Sarayl Y. Shunkamolah

Sarayl Yellowhorse Shunkamolah is a member of the Navajo Nation, and is originally from Allentown, AZ, and was raised in Rio Rancho, NM since she was five. Her maternal clan is Dibelzhini (blacksheep) and her paternal clan is Honaghaahnii (one-walks-around). Sarayl joined First Nations in January 2019 as a Program and Operations Officer, then moved to the development team as the Grants Development Officer and now as the Associate Director of Institutional Development. She focuses on partnering with new funders, strengthening current relationships, and working closely with staff and grant writers to submit proposals, modifications and reports to corporations, foundations, Tribes, and federal funders. 

Prior to joining First Nations, Sarayl spent four years with the Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment (COPE) Program in Gallup, NM, as administrative director. While at COPE, she provided administrative oversight for program and finance operations, led special projects, and assisted with the strategic development of the nonprofit organization.

With a background and a passion in working with nonprofit organizations and supporting Native communities, Sarayl has worked with various organizations such as AISES as a higher education coordinator, with the University of Montana as a scholarship coordinator with the School of Business Administration, as the assistant director of annual giving for the University of Montana Foundation, as a database administrator with the Alzheimer’s Association in Tulsa, OK, assisting with the Hospital Project Feasibility Study with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and as a management associate assisting the county manager with the Gila County of Arizona.

Sarayl received an Associate of Arts degree in computer information systems from Haskell Indian Nations University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Southwest studies from Fort Lewis College, and a Master’s degree in public administration with a focus on nonprofit management from the University of New Mexico.