Celebrating seven years of Emergence

Discovering resilience through renewal: A message from Liz

“2025 marked seven years of Emergence! And while there’s so much to celebrate, there’s also no doubt about it: 2025 was full of the pain of watching systems crumble. As the Trump administration made massive cuts to federal funding, many community-led nonprofits faced deep fears about how to continue delivering care to their communities–like food, shelter, health care. The most basic things we all need to live. 

But in the face of those overt attacks, many organizations rediscovered a way forward. They focused in, reenvisioned their goals, and found the resilience to keep fighting for their communities amid rising injustice and authoritarianism. 

Seeing that happen is what brings me joy during these hard days.  Seeing community-based organizations–like the many Emergence has partnered with–discover their own ability to weather seemingly impossible storms gives me hope for our collective future. 

Giving community-based leaders the tools and strategies to adapt, thrive, and grow–even in the worst possible environments–is exactly why I created Emergence seven years ago. Our work has always been about creating organizations with the internal strength to confront systemic injustice head on. And I’m proud to celebrate all that we’ve helped our clients and partners accomplish in the last seven years.

The fight we face–against a type of injustice not seen in generations–demands that we dig for our deepest reserves and work together in community. As we move into a new year, let’s take a deep collective breath–and then get to work.”

Standing with Community Based Organizations - from 2018 to 2025

Sustainability & Fundraising

• Raised over $100 million, helping many brand new organizations to grow their budgets to over $1 million

• Raised nearly $15 million for the return of the buffalo to Indigenous communities in South Dakota and Texas with Tanka Fund and Texas Tribal Buffalo Project 

• Raised $5 million for two brand new schools in the NACA Inspired Schools Network, Endazhi Nitaawiging and Oceti Sakowin Community Academy

• Directed Advancement for four large organizations to sustain their fundraising efforts while they took their time to hire the right person for their team

Organizational Development & Capacity Building

• Supported the launch of seven new Indigenous-led organizations

• Supported the growth of Makoce Agriculture Development

  from no budget and a team of 1, to an organization with a 10 year plan, 15 staff, and an annual operating budget of $5 million

• Led strategic planning

  and annual planning efforts for 10 organizations including Alliance for Felix Cove

• Supported over 40 Indigenous CEOs and Executive Directors

  through thought partnership in the development of their organizations

• Partnered with the Kalliopeia Foundation

  to provide capacity building services to 5 of their grantee partners

• Supported NDN Collective

  to further build out their Advancement team and provide organization development support for annual planning

Infrastructure development for long-term resilience

• Managed bookkeeping

  for six organizations, often developing the financial systems from the ground up

• Led evaluation efforts

  for a tribal home visiting program and developed services for Indigenous-led evaluation

• Supported the growth of 12 Emergence team members who

  are now working with community-based organizations across the country to drive powerful change