The Rappahannock Tribe gratefully accepts contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, churches, and organizations that want to support the Tribe’s programs. The IRS recognizes Rappahannock Tribe, Inc. as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and gifts to the Tribe’s nonprofit are fully tax-deductible as allowable by law.
All of our programs need funding, and there’s room for gifts of all sizes. You can let us know where you want to focus your support by mentioning it in the Network for Good or PayPal note section. You can also email Mary Samsell, Director of Development, to let her know how you want to make a difference.
Our programs include:
Archeology – Working with Dr. Julia A. King, noted archeologist and professor of anthropology and her team at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, we published the Indigenous Cultural Landscape Report in 2016 and continue to identify sites with likely cultural resources of our Tribe that need protection.
Community Resilience – from emergency preparedness and cybersecurity to renewable energy, we are working to build resilience in our Tribe and the larger community.
Culture – Annual Harvest Festival and Pow Wow, regalia-making workshops, and more connect our tribal youth to ancestral beliefs and practices.
Economic Development – The goal of our efforts is to provide sustainable revenue and job opportunities for our Tribal citizens and to strengthen the rural local economy.
Environmental and Natural Resources – Our expert team works with scientists and our Tribal citizens to improve our forests, water quality, fish, bird, and animal habitat, and address invasive species through traditional practices blended with scientific knowledge. Our goal is to return our landscape to a healthy, sustainable state to provide connection to the land to our citizens and the public.
Health and Community Services – We are renovating a structure in King William County that once house a dental office. We will be setting up our own practice to provide dental services to tribal citizens and local community residents. We also provide Elder Care for our tribal citizens, especially those who have no family in the area. Regular visits by our dedicated staff bring social connection, food, and transportation to doctors to our beloved elders.
Historic Preservation – Rehabilitating the Otho S. & Susie P. Nelson House, a 19th-century farmhouse that served as home to three of our Chiefs (including Chief Anne) as well as the tribal center, apothecary, and school is on the National Register of Historic Place. When finished it will house the Rappahannock Healing Center where we will teach about our ancestral medicinal plants and healing practices.
Housing – Our housing team works with individual elders and families to provide home rehabilitation (roof and window repairs) and upgrades (like accessible ramps and walk-in showers) to our low-income citizens. We also provide down payment and rental assistance to eligible citizens.
Land Back – One of our highest Tribal priorities is to reacquire land that was stolen from our ancestors along the Rappahannock River. We successfully rematriated 465 acres at the site of our ancestral town, Pissacoack, at Fones Cliffs in April 2022, and are fundraising to purchase two more properties – 703 acres and 964 acres. Our goal is to raise a total of $7.6 million to fully fund these acquisitions.
Return to the River Program – This program, established in 2016 by Chief Anne Richardson and Assistant Chief Mark Fortune, reconnects our Tribal youth to the cultural and river practices of our ancestors. Camping, fishing, toolmaking, hunting, and ceremony are just some of the hands-on activities shared along the river.
Giving is easy:
THANK YOU!