The Henry Luce Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Raymond Foxworth as its inaugural Program Director for Indigenous Knowledge. In this newly created role, Foxworth will lead the Foundation’s grantmaking initiative that supports Indigenous knowledge keepers and organizations. He will join the Foundation on April 3, 2023.

Foxworth joins the Luce Foundation from First Nations Development Institute, a longstanding Foundation partner, where he most recently served as vice president of grantmaking, development, and communications. In his 16-year tenure at First Nations, Foxworth oversaw the organization’s national grantmaking to Native nonprofits and tribal entities; participated in a range of program and research projects involving the Native food systems initiative, family economic security, and the nonprofit sector in Indian Country; and led fundraising efforts.

“I am thrilled that Ray will be joining the Foundation to lead the Indigenous Knowledge Initiative. I can’t think of a leader better suited to take this initiative into the future,” said Vice President of Programs Sean Buffington. “His deep understanding of Indigenous communities in the U.S. was one of the reasons we chose First Nations to manage the Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowships. Over the years, he and his colleagues have turned the fellowship into a widely recognized and respected program. I have no doubt that he will bring the same vision, creativity, and energy to this new role.”

“I am excited to be joining the Henry Luce Foundation in this new role leading the Foundation’s work in supporting Indigenous knowledge and the cultural, intellectual, and policy frameworks that buttress Native communities. Supporting Indigenous knowledge is necessary and just because these systems have historically been suppressed and targeted for extinction. But beyond that, Indigenous peoples have critical voices and perspectives to contribute to a range of contemporary issues. I have had the privilege of spending my entire professional career in support of Indigenous peoples and I am excited to continue this work in this new role,” said Foxworth.

Prior to First Nations, Foxworth served as a project officer for the American Indian College Fund in Denver, Colorado, where he managed more than $19 million in projects that supported tribal colleges and universities across the U.S.

Foxworth is a citizen of the Navajo Nation, originally from Tuba City, Arizona. He has served on the board of directors of Native Public Media, and he currently serves on the board of directors for Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, and the American Political Science Association. He holds a BA and MA in political science, and in May 2015 received his PhD in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder.