Created in 2003 in Seattle, WA with funding provided the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, Seattle, WA, convened a forum to discuss issues facing Urban Indian families nationwide. The group consisted of communities including, philanthropy, national organizations, the federal government and the Executive Directors of 12 Urban Indian organizations. As a result of this convening, the National Urban Indian Family Coalition (NUIFC) was born. Since 2003, the NUIFC added 12 more organizations to the coalition and built partnerships with numerous other organizations and tribes from across the nation.
Today the NUIFC advocates for American Indian families living in urban areas by creating partnerships with tribes, as well as other American Indian organizations, and by conducting research to better understand the barriers, issues, and opportunities facing urban American Indian families.
One of the primary intentions of creating the NUIFC is to ensure access to traditionally excluded organizations and families, and to focus attention on the needs of urban indians. The National Urban Indian Family Coalition is dedicated to remaining an access point for the exchange of ideas and dialogue regarding Urban Indian America.
