Spirit of the Sun

Spirit of the Sun is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Denver, CO, dedicated to empowering Native American communities through comprehensive development initiatives. For over two decades, the organization has partnered with tribal nations and Native American organizations across the United States to create sustainable opportunities that address the intersections of culture, community, economy, and health. Spirit of the Sun operates the Native American Community Development Program in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, deploying AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers to Native tribes and organizations across a dozen U.S. states and territories, from Colorado to Guam, to build organizational capacity and combat poverty. The organization specializes in economic development planning, financial literacy education, and community capacity building. In the Denver area, Spirit of the Sun conducts targeted financial literacy workshops designed specifically for the local Native community and continues to develop innovative programming to meet the evolving needs of urban Native people. The organization's work is grounded in collaboration and ongoing dialogue with partners to ensure every project reflects the unique needs and goals of the communities served. As an Indigenous women-led organization, Spirit of the Sun brings lived experience and cultural understanding to its mission of strengthening Indigenous resilience and self-determination by honoring ancestral wisdom and empowering community through intergenerational relationships rooted in cultural continuity, education, youth advocacy, and reconnection to land.