Monica Wigman (Diné) is a longstanding advocate for Indigenous leadership and philanthropic transformation, bringing her wealth of experience in mainstream philanthropy and the non-profit sector to the forefront. As a program director for a Northern California community foundation, Monica developed and launched a grant program that mobilized disaster relief and recovery funding for Tribal communities and Tribal-led organizations affected by multiple disasters. This experience shaped her understanding of what reciprocity is and the critical importance of Native Americans leading impact initiatives for Native Americans. Monica also sits on the advisory board and is a facilitator for a community leadership program. Previous to the non-profit and philanthropic sector, Monica spent several years in the legal field. She also has an educational background in legal studies.

Monica, a member of the Navajo Nation, uses her personal experiences to advocate for transformative change within her community. She strives to live by the words, “don’t go too far from home” and believes that it means to maintain your relationship with the land you come from. For Monica, home is Flagstaff, Arizona, with her family hailing from Birdsprings, Arizona, in the Western Region of the Navajo Nation. She has a profound reverence for the natural world, seizing every opportunity to explore it. She also contributes to the “beauty way” through grounding endeavors, such as gardening, writing and painting, whenever possible. Spending time with her immediate and extended family is one of her greatest joys.