A bold commitment
to a just transition.
The Indigenous Power & Light Fund (the “Fund”) is a collaborative fund established by the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy in partnership with the Lemelson Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, and other leading philanthropies.
The Fund
The Indigenous Power & Light Fund (the “Fund”) is a collaborative fund established by the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy in partnership with the Lemelson Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, and other leading philanthropies.
The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy (the “Alliance”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing no-cost services supporting the self-determined efforts of Native American and Alaska Native Tribes and Villages (“Tribes”) to pursue a just transition to clean energy.
When the Fund launched in 2024, its purpose was to help Tribes take full advantage of the historic federal funding opportunities made available through the Biden Administration’s Invest in America compendium of funding initiatives. The Fund provided critical pre-development grants and loans to cover required but unfunded costs — such as matching funds and technical work — that stood between Tribes and access to those billions in federal resources.
A New Reality
However, recent changes in federal policy have rescinded much of that promised funding, leaving many Tribal clean energy projects stalled, under-resourced, and at risk of failure. Instead of advancing toward a just transition, many Tribal communities have been left to grapple with worsening energy poverty, unreliable service, and the collapse of long-planned initiatives.
Photo: SAGE Development
The Solution
The Fund leverages the Alliance’s expertise and network of Tribal, federal, NGO, and industry partners to deliver critical resources and support to Tribes. It covers essential project costs, engages trusted professionals, and ensures projects are implemented with Tribal ownership and equitable partnerships at the center.
With federal funding rescinded, the Fund has become both a lifeline and a driver of systemic change — stepping in to triage the immediate crises left behind, providing emergency support for clean energy projects that allow Tribes to care for their people now, while still laying the groundwork for a just, resilient energy future.
The Fund is already having tremendous impact — making the completion of vital, community-scale infrastructure projects possible. It is helping Tribes replace prohibitively expensive and polluting diesel power generation with clean, reliable energy systems, electrify homes and Villages that have never had power before, and strengthen the resilience of essential facilities like health clinics, community centers, and emergency shelters. These investments not only address immediate, life-altering needs but also advance energy sovereignty and long-term well-being for Native communities across the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
The Impact
The Indigenous Power & Light Fund is delivering tangible, life-changing results for Tribal communities by addressing urgent energy crises and enabling critical projects that might otherwise never be completed. With federal funding rescinded, the Fund has shifted its focus from supporting large-scale development projects to meeting emergent, immediate needs — ensuring that Tribal communities can keep the lights on, power essential services, and care for their people today, while still building toward a just and sovereign energy future.
Above all, the Fund brings hope where hope is often in short supply. In Indigenous communities across the United States — where nearly 80% of individuals live below the poverty line and 14% of households still lack access to electricity. The Fund’s impact is urgent and deeply meaningful — bringing electricity into homes for the very first time, replacing failing, polluting diesel systems, and strengthening critical infrastructure that communities depend on every day. These investments deliver immediate relief, restore dignity, and spark hope — lighting the way toward a just, resilient future for Tribal communities and the generations yet to come.
For Tribes
The Indigenous Power & Light Fund was created to help Tribal leaders address one of the most critical challenges facing Native communities: reliable, affordable, and sovereign energy. If your Tribe is facing exorbitant energy costs, unreliable power, or critical infrastructure gaps — or needs immediate capital to complete a clean energy project — the Fund is here to help. We provide rapid-response grants and loans, with a streamlined process designed to deliver timely support, strengthen Tribal control, and position your Nation for long-term energy sovereignty and resilience.
To learn more or request an application, please contact:
Onna LeBeau, Managing Director
Indigenous Power & Light Fund for Energy Sovereignty
funds@tribalcleanenergy.org
For Donors
The Indigenous Power & Light Fund is a bold, high-impact initiative addressing one of the most urgent and overlooked equity challenges in America — energy poverty in Tribal communities. With over $35 million in committed funds, the Fund is charting a path to $100 million in permanent, revolving capital to meet both immediate and systemic needs.
By investing in the Fund, you join a growing movement to correct historic inequities, empower Native Nations, and deliver transformative, measurable outcomes.
We invite you to learn more about partnering with the McArthur, Lemelson, Hewlett and other foundations to help power a just, resilient energy future for Tribal communities across the country.
Please contact Caliopy Glaros, Director of Philanthropy
caliopy@tribacleanenergy.org
