A new initiative backed by philanthropic funding is aiming to reconnect Indigenous movement workers with employment opportunities as nonprofit organizations face tightening budgets and layoffs.
The Sovereign Futures Talent Network, a one-year effort supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and hosted by the nonprofit BLIS Collective, is targeting organizers, cultural workers, strategists and policy practitioners focused on Indigenous sovereignty and justice. The program is designed for individuals who have been unemployed or underemployed following job disruptions over the past 18 months.
Organizers said the network will serve as a bridge between displaced workers and employers while also offering professional development and relationship-building opportunities. Applications for the initial cohort close March 31.
The initiative comes as Indigenous-led nonprofits and advocacy organizations contend with shifting funding priorities and broader contraction across the philanthropic sector, raising concerns about the loss of experienced talent in movement-based work.
BLIS officials said the network is in early stages and is seeking to expand through partnerships with Indigenous-led organizations and talent platforms, including a collaboration with Astrohire, an Indigenous-focused executive recruitment firm.
The program is currently funded for one year, with organizers pursuing additional investment to sustain and grow the network beyond its initial term.
