Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native people in the United States. It is also an opportunity to learn more about the challenges that Native Americans have faced and continue to face, and to support efforts to preserve their cultures and communities.
Companies should celebrate Native American Heritage Month because it is a way to show respect for the first peoples of this land, educate employees about Native American cultures and history, promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and support Native-owned businesses and organizations.
How your company can celebrate Native American Heritage Month
The following initiatives were curated by our team of social impact experts that execute thoughtful social impact efforts for our customers every day. Some of these initiatives are easy enough to accomplish internally, but for others, you will need to lean on a social impact program or team.
Don’t have a social impact program or team? Learn more about Percent Pledge powered customized social impact programs, a single source for donations, volunteering, charity vetting, & impact reports.
[1] Donations
Our Percent Pledge Native American Heritage Cause Portfolio contains four highly-regarded, thoroughly vetted nonprofits that help take the guesswork out of choosing the right organization for your company and employees to donate to and partner with.
Partnership With Native Americans
Partnership With Native Americans provides critical supplies like food and water; supports education, capacity building for emerging leaders, and community-led initiatives for sustainable gains; and connects outside resources to the reservations.
7000 Languages
7000 Languages creates free online language-learning courses in partnership with Indigenous, minority, and refugee communities so they can keep their languages alive.
First Nations Development Institute
First Nations Development Institute is on a mission to strengthen American Indian economies to support healthy Native communities.
Association on American Indian Affairs, Inc.
Association on American Indian Affairs' mission is to lead the grassroots fight to protect sovereignty, preserve culture, educate youth, and build capacity.
Percent Pledge allows all companies and employees to donate to these nonprofits simultaneously through its Workplace Giving Platform.
[2] Volunteering
Time is invaluable, and volunteering your organization’s time, while inspiring your employees to do the same, is often the greatest gift you can give. It’s the perfect team building event and can have an incredibly positive impact on your employees and your organization.
Host a donation drive
Help build a healthy community with Native American Connections by hosting a donation drive. Encourage employees to bring in high-need items, then assemble hygiene or move-in kits.
Volunteer your skills
Whether organizing files or lending a hand at one of the Native American Connections' housing, gather a group of your employees to volunteer their various skills to change lives and build healthy communities.
A single volunteer event takes 20-30 hours to plan and execute. Learn how Percent Pledge saves your company that time by organizing customized volunteer events.
[3] Other ways to support
Inspire your employees to get involved to spread support. No gesture is too small.
Educate yourself
Organize a book club for your employees and include titles from these Native American notable selections.
Lunch & learn
Host a lunch and learn to share Native American Heritage Month history and encourage employees to bring in Native American-inspired food.
Shop Native American-owned businesses
Encouraging employees to support Native American-owned businesses is as easy as it is rewarding.
Find a breakdown of each of these efforts and more for your company to make a positive impact this November by downloading our Native American Heritage Kit. Again, if you need help pursuing these initiatives, learn more about Percent Pledge’s proven social impact program and team of experts by requesting a demo.