Native American Advancement Foundation

The Native American Advancement Foundation was founded by members of the Tohono O'odham Nation to provide community support. 

NAAF has many goals toward improving Tohono O’odham life. Our initial focus has been on education.  Our mission is to improve students’ achievement and graduation rates and to highlight the importance of literacy. NAAF participates in multiple education initiatives with the Tohono O’odham Nation to benefit primary education and cultural understanding. We are currently working on launching a summer Tohono O'odham language program (summer 2019), which will continue to be offered as after-school classes (fall 2019), and eventually be offered to adults.

High school students are able to enroll in Sunnyside’s Project Graduation.  This program is meant to reengage high school students who have dropped out and to support and encourage them toward graduation. This program is essential for adults who are interested in working on their GED. 

Our partnership with Sunnyside Unified School District is a unique and innovative way to make education accessible to the residents of the Tohono O’odham Nation, especially the most remote areas, such as Gu-Vo District.

NAAF also focuses on areas such as health and wellness, housing, food sustainability, environment, and opening economic opportunities on tribal lands, and our projects includes supporting the youth programs at the Gu-Vo villages by supplying funds for snacks, transportation, and field trips.