Our mission is to strengthen cultural identity and Indigenous leadership.

We invest in and cultivate Indigenous prosperity and excellence by providing resources including grants, traditional knowledge, and learning communities that foster cultural enrichment, self-determination, and reciprocal relationships. In doing so, we create the conditions that allow our people to generate positive intergenerational ripple effects in American Indian communities.

Tiwahe is more than a Native-run community foundation. Tiwahe is a connector – of people, organizations, resources, knowledge, and opportunity. Tiwahe creates pathways for American Indian people to reach their goals, on their own terms, in this critical moment for defining how Native cultures, languages, and ways of being will live and grow in the coming generations.  

We do this through our flagship micro-granting program (AIFEP) and through our Oyate Leadership Network, a network weaving and leadership development program that is being re-envisioned to center the cultural needs of our Indigenous leaders in Minnesota.  Tiwahe means Native people in Minnesota have a relative wherever they go. 

Tiwahe challenges systemic barriers to the goals our people pursue. The dominant culture approach to philanthropy is one of those barriers. Tiwahe offers a new model for philanthropy that centers Indigenous voices and values in every decision from planning through evaluation, and we help other organizations let go of dominant culture practices that hold them back.

Tiwahe (ti-wah-hay) means family in Dakota. It symbolizes how we are connected to all living things and one’s personal responsibility is to protect family, community, and mother nature. There is no asset more precious to Indigenous communities than the health, safety, and well-being of our children, youth, elders, leaders, and families. Tiwahe Foundation is located on Dakota and Ojibwe homelands, and we honor Dakota and Ojibwe cultural values. These values help guide our directives and commitment to our relatives — all Indigenous peoples who live in the Twin Cities and Minnesota:

• Wóčhekįya – (Prayer)
• Gwayakwaadiziwin (Honesty) To achieve honesty within yourself is to recognize who and what you are.
• Wahwala / Dabaadendiziwin (Humility)
• Wičákha / Debwewin (Truth)
• Wóksape / Nibwaakaawin (Wisdom)
• Waúnšila / Zaagi’idiwin (Love/Compassion)
• Waóhola / Manaadendamowin (Respect)
• Wóohitike / Aakwade’ewin (Bravery/Courage)
• Wacantognaka / Gizhewaadizi (Generosity)