The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has long envisioned establishing our own "Embassy of Tribal Nations" and purchasing a building to house our organization and related tribal organizations. I am writing to extend a personal invitation for you to participate in this exciting endeavor and assist us in realizing this goal.

For more than 60 years, NCAI has defended tribal sovereignty and has been the leading national organization dedicated to protecting tribal treaty rights. Now is the time for tribal leadership to take control of our future and establish a permanent presence in Washington, D.C.

In October 2004, the NCAI Executive Board made an important decision to embark on a Capital Campaign to purchase a building for NCAI. The Board has set an ambitious goal of raising $12 million over the next 3 years. We need your help to achieve this goal.

The funds raised will be used to purchase a building once we reach an initial amount of $2 million. We received an enthusiastic response and over $300,000 in pledges for the campaign during our recent Executive Council Winter Session. Former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, while making a generous donation to the Embassy, said it is time to make this long-standing vision a reality. He challenged tribes to come forward and pledge their commitment to NCAI.
He said NCAI has been a true champion for tribal rights for decades and that now is the time for tribes to give NCAI the home it deserves. Let's build on this momentum and seize this exciting opportunity.

We are currently targeting buildings located in the Dupont Circle, K Street and L Street regions of Washington, D.C. These areas provide us with excellent access to strategic parts of the district and immediate proximity to other nationally recognized non-profit organizations. There are many advantages to owning our own facility. To name just a few:

• Enhance the presence of tribal sovereign nations in Washington, D.C.
• House related organizations and create a unified Native voice
• Make a solid long-term investment and savings for NCAI
• Promote greater public awareness of NCAI and tribal governments on a national level

 Over the past several years, NCAI has strengthened its ability to effectively address and influence the many threatening issues facing our tribal governments and Indian communities. We are now able to make this commitment in to secure and own a building for our operations.

We have established a separate bank account specifically for this purpose and have identified an initial Capital Campaign Fundraising Board of prominent Tribal leaders across the nation to oversee this effort.

We have developed various gift levels for your consideration. Enclosed is additional information on these sponsor gift opportunities for the Capital Campaign. You can make a difference- regardless of your donation. We will appropriately recognize all those who contribute. You can also contribute in memory of, or on behalf of, a specific individual or institution.

Please let us know if you would like additional information on this campaign or if you would like a member of our fundraising board to make a formal presentation. Regardless of the amount of your donation, we commit to provide you with regular updates on the status of the campaign and level of donations.

As Indian Country's collective voice in Washington, D.C. for hundreds of years to come, we owe it to future generations to make sound financial decisions today. We hope you share our vision and we ask your assistance to help make it a reality.

Thank you for your support.