Network Launch at NAPCON26
Changemakers Hawaiʻi Launches Indigenous Fundraising Network As Leaders Gather In Riverside For NAPCON26
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Hilo, HI, April 13, 2026 — Changemakers Community Economic Development Corporation and CoMission LLC are honored to announce the launch of the Philanthropono Network of Indigenous Professional Fundraisers, a new national community created to bring together and uplift Indigenous fundraising professionals across Native Hawaiian, Native American, Alaska Native, and First Nations communities.
The announcement comes as Changemakers participates this week in NAPCON26, the Native Americans in Philanthropy 2026 Annual Conference, taking place at the Riverside Convention Center in Riverside, California. The conference brings together leaders, practitioners, and learners working at the intersection of philanthropy, Native advocacy, and Tribal sovereignty, making it a timely setting to introduce a new network centered on Indigenous fundraising leadership.
Philanthropono reflects a spirit of generosity grounded in Indigenous values — where giving is relational, reciprocal, and rooted in care for community. The network creates a trusted space for Indigenous professionals in fundraising, development, and philanthropy to connect, learn from one another, and grow leadership that supports Indigenous-led organizations.
This work comes in response to longstanding inequities in philanthropy. According to the Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy report Native Voices Rising, Native Hawaiian organizations receive approximately 2 cents of every $100 in philanthropic funding, while Native American and Alaska Native communities receive approximately 4 cents of every $100. These realities underscore why Indigenous communities must be better supported, better resourced, and more fully recognized in philanthropy.
“The Philanthropono Network is about more than professional development — it’s about transforming philanthropy in ways that honor Indigenous values and address longstanding inequities in funding,” said Olani Lilly, Founder of Changemakers Hawaiʻi. “We are creating a space where Indigenous fundraisers can lead, learn, and grow together.”
Why this matters
For Indigenous communities, fundraising is about more than dollars — it is about resourcing community vision, sustaining cultural knowledge, strengthening sovereignty, and supporting Indigenous-led organizations. When Indigenous fundraisers are connected and empowered, they help reshape philanthropy around trust, relationship, and community wellbeing.
Philanthropono helps ensure Indigenous communities are not only funded but also represented in the decisions that shape how resources flow. By building a trusted, culturally grounded network, it opens doors and strengthens the future of Indigenous-led organizations nationwide.
Indigenous fundraising professionals and those working in support of Indigenous-led organizations are invited to learn more and join this growing community.
For more information or to express interest, visit changemakershawaii.org/ifn-membership or contact Olani Lilly at olani@changemakershawaii.org
About ChangeMakers Hawaiʻi
Changemakers Hawaiʻi is an Emerging Native Community Development Financial Institution and Native Hawaiian-led nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community-driven economic development across Hawaiʻi. The organization strengthens the capacity and sustainability of Native Hawaiian and Indigenous-led organizations through leadership development, nonprofit capacity building, and culturally grounded economic strategies.
About CoMission LLC
CoMission LLC is a mission-driven consulting firm specializing in fundraising strategy, nonprofit development, and digital engagement for organizations serving Indigenous and historically underrepresented communities. CoMission partners with nonprofits to grow sustainable funding, strengthen visibility, and build community-centered strategies that reflect the values and priorities of the communities they serve.
Media Contact:
Olani Lilly
CEO, Changemakers Hawaiʻi / CoMission LLC
olani@changemakershawaii.org
808-960-5732
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