Thank you for considering becoming a One Spirit Partner! We have been fortunate to attract many caring individuals as Sponsors for tribal children and elders. We now need, however, new types of collaborators - charitable corporations, philanthropic organizations, spiritual groups, committed individual contributors. We need your support and many hands to meet the needs beyond the grasp of most individuals, to distribute food, buy beds, purchase heating oil, and develop economic programs and self-sufficiency initiatives.

For example, many of our current Sponsors order food each month from the SHARE food co-op to bring quality produce for their sponsored families. We, however, are responsible for getting this food from SHARE’s distribution point to the family on the reservation. This is no easy feat, considering that the Pine Ridge reservation is over 2 million acres, about the size of Connecticut, and that few have cars and most lack any public transportation. We hire vans and tribal members in our distribution system, costing us $600.00 a month, and are trying to find ways to improve our methods, such as getting a refrigerated place to store groceries. Similarly, the cost to purchase a bed (mattress, box spring, bed frame) is about $300.00 a bed - and we are responsible for finding ways to get them to the families who need them. The cost of the Lakota Theater project, one of our economic development programs, is $12,000 this year.

Who Can Become A Partner?

You! We have this program for both groups and individuals. It is important to keep a part of our organization’s focus on long-term collaborative solutions. We see this program as providing ways to assist the community in becoming self-sufficient. It also provides funds for crisis needs beyond the capacity of individual Sponsors. We welcome any group or private individual who wants to bring new impetus to these programs.

Our Commitment to You

We know that you are a Partner because you have heart! We want your clients to recognize your socially responsible actions, your members to take pride in your caring contributions, and your stakeholders to value your donations. As a partner we will:

• Display the name of you or your organization in a prominent place on our website, with your permission
• Include a link to your website, as appropriate
• Keep you informed of our Theater Project, the Bed Project, the Gift Box Program, the Lakota Artist Program, and the different ways your money is being used to help this community
• Provide you with a handsome certificate suitable for framing
• Share with you a hand-crafted gift from an artist of the Lakota Nation.

And remember, because we are administered by ONE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your contributions are tax-deductible! We’ll assure that you receive an annual report of your contributions for your tax records.

It is important to assure we are accountable - so we’ll make sure you receive financial reports showing how your money is being used. All our staff are unpaid volunteers and we use 90% of your gifts for direct services to the resident, such as food and fuel. The remaining 10% goes for costs necessary to carry out these programs, such as the cost to hire vans to bring food and beds to families.

Your Gift to Us

We, of course, gratefully accept gifts of any size.

To be a ONE Spirit Partner, we ask groups and organizations to commit a minimum contribution of $50.00 a month. The full $600.00 may be paid annually, semi-annually, quarterly, or monthly.

Individual contributors who want to assist One Spirit in this special way are also welcome! Though many enjoy working directly with a Native family as Sponsors, others prefer being part of a large team effort to make a difference. A Contributor can become a Partner by committing at least $25.00 monthly to OneSpirit.

How To Sign Up As a One Spirit Partner?

Contact Jeri Baker, One Spirit’s Partner’s Program manager at

Send your contribution by check or money order to:
One Spirit
P.O. Box 2595
Chesterfield, VA 23832

Be sure to add "Partner contribution" in the memo line.

Your gift may also be sent via Paypal to