Yee Ha’ólníi Doo Receives $300,000 Grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation to Empower Navajo Entrepreneurs and Youth Leadership

TÓ NANEESDIZÍ, DINÉTAH, (TUBA CITY, NAVAJO NATION) – Yee Ha’ólníi Doo, a Navajo-led grassroots nonprofit, has announced a $300,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The 18-month grant will directly support the growth of emerging entrepreneurs and empower Navajo youth in the Navajo Nation in northwest New Mexico.

The Navajo Nation faces significant economic disparities, with unemployment and poverty rates far exceeding national averages. To address these challenges, Yee Ha’ólníi Doo is committed to fostering economic independence and self-sufficiency within the community.

Yee Ha’ólníi Doo will use the grant to expand business development programs within its existing community centers and innovation hubs across the Navajo Nation in rural northwest New Mexico. These programs will offer vital resources like business training, mentorship, and shared workspaces, equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools they need to launch and sustain successful businesses. Additionally, the grant will support initiatives focused on leadership skills, entrepreneurship, and cultural knowledge for Navajo youth, fostering a new generation of community leaders.

“Our organization has been committed to addressing the economic disparities that deeply affect the Navajo people. With the grant we have been awarded, we aim to enhance local resources, create job opportunities, and provide essential services that promote sustainable development,” said Mary Jean Francis, Interim Executive Director at Yee Ha’ólníi Doo. “Let’s be clear. Nonprofits move faster than the government when it comes to serving communities, and we have a real chance to make a significant impact here. Thank you, Kellogg Foundation, for recognizing the value in what we do and for standing by us when it feels like we’re on our own. Your investment in us is well-placed.”

This grant builds upon a successful multi-year partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which has significantly empowered Navajo entrepreneurs and strengthened the community. Leveraging previous successes and expanding its reach, Yee Ha’ólníi Doo will create a lasting positive impact on the Navajo Nation.

“We are proud to support the work of Yee Ha’ólníi Doo. Their business development program is helping to empower the Navajo Nation by nurturing and sustaining entrepreneurs in the community, which will ensure children can thrive for generations to come,” said Chamiza Pacheco de Alas, director of New Mexico programs for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

To learn more about Yee Ha’ólníi Doo and its mission to empower the Navajo community, please visit: www.navajohopisolidarity.org or contact Cassandra Begay at cassandra@navajohopisolidarity.org.