Support the ATADA Foundation

The ATADA Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Gifts to the ATADA Foundation are tax deductible as a charitable donation.

Vecinos Outreach Project

Vecinos means “neighbors” in Spanish. It is in that spirit that we are raising funds to help indigenous communities address needs that they deem important. Instead of relying on laws that address everyone’s concerns and hoping they are fair, we believe in starting this community approach based on respect and honor. We anticipate some challenges with implementation at first, but all activities will be 100% transparent. We hope that this will be just the beginning of meaningful relationships that will serve as a model for the future. You can help us reach our goal by making your tax-deductible donation today! All ATADA members and friends are encouraged to participate as this will be a great experience.

Learn More About the ATADA Foundation:

Mission Statement

The ATADA Foundation is a non-political organization that helps at-risk communities, regardless of race, creed or religion, in order to create and strengthen trust and cooperation among all peoples.

Our Goal

• Our goal is to form a group of 100+ members that contribute $1,000 or more per year so we have a minimum of $100,000, less expenses, to fund larger, needed projects in certain communities.

• The Board will solicit projects from such communities and decide to fund at least three or four a year.  Presently, there are 5 board members.

• Our focus will be on indigenous native communities in New Mexico to start, with the intention of expanding to other communities in the future.

• Specifics as how the funds will be distributed and what type of projects shall be determined later.  We will defer to the religious elder’s decisions.

Past Projects

In 2020, we focused our efforts on providing support for indigenous peoples affected by Covid-19. Through the generous donations of ATADA members and friends, we raised over $22,000 to help Native American Nations bring food, water, supplies and other assistance to those in need. 

Our History

Appreciation for Native arts and artists, both past and present, has always been of primary importance to the membership of the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association.

Toward the end of the first decade of our association’s operation, when we felt certain that we would continue on in our capacity to preserve and promote Tribal Art, an idea was put before the Board of Directors. That idea was to give back to the various cultures and people in whose art and history we dealt. To that end, a scholarship was established for young Native American students of traditional art or art history. The awards were made to The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe and to the American Indian College Fund. Shortly thereafter, additional funding was approved to serve as a Museum Endowment.

In 2001, we incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Since that time, we have made contributions to museums and organizations throughout the country that are actively involved in the preservation and public education of Tribal Art. With that objective in mind, we have aided in the funding of numerous projects, such as

• The Dublin Fellowship through the School of American Research

• The Bill Holm Center for the study of Northwest Coast Art at the Burks Museum

• the Wheelwright Museum’s new wing dedicated to the study of Southwest Jewelry

• the improvement of storage facilities at the Museum of Northern Arizona

• the Millicent Rogers Museum’s educational project aimed at young Native American students

Additionally, we have been proud to assist in programs to keep Navajo weaving arts alive in local high schools and to help reintroduce a lost basket weaving technique in the Northwest.

Some of our most rewarding efforts have involved finding and providing an untanned buffalo hide needed for a ceremony by a group of Sioux; and funding a trip to the Heard Museum for Sarah Leekya, who had never seen the collection of her father’s carvings housed there. Her visit and comments were recorded and are preserved at both the museum and in our archives.

We have also aided the Zuni in their efforts to maintain the integrity of their native arts in the face of ever increasing forgeries appearing on the market. Additionally, we provided aid to the Himalayan Stove Project, bringing heat and comfort to earthquake victims.

The Foundation also funded a three-year scholarship in the name of ATADA Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, Jim and Lauris Phillips, which was awarded through the Heard Museum’s Young Artists Program.

2021-2022 ATADA Foundation Board Members

Mark Blackburn - President
Bob Gallegos - Treasurer
Kim Martindale - Secretary
John Molloy
Will Hughes
Wendy Kunkle