Cherokee Nation launches task force to reimagine, relaunch Cherokee Nation Foundation

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed an executive order Wednesday, creating a task force to expand Cherokee Nation Foundation's mission to better engage with the philanthropic community and harness more resources to support Cherokee Nation citizens, communities and causes.

The executive order challenges the task force to reimagine and relaunch the foundation to capture opportunities for charitable giving beyond the foundation's education-focused mission.

"The Cherokee Nation Foundation story is one of growth and tremendous service to the Cherokee Nation," Hoskin said. "Launched more than 30 years ago, it found its footing in a focus on education support. Today, it's grown to a powerhouse organization helping students achieve higher educational outcomes and success, including higher education and careers."

Since its inception in 1996, the foundation has invested millions in scholarships that directly help educational outcomes for Cherokee students and ease financial burden for Cherokee families.

"Against the backdrop of decades of success, now is the time to reimagine what the Cherokee Nation Foundation can be and how it can develop further as the lead entity for all philanthropy supporting Cherokee Nation, our cities and the communities we share with our friends and neighbors," Hoskin said. "Our challenge to this task force is to reinforce the foundation's role and experience in education support as it scales to meet a broader range of needs and opportunities for partnerships we have yet to discover."

The reimagined-and-relaunched foundation would serve the broad interests of Cherokee Nation citizens and join a global philanthropic community, according to the executive order.

"Twenty years ago, Cherokee Nation Foundation supported just 50 students," said Janice Randall, Cherokee Nation Foundation executive director. "Today, our efforts support more than 5,000 students. That growth only comes with great partners like Cherokee Nation who believe in our mission and made historic investments."

Recent contributions include Cherokee Nation's $5 million permanent endowment into nursing and allied health scholarships and another $5 million permanent endowment into behavioral health scholarships.

"This task force is a response to our success and growth over the last 20 years and will determine how the foundation may best meet the needs of the Cherokee Nation for the next 20 years," Randall said. "Thank you to Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner for their leadership, and I'm looking forward to serving on this vital task force."

Serving on the Principal Chief's Task Force to Reimagine and Relaunch Cherokee Nation Foundation are:

• Chair Tim Roberts, Cherokee Nation Businesses senior vice president and chief strategy officer
• Co-chair Dr. Corey Bunch, Cherokee Nation Chief of Staff
• Shella Bowlin, Cherokee Nation Secretary of State
• Janice Randall, Cherokee Nation Foundation executive director
• Tonya Rozell, Cherokee Nation Foundation board of directors president
• Dr. Matthew Scraper, Cherokee Nation Businesses consultant on non-profit development
• Camerin Fite James, Cherokee Nation senior advisor on public engagement and policy

The task force expects to issue a preliminary report by Dec. 31.

Council of the Cherokee Nation Speaker Johnny Jack Kidwell applauded the effort.

"The council recognizes the Cherokee Nation Foundation's longstanding impact on the lives of thousands of Cherokee citizens," Kidwell said. "We look forward to carefully reviewing the task force's work and recommendations with an eye toward how best to strengthen the Foundation's future. Our goal is to help position the Foundation for a new era of growth, expanded philanthropic support, and greater impact in advancing our shared mission of serving the Cherokee people."