In the United States today, Native communities continue to face some of the most significant social and economic disparities. In 2024, 19.3% of Native Americans lived below the poverty line under the Official Poverty Measure (about 0.8 million people), and 19.8% under the Supplemental Poverty Measure. On many reservations, nearly 48% of households lack access to clean water and adequate sanitation (University of Colorado, 2023). Food insecurity also remains widespread, with about 28% of American Indian and Alaska Native households struggling to put healthy meals on the table, compared to 13% of all U.S. households (GAO, 2023). In education, progress has been made, but challenges persist: in the 2022–23 school year, nearly 25% of Native American students didn’t graduate high school.
These statistics show the depth of need, but they also point to opportunities for action. Individuals can play a meaningful role in helping Native American tribes and families overcome these barriers by supporting programs that address both immediate needs and long-term solutions. Providing food boxes or emergency aid addresses urgent hunger today, while initiatives like Dreamstarter, youth support programs, and educational partnerships build sustainable pathways for future generations.
At Running Strong for American Indian Youth®, we are committed to both. Our programs not only deliver meals, water, and school supplies where they are needed most, but also invest in Native youth, cultural revitalization, and community-led food sovereignty. This resource will show you how to help Native Americans in practical, meaningful ways, from donating to advocacy to supporting education, so together we can strengthen families, uplift Native youth, and build stronger communities.
Support Native-Led Programs that Create Real Change
The most effective way to learn how to help Native Americans is to invest directly in Native-led programs that honor cultural values, strengthen community solutions, and create lasting impact. At Running Strong, every initiative is designed with Native leadership at the center, ensuring support reaches where it is needed most.
Support Native Youth Through Empowerment and Leadership
Native youth are the future of strong, thriving communities. Yet too often, they face systemic inequities that limit opportunity and silence their voices. We invest in the next generation by funding programs that strengthen self-determination, cultural pride, and leadership skills. Supporting Native youth today is one of the most direct and long-term ways to help Native communities thrive tomorrow.
Back Bold Dreams with the Dreamstarter Program
If you want to help Native Americans, our Dreamstarter Program offers a clear answer. Dreamstarters receive different types of grants along with mentorship and leadership training to bring their visions to life. Each project is Native-led, culturally grounded, and created to meet real community needs.
Recent examples highlight the power of this investment:
- Aaron’s project, “Wąsa Wasáp KačachęɁ” will restore the reciprocal relationship between Catawba artists and rivercane. Through his partnership with the Nation Ford Land Trust, Aaron will develop a Rivercane Field Tool that will help catalogue, monitor and prioritize rivercane stands for conversation and stewardship to restore rivercane as a thriving resource for artists. Aaron will lead basketry workshops for his community, to rekindle interest in basketmaking, and cultivate a new generation of Catawba Basketmakers and rivercane stewards.
- Noah Blue Elk Hotchkiss, founder of Tribal Adaptive, launched the first adaptive sports nonprofit for Native youth with disabilities. What began with four wheelchair basketball camps has grown into a 501(c)(3) organization that serves hundreds of athletes and partners with universities and tribal nations.
The impact is measurable.Launched in 2015, the program has become a catalyst for systemic change. In the past decade, we’ve invested over $7,300,000 dollars into 100 Native youth, from 78 Tribal Nations. These programs have positively impacted over 174,000 Native Individuals, resulting in higher numbers of Native language speakers, higher rates of High School Graduation and college enrollment, and decrease in health disparities.
Give Native Youth the Tools to Thrive
Beyond leadership development, Native youth need access to essentials that allow them to succeed in school and life. Many families struggle with poverty, hunger, and limited resources. Without support, students may go without supplies, meals, or safe spaces for learning and growth. Understanding how to support Indigenous peoples starts with meeting these needs, which is why we address gaps by providing backpacks filled with school supplies, summer and weekend meals, and enrichment opportunities that combine immediate support with cultural pride.
From our blog post “6,000 Backpacks for 6,000 Native Children,” Meredith Schramm of Provo City School District in Provo, Utah, shared:
“Our students and families have loved the extra help every year. With the cost of everything rising, having one less thing to worry about and pay for has been a huge blessing.”
In 2024, this work made a direct difference:
- 19,260 Smart Sacks delivered yearly across Menominee, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock Reservations
- Weekend nutrition ensured for 180+ students weekly through expanded school pantry programs
- 19,000 summer meals served at Cheyenne River community centers, providing milk, protein, and fresh fruit when school was out
- 9,000 backpacks distributed to students in need, relieving families of financial stress
Through Youth Development Programs, we make sure young people are not only fed and prepared, but also connected to their cultural identities and empowered to build strong futures.
Ensure Basic Needs Are Met in Native Communities
Meeting basic needs is essential for Native families to thrive. If you are looking for how to help Native Americans in a meaningful way, we address urgent gaps in clean water, food security, and essential supplies while building long-term resilience through Native-led solutions.
Clean water access
For many Native families, access to safe, running water is still not guaranteed. Our Clean Water Program funds infrastructure projects that bring water directly into homes, improving both health and dignity. In 2023-2024 alone, 26 additional households were connected, serving 352 people. In total, the program has completed 496 water connections across Native communities. While our Pine Ridge projects are winding down, we are preparing to expand this work with a new partner on the Crow Reservation in Montana to continue addressing water access.
Food Security and Sovereignty
Hunger and nutrition insecurity remain persistent challenges in Native communities. Through our Organic Gardens & Food Programs, we combine immediate food support with long-term gardening initiatives that restore sovereignty and intergenerational learning. In 2024:
- 60-100 gardeners were trained through the Medicine Root program
- 40,000 lbs of produce were grown from hoop houses, greenhouses, and gardens
- 4,225 seedlings were distributed to 85-115 families in Slim Buttes
- 327,510 lbs of food were distributed via Food Boxes
- 19,260 Smart Sacks and 19,000 summer meals were delivered to ensure year-round nutrition for children
Critical Needs Support
Beyond food and water, families also rely on seasonal assistance to weather harsh conditions and crises. Our Critical Needs Program provides winter clothing, hygiene kits, and heating support that protect health and safety. In 2024:
- 34,820 winter clothing items were distributed across 16 tribal communities
- 9,000 dental kits and 6,000 hygiene kits were supplied to families in need
- 4,000+ families received heating assistance through our Heat Match program
These programs demonstrate how addressing immediate needs builds the foundation for long-term community resilience.
Build Community Health and Economic Opportunity Through Oyate Teca
True change happens when solutions are created and led by the community itself. That’s why we partner with the Oyate Teca Project, a Native-run organization located in Kyle, South Dakota. As a longtime partner based on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Oyate Teca ensures that every effort is locally led, culturally grounded, and rooted in the strengths of the community.
At its core, Oyate Teca provides youth programming, life skills workshops, and small business training that help individuals and families thrive across generations. From teaching young people practical skills to empowering adults with the tools for economic self-sufficiency, the organization is a powerful example of sustainable, Native-led impact.
Food sovereignty is also a central focus. Oyate Teca operates a community commercial kitchen where local food entrepreneurs can prepare and sell goods, building both food security and economic opportunity from within. The center also trains gardeners and distributes produce through the Medicine Root Gardening Program, ensuring that families have the knowledge and resources to grow their own healthy food while reconnecting with cultural traditions.
By supporting the Oyate Teca Community Center, you can help Native Americans through a proven, community-driven model that strengthens youth, supports families, and builds economic opportunity directly on Pine Ridge.
Ready to Help?
Every backpack delivered, every meal shared, every seed planted, and every youth leader empowered brings Native communities one step closer to equity, resilience, and self-sufficiency. At Running Strong for American Indian Youth®, we believe the most meaningful change happens when support strengthens Native-led solutions already at work on the ground.
You can be part of this progress. Even a small gift helps ensure Native youth and families have the resources, opportunities, and cultural connections they need to thrive. Join us today and support our programs that are creating healthier, stronger Native communities for generations to come.