Better Way Foundation

05/18/2026

Sherman, celebrated Indigenous chef and advocate, will inspire and educate at our August Santa Fe Funder Gathering by sharing how food sovereignty can transform communities.

An Oglala Lakota Sioux from the Pine Ridge Reservation in S.D., Sean—known as The Sioux Chef—has built a James Beard Award-winning career around a powerful idea: Indigenous food systems, nearly erased by centuries of disruption, can be reclaimed, celebrated, and shared. His Minneapolis restaurant, Owamni, was named America’s Best New Restaurant in 2022. Through his nonprofit, .org, Sean is helping restore Indigenous foodways by expanding access to traditional Indigenous foods and knowledge across Turtle Island (North America).

Sean’s work goes far beyond the plate. It is about land, memory, health, and the possibilities that emerge when a community reclaims its connection to the foods that have sustained it for millennia.

Sean’s story demonstrates that cultural restoration and economic development are deeply interconnected—and how investment in Indigenous food sovereignty reverberates through health, identity, and community resilience.

Learn more about Sean’s incredible work: https://seansherman.com/

Join us in Santa Fe: bit.ly/413N0P0

04/13/2026

We're hosting a small, immersive funder gathering in Santa Fe during the 104th Annual Santa Fe Indian Market—designed to mobilize funders to start or deepen their support of Indigenous communities.

We’re now collecting expressions of interest.

This will be a highly relational, cohort-based experience limited to 50 participants, with a particular focus on funders not yet investing in Indigenous communities—or those who have made modest investments and are ready to do more. We welcome private and community foundation leaders, DAF holders, and individual donors.

In partnership with the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, participants will step into one of the most vibrant Indigenous cultural events in the country—paired with candid dialogue and action-oriented sessions featuring leaders like Erik Stegman, Edgar Villanueva, Sarah Eagle Heart, Regis Pecos, and Sam Torres. Together, we’ll explore topics ranging from food sovereignty and Native-led funds to boarding school healing, language revitalization, and more.

This isn’t just about learning—it’s about action. Participants will leave with clear commitments, supported by facilitated sessions with partners like The Collective, Magic Cabinet, and the Decolonizing Wealth Project.

Less than 0.5% of philanthropic dollars support Native-led organizations. There is a significant opportunity to do more—together.

If this resonates, we invite you to submit your interest via the Santa Fe Funder Gathering landing page:

https://santafefundergathering.org/

01/20/2026

We’re hiring!

Better Way is excited to welcome our first Organizational Assistant. We’re looking for a highly organized administrative professional to support the foundation’s core operations. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys managing details, juggling multiple priorities, and working collaboratively—especially if you’re interested in philanthropy and nonprofit partnerships.

Role highlights:
• Full-time or 0.75 FTE (flexible for the right candidate)
• Hybrid role
• Twin Cities–based candidates required
• Opportunity to join a foundation that does philanthropy differently—through long-term partnerships, trust-based practices, and impact investing

Learn more and apply today:

At the Better Way Foundation, we focus on early education and positive child development because they are cornerstones of educational success, lifelong health, strong families and communities, and the well-being of the next generation.