

How Nonprofits and Tribes Are Rewriting the Story of Climate Finance: A NY Climate Week Event
Tribal Nations have long cared for the lands and waters we all depend upon, carrying forward ecological knowledge and cultural practices that remain among the most powerful tools we have for building resilience in the face of climate change. Yet this work has long been under-resourced.
Across the climate and conservation field, leaders increasingly recognize the vital role of Indigenous knowledge and are engaging through genuine collaboration. Nonprofits help drive these partnerships by mobilizing capital in new ways and creating lasting pathways for investment in Indigenous stewardship, where resources have long been scarce. By weaving together different systems of knowledge with the tools of finance and policy, these collaborations are scaling solutions that were once considered out of reach. From the Tribal Infrastructure and Restoration Fund to a Tribal-led Forest Resilience Bond, such efforts show how blended capital can safeguard water supplies, reduce wildfire risk, and revitalize ecosystems and communities.
In this interactive session, leaders from Blue Forest, BlueCommons, River Partners, and Trees, Water & People will share lessons from the field and invite participants to explore what effective, respectful partnership looks like in practice, and how these approaches intersect with their own priorities. Attendees will leave with a grounded understanding of proven models and with practical takeaways to inform how they direct capital, partnerships, and strategies in support of Indigenous-led stewardship and durable climate solutions.
Event will include small bites and beverages for attendees.
Panelists:
Blue Forest – Saraya Hamidi (Cherokee Nation), Indigenous Partnerships Senior Manager
BlueCommons – Elizabeth Gonzalez, Operations Manager
River Partners - Austin Stevenot (Northern Sierra Mewuk), Director of Tribal Engagement
Trees, Water & People – James Calabaza (Santo Domingo Pueblo), Indigenous Lands Program Director
Moderator:
Climate Policy Initiative - Morgan Richmond, Manager
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Blue Forest is a conservation finance nonprofit deploying over $14 Million of private capital for ecosystem restoration. In 2025, it launched its first Forest Resilience Bond to restore Tribal lands.
BlueCommons provides financing solutions for a more sustainable Colorado River Basin. Through the Tribal Infrastructure and Restoration Fund, it partners with Tribes to help finance infrastructure improvements and restoration efforts that address urgent water needs.
River Partners restores native ecosystems in some of California’s most imperiled river corridors, reviving nearly 20,000 acres statewide. It partners with Tribes and others to build healthier communities, stronger economies, and expanded open-space access.
Trees, Water & People helps communities to protect, conserve, and manage the natural resources upon which their long-term well-being depends. For decades, they have partnered with Indigenous communities to restore ecosystems while strengthening sovereignty.