The College of Menominee Nation (CMN) was founded in 1993 and chartered by the Menominee people with a mission rooted in the research, promotion, perpetuation, and nurtu­rance of American Indian language, culture, and scholarship. From its earliest days, CMN has been guided by Menominee values of responsibility, reciprocity, and care for future generations. Like many tribal colleges, CMN began with limited resources but has had a deep collective commitment to students and community.

CMN’s fundraising journey began after the college was estab­lished, yet before any formal advancement office existed. In the mid to late 1990s, as student needs became more visible and the college continued to grow, a small group of CMN employees under the direction of Dr. Verna Fowler (Menominee), the college’s founding president, recognized that institutional sustainability would require additional resources beyond tuition and public funding.

These early fundraising efforts were entirely grassroots. They were not initiated by a formal directive or a dedicated fundraising role, but rather by employees who wore many hats—faculty, stu­dent services staff, administrative assistants, program coordina­tors, and campus operations personnel—who stepped forward out of necessity and belief in the college’s mission. Fundraising fell under the category of “other duties as assigned” in CMN employees’ job descriptions and was taken on in addition to teaching, advising, maintaining facilities, and supporting daily campus operations.

The message shared with potential donors was simple, values-driven, and relational: CMN was a young tribal college serving Native and non-Native students, many of whom were first-generation college students. The college needed partners willing to invest in Indigenous education, cultural preservation, and community well-being. Donors were invited not merely to give, but to become part of CMN’s story.

In the absence of research tools or donor databases, early donors were identified through personal and relational networks. Names were gathered from campus visitors, individuals who attended college events, the president’s travels to different parts of the country, faith-based and community connections, and friends or colleagues who expressed interest in CMN’s work.

Employees stuffed envelopes by hand, wrote thank you letters, and developed careful recordkeeping systems to track donations. Even without formal infrastructure, there was a clear understanding  that accountability and gratitude mattered. Each gift—regardless of size—represented a relationship built on trust. Many of these early donors remain connected to CMN today and are considered part of the college’s extended family.

Five years after opening its doors, CMN launched its first official fundraising campaign titled, “Help Our Students Find Fertile Ground.” This campaign marked an important shift toward inten­tional donor engagement while remaining grounded in the relational approach that defined CMN’s early efforts. Several years later, the college built on this momentum with the “Spread the Seeds of Knowledge” campaign, continuing to rely on staff who believed in the transformative power of investing in tribal higher education.

As fundraising efforts expanded, it became increasingly clear that long-term sustainability required more than goodwill and extra hours—it required structure, coordination, and professional stewardship. Thus in 2008, CMN formally established the Institutional Advancement Office, a pivotal milestone for the college. This decision reflected a broader Menominee understanding that sustainable growth—like the sustainable forestry the Menominee are famous for—requires planning, careful steward­ship, and long-term vision.

With the leadership of Irene Kiefer, who was contracted as CMN’s institutional advancement director in 2008 and highly recommended by Norbert Hill, vice-president at CMN’s Green Bay campus, the college began to formalize its advancement practices. Kiefer helped refine CMN’s messaging, develop a con­sistent branding image, establish annual campaigns, and create a public relations and communications plan aligned with CMN’s mission and vision—ensuring professionalism while honoring cultural integrity.

During this time, President Fowler strengthened donor relation­ships that extended far beyond traditional philanthropy. Her approach reflected a core truth within tribal communities: Donor engagement is relational, personal, and often intergenera­tional. Many supporters became like family, drawn not only to CMN’s mission but to the people who lived it every day.

My own experience mirrors this history. Over time, I have watched acquaintances become friends and friends become relatives in the Menominee sense of netāēnawemākanak—“all my relatives.” These relationships endure because CMN prioritizes stewardship, honoring donor intent, maintaining transparency, communicating openly, and demonstrating the real impact of each gift.

What began as “other duties as assigned” evolved into an essential office that transforms generosity into opportunity. Institutional advancement builds and sustains donor relationships rooted in trust and reciprocity; tells CMN’s story so donors understand the cultural, educational, and economic impact of their support; ensures scholarships and programs continue even during times of uncertainty; and creates stable pathways for future generations who rely on CMN as an accessible, culturally grounded institution of higher learning. Institutional advancement is not simply a department—it is a lifeline that strengthens tribal sovereignty through education.

The work of CMN’s Institutional Advancement Office is made possible through long-term donor partnerships, which are built on trust, shared values, and sustained commitment. These donors did not simply make gifts; they entered into partnerships with CMN, allowing their generosity to be stewarded with care and purpose.

One of CMN’s greatest partners is the Robert J. Peot Foundation, which began its relationship with the college through the recommendation of a Catholic priest, Father Kiefer, who was serving on the Menominee reservation. He introduced Kathryn Peot, his sister, who led the Robert J. Peot Foundation to the college.

The foundation’s initial support included a $5,000 fund to assist CMN students who were parents of children aged 12 and younger, providing immediate relief for families balancing education and caregiving responsibilities. The Peot Foundation also supported CMN’s food pantry, recognizing that basic needs are foundational to student success.

As trust deepened, the partnership expanded. The Peot family established a student scholarship fund and later the Zager Venture Fund in memory of Kathryn Peot’s grandson, Scott Zager. This fund enabled students to apply for small grants to support extracurricular and co-curricular activities at a time when no institutional funding existed for such opportunities.

The Robert J. Peot Scholarship, established in 2005, has since awarded more than $185,000 to 540 students. The foundation also contributed to CMN’s Honor Song Endowment. Through the pooling of unrestricted private donations and CMN board-approved funds, the College of Menominee Nation created a reserve fund where multiple individual and corporate donations became a permanent endowment for scholarships accessible to all CMN students, affirming its commitment to both academic success and cultural continuity. This partnership grew because CMN honored donor intent, communicated consistently, and demon­strated impact. Stewardship transformed generosity into a legacy.

In 2007, CMN built another pivotal partnership with the Johnson Scholarship Foundation (JSF). The two institutions entered into a formal agreement establishing the perpetual JSF Endowment. This agreement initiated a long-term commitment to support CMN’s business and entrepreneurship students with demonstrated financial need and to enhance the college’s business education infrastructure, including funding for a business center on campus. The foundation provides grants for scholarships and other support to nonprofit organizations that serve students with disabilities, Indigenous students in Canada and the United States, and students from low-income families.

Immediately in 2007, CMN was honored to steward scholar­ships to deserving students in partnership with JSF. What began as support for 31 students with a total of $25,000 has grown into a lasting legacy of opportunity. Through the foundation’s continued trust and generosity, 368 CMN students have received more than $350,000 in scholarship support. The growth of the JSF Endowment to over $1.5 million reflects a shared commitment to student success, responsible stewardship, and the belief that higher education transforms lives. CMN is deeply grateful for this enduring partnership and the meaningful impact it continues to have on our students and community.

Beginning in the 2011–2012 academic year and con­tinuing in perpetuity, CMN will distribute a percent­age of the endowment’s value as “Johnson Foundation Scholarships.” These scholarships support business students who demonstrate merit and financial need.

CMN’s Institutional Advancement Office has main­tained diligent recordkeeping related to the endow­ment. This includes documentation of contributions, investment activity, scholarship disbursements, and stu­dent award histories. CMN has remained committed to transparency, effective communication, and responsible stewardship. This consistency helped uphold trust with JSF, ensuring the partnership has remained strong and effective.

The longevity and success of the endowment under­score the importance of a centralized, structured, insti­tutional advancement department. by maintaining accurate records, fulfilling reporting obligations, and communicating proactively with donors, CMN demonstrates accountability and builds long-term confidence with funding partners.

The relationship with the Johnson Scholarship Foundation began with the Johnson family’s commit­ment to supporting educational opportunities for American Indian people. It began with its founders, Theodore and Vivian Johnson, and continues to this day. Nearly 20 years later, the partnership continues to reflect mutual trust, shared purpose, and consistent stewardship—principles that guide CMN’s broader fundraising evolution.

Since 1993, CMN has helped students enter the workforce—students whose educational journeys were shaped by scholarships, partnerships, and the generosity of donors who remain friends today. Many of those students now serve as leaders, educators, care­takers, innovators, and culture bearers, demonstrating that early investments have grown far beyond their original seeds.

Dr. Fowler once predicted, “The day is coming that the Menominee will be as renowned for their educa­tional initiatives as they are for their sustainable forestry practice.” Through intentional stewardship and strong donor partnerships, CMN’s Institutional Advancement Office continues to help make that vision a reality.

We Menominee say netāēnawemākanak—all my relatives. This teaching reflects how we understand responsibility, reciprocity, and relationship. It also reflects what our donors mean to us. They are not simply supporters; they become part of our circle, our story, and our extended family, helping ensure that future generations continue to find fertile ground at the College of Menominee Nation.

Susan M. Waukau (Menominee) is the director of institutional advancement at the College of Menominee Nation.