Running Strong for American Indian Youth (American Indian Youth Running Strong)

Running Strong for American Indian Youth® aims to strengthen American Indian communities across the nation. We focus on American Indian youth and work to create opportunities and improve lives. We tackle complex challenges that stem from years of oppression and poverty. Our longstanding partnerships in Indian Country work to create sustainable change in Native communities.

Running Strong works with local programs to strengthen American Indian reservation communities across the United States. Our National Spokesperson, Olympic Champion Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota) is an active role model for Native children, encouraging them to live their lives with courage, dignity and pride. Our Dreamstarter program identifies 10 Native youth each year donates $10,000 to their mentor organization to bring each youth's dream to life. Dreamstarter has grown to include Dreamstarter Teacher and Dreamstarter Creative as we build our networks of committed youth and community leaders. All of our programs grow out of community identified needs, matching our experience with local resources. Running Strong's long-term development programs range from organic gardening and nutrition, emergency heat assistance and home repairs We also support language and culture programs and do not shy away from capital projects. Many reservation communities need infrastructure and we've worked to provide it by building homes, food pantries, dialysis clinics and youth centers. Our ultimate goal is to build healthy communities to nurture today's and future generations of American Indian youth.

Running Strong is one of the most effective nonprofits serving American Indian families in the nation. For over 25 years, with our National Spokesperson, Billy Mills, we have improved the quality of life of American Indian families living on and off reservation. Billy recently received the Presidential Citizens Award, the nation's 2nd highest honor, for public service for his work with Running Strong. For more information, visit www.IndianYouth.org.

Running Strong has been awarded the Independent Charities Seal of Excellence after rigorous independent reviews certified that Running Strong meets the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness.

The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance has noted Running Strong's efficiency and found that Running Strong meets the "Standards for Charitable Accountability."

Running Strong is also an active member of the Native Ways Federation. In 2006, 7 leading national American Indian non-profits came together to strengthen the circle of giving by uniting Native organizations, to better serve Native communities by becoming more effective Native nonprofit organizations, and to ensure that nonprofit organizations working on behalf of Native communities observe the highest levels of ethical standards and fiscal responsibility. Our membership in the Native Ways Federation shows that the work of Running Strong is held to the highest standards of responsibility.

Dreamstarter (Nationwide) - In 2014 Running Strong celebrated Billy Mills' 50th Anniversary of achieving his dream – to win the Olympic gold medal, and he has used this victory ever since to give back to the American Indian communities, we believe in a brighter future and know that our youth are the ones that can lead us there. In honor of this historic anniversary, Running Strong launched the Dreamstarter™ grant program. Each year, $10K grants have been awarded to projects addressing a different theme (Wellness, Arts & Culture, Education, Science & the Environment, Entrepreneurship and for 2022 - Social Action!
After 5 years, Running Strong chooses 5 Dreamstarters as Dreamstarter Golds with a $50,000 grant each to take their dream to the next level.

Clean water has been a major part of our work since we first began. Running Strong has returned to its roots to provide families with what most Americans take for granted – running water – by connecting their homes to safe water on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Food & Critical Needs for Native children– (Nationwide). Each year Running Strong provides thousands of healthy food boxes to feed children on Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River Indian Reservations along with seasonal meals of turkeys and new toys for Christmas. We donate new backpacks filled with school supplies, winter coats, gloves and boots, shoes, socks and dental kits in Native communities nationwide.

Language and Culture - (Nationwide). Running Strong provides substantial support to the Brave Heart Society and Yuchi Language Project among others to support local efforts to teach cultural ways of knowing to the next generation.

Organic Gardens (Nationwide) –Running Strong provides substantial support to Oyate Teca's Medicine Root Gardens which teaches local gardeners how to grow, eat and sell their own healthy produce. We also support traditional foods gardens and garden education shows in Native communities.