is presented to the board and any compensation adjustments are documented in the minutes.”

“Review of other officers or key employees of the organization: an external consulting firm concluded a comprehensive compensation review in 2016 to include all other officers and employees' job functions and compensation, including comparisons to similar organizations in size and function. The compensation study was reviewed by the board and each employee received information about their role within the context of the study. We have not updated the study except to add new positions or modify existing positions that have changed.”

“Availability of documents: pwna's irs form 990, annual report and independent financial audits are available to the public on the pwna website. The organization presently does not publish its governing documents or conflict of interest policy, but will provide them upon request.”

“Doing business as: american indian relief council (airc), council of indian nations (cin), american indian education fund (aief), southwest indian relief council (swirc), sioux nation relief fund (snrf), navajo relief fund (nrf), native american aid (naa), national relief charities (nrc) & reservation animal rescue (rar).”

“SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES: (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)...PWNAs Dual Role and Humanitarian Service Strategy: In 2015, our organizations name was changed to Partnership With Native Americans to better communicate our mission and the partnership we have with tribal communities. PWNA believes that Native American peoples have the power within themselves to build strong communities. The community members we work with know the challenges that exist and are finding solutions to them. We are a consistent, reliable source to lift up their efforts to provide hope and support for their success today and tomorrow. We take a dual approach to serving Native Americans, responding to immediate needs in reservation communities by providing food, water and other critical materials, and supporting community-based projects that sustainably address the core symptoms of poverty and contribute to self-sufficiency. Our organization approaches humanitarian service through an asset based community development (ABCD), a framework that encompasses all strands of services in our program logic model (material services, capacity building, community building and higher education). It ensures we build on assets present in the communities we serve and bring together individuals, programs, and outside resources to leverage the social capital of a much larger network mobilizing toward a common solution. Local participation and empowerment lie at the core of ABCD and lead toward sustainable community gains for the reservations, programs and people PWNA serves. See www.nativepartnership.org to learn more.”

“HEALTH: (CONTINUED FROM PART III) SITUATION CONTINUED: These clinics are often long distances away only 500 clinics serve the 573 federally recognized tribes and lack of transportation is a major problem. Because this government-run health program is severely underfunded and understaffed for the population and need it was intended to address, I.H.S. focuses on healthcare crises rather than preventive care. In response to diabetes at epidemic levels, obesity even for youth, tuberculosis seven times higher for Native Americans, more cancer-related disparities than any minority group in the U.S., higher infant mortality and lower life expectancy for Native men, PWNA supports reservation programs that address preventative care, home health visits, and health education initiatives for long-term impact. A long history of oppression has contributed to the limited view of opportunities many Native Americans envision for themselves and their families. Supporting self-determination and partners who require people to take part actively in community projects/services to receive materials and services from PWNA adds to individual and community well-being. PWNA RESPONSE: In 2018, PWNA supported healthy lifestyle programs and community activities for approximately 213,704 people. Among them, some 156,732 people participated in health events or other projects hosted by our reservation partners to increase community involvement in schools, elderly service programs and wellness initiatives. Thirty (30) new moms participated in pre- and post-natal care, parenting and behavioral health programs, receiving baby baskets full of essential products. PWNA supported 468 reservation partners who conducted health screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, tuberculosis and cancer; education classes on diabetes prevention, healthy nutrition and heart health; youth education such as suicide awareness and prevention; health appointments for immunizations, hospital post-release and medication monitoring; and home visits with those who are homebound or otherwise unable to access services. Additionally, with support of Newmans Own Foundation and the Walmart Foundation, PWNA expanded its critical Train-the-Trainer (T3) program, utilizing Native American chefs who focused on preparing healthy meals with ancestral and locally available foods and reaching professionals who prepare meals for tribal members on remote reservations. Altogether, we trained 261 people who represent 22 tribes, including Crow Creek, Cheyenne River, Lower Brule, Northern Cheyenne, Omaha, Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Standing Rock, Winnebago, Gila River, Hopi, Hualapai, Navajo, Pascua Yaqui, San Carlos Apache, Salt River Pima, Southern Ute, Tohono Oodham, Tonto Apache, Ute, White Mountain Apache and Zuni. These T3 participants immediately demonstrated their newly acquired skills by preparing healthy public meals for approximately 632 people in their respective communities people who in turn have the potential to impact nutrition six-fold for nearly 3,800 people. Also, with support of the Walmart Foundation, PWNA conducted mobile nutrition training and cooking/canning classes, reaching another 109 individuals. *DBA programs of PWNA for Health services: Southwest Reservation Aid (SWRA), Northern Plains Reservation Aid (NRPA), Southwest Indian Relief Council (SWIRC), Navajo Relief Fund (NRF), Sioux Nation Relief Fund (SNRF) and Native American Aid (NAA).”

“holiday: (CONTINUED FROM PART III) Up to 43% of Native American children live in poverty and 61% live in low-income households, many of them raised by grandparents on severely limited, fixed incomes such as social security. Poverty rates in the hundreds of tribal communities served by PWNA range from 38% to 63%. PWNA RESPONSE: During the 2018 holidays, about 28,212 delighted children, teens and Elders received stockings or holiday gift bags filled with practical items to meeT immediate needs. More than 11,300 children and families received incentives and prizes when they came together to participate in Easter, spring and other community gatherings. PWNA's partners also used these and other events to promote skill building and volunteerism across 22 reservations in the Northern Plains and 18 reservations in the Southwest. *DBA programs of PWNA for Holiday support: Southwest Reservation Aid (SWRA), Northern Plains Reservation Aid (NRPA), Southwest Indian Relief Council (SWIRC) and Sioux Nation Relief Fund (SNRF).”

“emergency services: (CONTINUED FROM PART III) PWNA is recognized as a first responder quick to respond to tribes when disaster relief is needed. Some communities also experience acute or chronic contaminated-water emergencies. Additionally, 90,000 Native Americans are homeless and 40% of Native Americans live in sub-standard, overcrowded housing, with the typical wait time for tribal housing assistance at three years or more. PWNA RESPONSE: PWNA provided supplies to residential shelters for the aged, homeless, disabled and domestic abuse victims, assisting approximately 26,155 people in 2018, along with supplies for some 72 children in recovery from trauma. We supplied winter fuel for 175 Elders on the Rosebud and Navajo reservations and winter and summer emergency kits for 2,450 Elders of the Cheyenne River, Lake Traverse, Rosebud, Standing Rock, Hopi, Navajo, and Tohono O'odham reservations, and the Santa Domingo and Pojoaque pueblos. These emergency kits equipped Native Elders with blankets, batteries, candles, water, nonperishable food and other items helpful during winter storms, and water, sunscreen, bug spray, fire extinguishers and other items helpful during summer heat, storms and outages. We rotate our seasonal readiness services to different communities in the Plains and Southwest to avoid creating dependency, but the level of need suggests increasing these services as funding permits. In 2018, two tribal communities reached out to PWNA for disaster relief, including Blackfeet and Northern Cheyenne, and we responded with nearly 55,000 pounds of critical supplies and water aiding approximately 3,184 tribal citizens. Additionally, with support of Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies and the American Red Cross, PWNA supported capacity building for tribal readiness to respond when disaster strikes. This included four emergency preparedness projects involving certification training for about 195 participants and equipping some 531 community members with emergency relief kits. *DBA programs of PWNA for Emergency services: Southwest Reservation Aid (SWRA), Northern Plains Reservation Aid (NRPA), Southwest Indian Relief Council (SWIRC), Navajo Relief Fund (NRF), Sioux Nation Relief Fund (SNRF) and Native American Aid (NAA).”

“OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: FOOD & WATER: purpose of the program: TO ease food insecurity by supporting local access to healthy foods and food sovereignty among Native American Elders, children and families on the reservations we serve. SITUATION: LOW FOOD SECURITY - insufficient food quality or variety for dietary health - is a key issue on the impoverished reservations in our service area, fueling high rates of nutrition - related diseases such as diabetes and obesity as families turn to less expensive but fatty and high-carbohydrate foods and plates often devoid of fresh vegetables. Food hardship - the inability to afford enough food for yourself and your family - is also on the rise, especially for homes with children, according to a 2018 study by the Food & Action Center. Nationwide, the food hardship rate is 16-19%, compared to 23% for Native American families. The majority of food banks lack enough food to meet demand, according to an America's Second Harvest study, and now, rather than an emergency solution, food aid has become a staple or long-term solution for more and more people who consistently need extra help to obtain enough healthy food with their severely limited financial resources. This is certainly the case for many families and food banks IN THE COMMUNITIES PWNA SERVES, ALONG WITH ANOTHER HARDSHIP - CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER. PWNA response: Pwna provided immediate relief by continuing our food deliveries in 2018, and our trucks and staff traveled nearly 230,000 miles to deliver these and other essential supplies. Our food boxes helped food pantries feed about 32,070 people. The staple foods we supplied for Elderly Nutrition Programs and soup kitchens helped provide approximately 15,159 people hot meals 5 days a week. Our emergency and breakfast foods supported about 5,289 people, and our Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter meals benefitted about 12,597 people. tAKING LONG-TERM VIEW OF food sovereignty and capacity building, PWNA joined the Native American Food Cohort sponsored by Newman'S Own Foundation, working alongside other Native nonprofits to uncover possible enhancements of Native food systems. With support of the Walmart Foundation, PWNA invested $22,500 in community garden projects involving about 1,245 participants in Rosebud, Rocky Boy, Pine Ridge, Navajo and Jemez tribal communities, and delivered fresh produce for about 2,110 tribal members. PWNA also supported 20 individuals with garden tilling, seeds and tools. *DBA programs of PWNA for Food services: Southwest Reservation Aid (SWRA), Northern Plains Reservation Aid (NRPA), Southwest Indian Relief Council (SWIRC), Navajo Relief Fund (NRF), Sioux Nation Relief Fund (SNRF) and Native American Aid (NAA). EDUCATION SERVICES: PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM: To increase resources for Native American education, and support access and retention of Native students from pre-kindergarten to college. SITUATION: eDUCATION IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT cornerstones of self-sufficiency and quality of life, and a key to addressing long-term poverty and other challenges facing the reservations PWNA serves. High school dropout rates range from 30 up to 70% (varies by community). About 17% of Native American students are starting college, with only 13% completing college. Contrary to public perception, college is not free for Native Americans, but Native students are often slow to ask for aid, believing college is not an option for them. Thus, non-native students are twice as likely to achieve a college degree. PWNA response: BY ADDRESSING BOTH IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM educational needs, PWNA helps our partner schools and colleges motivate students and improve retention. In 2018, PWNA furnished school supplies for approximately 15,630 K-12 students, and essential supplies to support literacy for nearly 11,000 children on some 15 reservations, motivating reading and parent-child reading time and supporting reading comprehension. Nearly 34,000 pairs of TOMS shoes and boots w”