Reparative Fee Program

In Story by Esperanza Pallana

Aligning Investments with Impact

The Blue Deer Grant Program is fueled by a Reparative Fee Program, an innovative mechanism that invites impact investors and philanthropic investors to contribute meaningfully to critical narrative shift. Inspired by similar programs nationwide. 

Inspired by several initiatives across the nation, the Reparative Fee is a .5% fee on the amount of your investment and/or originated lending transactions of your choice. The revenue directly supports the Blue Deer Grants program, ensuring resources flow to diasporic and displaced indigenous communities to support power building infrastructure, digital storytelling and technical assistance for a community of land-based practitioners, healers, farmers and grassroots organizers, who are ensuring community and climate resilience through agricultural practices and traditional medicine. This program is part of a partnership between Wildseeds Fund and NDN Fund (an initiative of NDN Collective).

EXAMPLES OF U.S. REPARATIVE FEES

  • Reparative Land Fee, a California based community development financial institution (CDFI), Community Vision, created a self-imposed fee of .5% on the amount they lend for all real estate acquisitions, with a guarantee of at least $40,000 dispersed per year.

  • The Shuumi Land Tax, a voluntary annual contribution that non-Indigenous people living on traditional Lisjan Ohlone territory of the East Bay, CA pay to support the critical work of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.

  • The Real Rent Duwamish in Seattle, WA is a suggested voluntary monthly fee of $54/month that goes directly to Duwamish Tribal Services to support the revival of Duwamish culture and the vitality of the Duwamish Tribe.

  • The Manna-hatta Fund in Manhattan, NY is a suggested voluntary monthly fee of $24/month which goes to the American Indian Community House, a nonprofit serving the health, social service, and cultural needs of Native Americans residing in New York City.

Join Us in Supporting Blue Deer Grants

Currently an invite-only program, we are seeking additional investors to amplify the impact of Blue Deer Grants. Funders interested in learning more about the Reparative Fee Program and opportunities to support this initiative can contact Esperanza Pallana, Executive Director of Wildseeds Fund, at esperanza@wildseedsfund.org.

Together, we can support the essential work of displaced and diasporic Indigenous organizers and communities as they lead us toward a climate-just and resilient future.

About The Partners

  • NDN Collective: Based out of the beautiful Black Hills on Oceti Sakowin Territory, NDN Collective provides the most ambitious systemic approach to empowering Indigenous communities in the history of philanthropy and impact investing.
  • Wildseeds Fund: A visionary philanthropic national organization advancing frontline organizations and narratives that build power and embolden transformative change to our food and agricultural systems through climate, land and labor justice.