In October 2022, the Institute hosted a dinner reception for a group of private foundations interested in indigenous-led conservation projects in the Great Plains. Sponsored by Turner Foundation, Margaret A. Cargill, and Ceres Trust, 27 attendees from entities such as the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Volgenau Foundation, US Department of Interior, US Forest Service, MacArthur Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, visited the McGinley Ranch to learn about initiatives and research projects at the Institute. Institute board member Teddy Turner, as well as Institute members Carter Kruse, Tyrell McClain, and others were able to discuss ecoagriculture research ideas, priorities, and funding opportunities with foundation representatives, especially in relation to bison, prairies, and potential collaboration with native peoples.
The tour also visited three Native American reservations near McGinley Ranch, (Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and Lower Brule), and several projects the Turner Foundation has been supporting, such as the Wolakota Bison restoration, summer youth programming on the Rosebud reservation, and Red Cloud Renewable. Other topics included housing initiatives, food sovereignty, energy security, wildlife and land conservation, and youth engagement. The Turner Foundation and Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture, as well as other attendees, are discussing opportunities for strategic collaboration on projects of mutual interest.