Giving Compass' Take:

• Arabella Advisors reports on a recent important discussion on understanding how best to fund Native American food systems, and why food sovereignty is critical to the physical, cultural, and economic well being of Native communities.

• How can you best invest in Native communities? In what other ways can donors increase visibility on this subject? 

• Here's how technology can bring more effective investments in Native American communities. 

During October, impact investors from around the world convened in San Francisco, California for SOCAP’s annual conference, a week-long deep dive into all aspects of investing for the power of good. Arabella Advisors sent its own team of impact specialists, including associate director Shayna Keller, who represented the firm as the moderator of “Investing in Food Sovereignty in Indian Country.” Joining her on stage was Janie Hipp, CEO at the Native American Agriculture Fund; Colby Duren, director at the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative; Andreas Hipple, executive director at the Better Way Foundation; and Zach Ducheneaux, executive director at the Intertribal Agricultural Council.

The panelists took the stage with two major goals: to educate funders and social investors about investment opportunities in food systems in Indian Country and to provide concrete resources and tools to help philanthropists and social investors increase investment in Native American food systems. While the market value of agricultural products sold by American Indian/Alaska Native producers is over $3.5 billion annually and growing, and while their farms comprise three percent of all farms in the United States, these farmers and ranchers face severe barriers in accessing capital.

Read the full article about investing in Native American food systems by the team at Arabella Advisors.