Trust turns mission into measurable impact
When I joined Native Forward Scholars Fund in 2015, our development and marketing functions were still in their early stages. We had limited fundraising infrastructure, few established donor relationships, and significant work ahead to build the partnerships necessary to advance our mission. That challenge was clear, but so was the opportunity.
Native Forward is the nation’s largest provider of direct scholarships to Native students. Since our founding, we have awarded scholarships and provided culturally relevant support services to more than 22,000 Native students representing all 50 states and over 500 Tribal Nations. Our mission extends far beyond financial assistance. It is about removing barriers to higher education, strengthening economic mobility, advancing self-determination, and investing in the future of Tribal communities. That purpose has shaped every strategic decision and every relationship I have built.
As an enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, I have always viewed leadership through the lens of service. I believe our responsibility is to create opportunities that will benefit future generations. Those values have guided me throughout my career, particularly during moments that demanded resilience, decisive leadership, and a willingness to navigate uncertainty. They remain the foundation of how I lead today.
Building trusted relationships across federal agencies, foundations, corporations, Tribal governments, and individual philanthropists requires far more than successful fundraising. It requires credibility, consistency, and a genuine commitment to understanding the priorities of each partner. Many of our earliest supporters had never engaged with Native Forward. Rather than leading with transactions, I focused on listening first, building trust, and demonstrating the long-term impact their investment could have on Native students and their communities.
Those relationships became enduring partnerships that strengthened our organization’s ability to serve more scholars and expand our national reach. Today, Native Forward undergraduate scholars graduate at a rate of 69%, compared with the national average of 41% for Native students, while our graduate scholars achieve a 95% completion rate. These outcomes reflect the strength of our mission, the dedication of our team, and the lasting value of partnerships built on trust.
I share this not as a personal achievement, but as a reflection of what becomes possible when leadership is rooted in service — and when the mission is strong enough to carry you through the uncertainty.
