NCAI Foundation

Amanda John Kimsey

Philanthropic Strategies Officer

Amanda John Kimsey (she/her) is the Philanthropic Strategies Officer for the National Congress of American Indians and serves on the backbone team of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition. She has spent the last 15 years working in deep commitment to serving communities with a focus on equity, conservation, and engaging and shifting systems of power like philanthropy and policy-making to be more inclusive of self-determined community solutions and Tribal Sovereignty. Her work centers on amplifying the voices of those systemically marginalized from US environmental policy and directing philanthropic trends, believing that every community deserves meaningful representation and power to shape policy outcomes that impact its future.

As Philanthropic Strategies Officer at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Foundation, Amanda collaboratively leads efforts to raise and direct philanthropic dollars to Tribal Nations and organizations led by and serving Indian Country. Her strategies are designed to meet communities where they are and support their self-determined goals, reflecting her years of experience in conservation advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and coalition building.

Amanda's leadership is characterized by her dedication to justice and environmental stewardship. She serves on the backbone team of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, playing a pivotal role in uniting diverse conservation, environmental, and community advocates to drive urgent action in support of protecting 30% of US lands and waters by 2030 (30x30). This coalition work emphasizes keeping communities at the center of climate and biodiversity initiatives, particularly those that have been historically excluded from conservation policy.

Throughout her career ranging from environmental justice organizing, lobbying, fundraising and advocacy campaigns, Amanda has consistently worked to break down systemic barriers that have kept systemically marginalized communities out of policy conversations. She has guided campaigns to protect waterways, safeguard national parks, and invest in community-led conservation. Her approach emphasizes the importance of trust-building, relationship cultivation, and recognizing that frontline communities often already have the solutions they need but have lacked investment or sustained support.

Amanda lives in Las Cruces, NM on the stolen lands and broken treaties of the Jornada Mogollon with her family where she enjoys getting outside and enjoying the water - when outdated policies allow it to run freely through desert communities.

Cheryl Martinez

External Partners Director

Cheryl joins the NCAI Foundation with more than two decades of dedication to building equitable relationships in support of a shared mission. With an emphasis on collaboration and cultural competencies, Cheryl works to build impactful programs and a heart-led approach to philanthropy.

Prior to joining the team, Cheryl spent ten years at The Nature Conservancy, supporting Indigenous-led projects at the global scale. In addition to raising funds she led communications for Indigenous Peoples' Day, and founded the Native Network as a gathering space for Indigenous staff to connect. Cheryl also serves as a board member for Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim, a nonprofit improving the health and wellbeing of the Maya community based in Omaha, Nebraska, and served as an expert panel reviewer for the W. K. Kellogg Foundation's Racial Equity 2030 project.

Cheryl belongs to the Tewa and Zapotec families of the Pueblos of northern New Mexico, and also has Mexican and English ancestry. Born and raised in the UK, Cheryl is a graduate of the University of Wales. Cheryl enjoys traditional Pueblo pottery making, cooking, and going on adventures with her dog, Champ.

Dawn Knickerbocker

Vice President

Dawn Knickerbocker (she/her/Kwe) is Anishinaabe and walks the path of service to Tribal Nations with a commitment to equity, sovereignty, and shared responsibility. An enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe from the Ottertail Pillager Band of Indians and a citizen of the White Earth Nation, Dawn centers her work on the enduring strength of her People and the belief that every community holds the power to shape its future.

As Vice President for the National Congress of American Indians Foundation, Dawn works to create transformative systems that move funding in ways that lower barriers to entry while ensuring transparency and sustainability. From designing a grant program for public arts and culture that served over a million people to building a stable funding source for Native populations and grassroots movements, her grantmaking strategies are designed to meet communities where they are and support their self-determined goals.

Dawn’s work reflects her dedication to justice and solidarity. She embraces the tradition of freedom dreaming in service to racial justice and collective liberation. A Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice Award recipient, Dawn is also a published nonfiction writer, poet, columnist, and national speaker on earth and people related justice. Her words and actions bridge communities, fostering solidarity across movements to ensure no voice is left unheard.

Her career spans over two decades of experience leading national philanthropic campaigns, guiding nonprofits, and mentoring emerging leaders. Whether advocating for sovereignty in international spaces, collaborating with grassroots collectives, or addressing systemic inequities, Dawn works to ensure Tribal Nations can carry forward the teachings of their ancestors while building toward futures of resilience and opportunity.

Dawn’s leadership is both a responsibility and a privilege. In her role at NCAI, Board President at Urban Native Collective, a C3 board member of Friends of the Earth, and is on the steering committee for the America the Beautiful for All coalition. In every effort, she invites partners to join her in advancing sovereignty, mutual respect, solidarity, and the shared work of creating a future where communities flourish on their own terms.

Joshua Williams

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Mr. Williams has spent 20 years in the golf, technology , hospitality and corporate industries . After graduating college with a degree in Business management Joshua work as an assistant golf professional training with his cousin who was also a golf professional. Joshua has served as a golf professional, Director of golf, General Manager and has worked in corporate development and branding for the Swinomish Tribe , The Lummi Nation and numerous fortune top companies.

Joshua is on the Nike Swoosh advisory team and is a Srixon Staff Member. Joshua has served as an advisor to the NFL alumni association and consulted with Microsoft, Top Golf, PGA, LPGA , Champions tour and WEB.com players, tournaments and activation teams. Joshua has served as an advisor to MLB and NBA teams and owners in developing corporate activations and strategies . Joshua has managed and developed sales and partnership programs for retail, marketing and corporate strategies . Joshua has been a consultant for MGM resorts and numerous gaming and hospitality facilities.