At the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF), our Board of Directors plays a vital role in stewarding our mission, strengthening accountability and ensuring our work remains grounded in Indigenous values and community priorities. As a national, Indigenous-led organization, governance is essential to ensuring our work grows with integrity, intention, and trust.
Over the past year, IPF strengthened its foundations — designing programs, building partnerships, and preparing to walk alongside Indigenous entrepreneurs, partners, and communities across Canada as
this work comes to life. This period focused on readiness, relationship-building, and program launch, ensuring the right structures, partnerships, and governance were in place to support meaningful delivery. Our programs supported entrepreneurs at different stages of their journeys, from early exploration to business growth, while remaining rooted in community priorities and Indigenous-led approaches.
One example of this work is Launchpad, a recently launched program designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs access training, mentorship, and peer learning in support of sustainable business
development. Co-developed with the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) and DMZ, Launchpad reflects IPF’s commitment to partnership-driven, Indigenous-led program design.
A defining strength of the program is the involvement of experienced mentors who walk alongside participants, offering practical guidance, insight, and real-world perspective as entrepreneurs navigate growth. This relational approach—grounded in trust, relevance, and lived experience—extends beyond Launchpad and informs IPF’s broader work.
Alongside entrepreneurship programming, IPF launched and began delivering financial literacy programming through Money Smarts, supporting foundational skills and confidence-building as programs come to life. Together, these initiatives reflect a shared truth: Indigenous prosperity grows when leadership is relational, systems are navigable, and support is designed in partnership with the community.
IPF’s work is strengthened by partners who are walking alongside this journey as programs launch and scale. We are grateful for the collaboration and support of the McConnell Foundation and Mastercard.
Foundation, and Bear’s Lair. Through a partnership with Community Futures North Central Development (CFNCD), IPF is also supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs across northern Manitoba through the Indigenous Pathways to Entrepreneurship Program.
As our programs and partnerships expanded, so did our organization. Over the past year, IPF strengthened internal capacity and welcomed two new staff members to our Programs team, increasing our ability to support communities, entrepreneurs, and partners more effectively. With this growth comes increased responsibility and a greater need for strong, thoughtful governance.
“Governance is not just about oversight. It is about responsibility, relationship, and long-term care for the communities we serve,” says Michelle Okere, Executive Director of the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation. “Our Board helps ensure our work remains accountable, values-driven, and guided by Indigenous leadership and lived experience.”
As we look ahead to 2026, IPF is entering a new phase of growth. To support this next chapter, we are currently welcoming applications to join our Board of Directors.
Board service at IPF is rooted in mission-driven governance and leadership. Our Board members bring diverse perspectives, lived experience, and professional expertise to help guide strategic direction, strengthen accountability, and support Indigenous-led economic pathways nationwide.
We are deeply grateful to our current Board of Directors and Board Chair for their leadership, dedication, and stewardship. Their guidance has helped shape IPF’s growth and continues to inform where we are headed.
If you are interested in contributing to Indigenous-led governance, or know someone who would be a strong fit, we invite you to learn more and share this opportunity with your networks.
Together, we continue building pathways to Indigenous prosperity rooted in trust, purpose, and collective impact.
We welcome leaders who are ready to contribute their skills, insight, and lived experience to a growing movement for Indigenous prosperity.
Learn more about our Board commitments and apply today.
→ Learn More & Apply Here