JoAnn Chase, a Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Indian, was born and raised on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in central North Dakota. After a stellar academic career that included undergraduate work at Boston University, a legislative fellowship with Congresswoman Barbara Boxer and law school and law review editorial board at the University of New Mexico School of Law, she had a distinguished law career devoted to legal advocacy to promote and protect the rights of tribal nations and their citizens. JoAnn served as the Executive Director for the National Congress of American Indians, the oldest and largest national Indian organization. During her tenure, the organization's membership and budget tripled and NCAI enjoyed unprecedented visibility and viability. JoAnn left NCAI to become Executive Director of the National Network of Grantmakers, an organization dedicated to moving more philanthropic dollars to economic and social justice initiatives. After her tenure there, she started The Chase Group where she puts together strategic funding partnerships with foundations, major donors and others to advance equity and social justice.