The Navajo Relief Fund (NRF) provides program services that benefit the Native Americans of the vast Navajo reservation, which spreads across parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Our MISSION is "To help Native American people improve the quality of their lives by providing opportunities for them to bring about positive changes in their communities."

We work towards our mission in a way that is unique to most charities in the United States, and is certainly unique to charities working with Native Americans. That’s why we operate from inside the circle, helping members of the tribe to support one another in the traditional Native American way. We ask for and listen to advice from our partners within the tribe. By working together, as a team, we achieve an unprecedented level of success. This methodology has nine guiding principles we call "The NRF Way":

1. We work through reservation partners, who identify the needs in their communities that NRF can help them address. These are our Program Partners.
   We provide goods and services to the partners, and work with them to plan and implement distributions and activities in their communities. This helps reduce the immediate need.
   
   

   NRF helps Navajo people bring about positive changes in their communities.

   
   
2. We help Program Partners enhance the reservation programs where they work.
   By volunteering with NRF, the partners learn how to work with outside resources, organize and advertise events, and recruit and coordinate volunteers. Their volunteers also build skills and confidence. This learning benefits reservation programs in the long run.
   
   
3. We give preference to rural and remote communities with limited access to transportation and services.
   Many who live on reservations reside in rural areas far away from health care, stores, schools, or employment opportunities. Many do not have transportation to get to the nearest town or facility. These are the areas that we prioritize for service.
   
   

   Thousands of Navajos suffer from poverty, hunger, and isolation.

   
   
4. When a group is selected for service, NRF strives to serve everyone in the group.
   In addition to need, a group may be further defined by age, location, the Partner’s service area, or other factors. These criteria make clear who is eligible to receive the service. Using this system helps to avoid any feeling of unfairness or partiality within the community that could undermine the effectiveness and credibility of NRF or its Program Partners.
   
   
5. We deliver only needed goods and services.
   We work with Program Partners to understand what products are needed and in what quantities, then strive to match those needs with high-quality products. In other words, we do not "dump and run." Dumping goods merely because they are available doesn’t guarantee a benefit. Some goods are unwanted or inappropriate. Delivering the wrong thing at the wrong time or to the wrong place can create a problem for the community. Thus, NRF only delivers to the Partners and only delivers goods that will help address the Partner’s need.
   
   

   Local volunteers help NRF meet the genuine needs of area residents.

   
   
6. We insist upon program accountability.
   We expect our Program Partners to care as much about the goods and services provided as we do. Goods and services must go only to the defined group and be reported on by the Partners in a timely fashion. We fulfill our obligations to our Program Partners, and we expect our Program Partners to fulfill their obligations to us.
   
   We give clear, written expectations to our Program Partners. The NRF program relies heavily on the Program Partners and other volunteers who live on the reservation to make our services work. We clearly outline expectations as to what the community needs to do and what NRF will do for them. Building this line of communication makes our programs more effective because everyone’s expectations are clear.
   
   

   Many communities request gifts of baby-care essentials for struggling young families.

   
   
7. We are also accountable to our donors.
   We take seriously the management of resources that donors entrust to our care. We work efficiently and effectively year-round, to achieve the maximum reach and impact from available resources. This enables us to be a constant resource to Indian country and to the Partners who are counting on us.