The System Behind The Work

Naye Xjaw Maya Midwifery International is led by Indigenous midwives and sustained by a governance and operational system designed to protect that leadership while ensuring accountability, transparency, and long-term stability.

This system was built in response to real institutional failure—where lack of structure enabled misuse of funds, loss of assets, and breakdown of accountability.

What exists today is designed to ensure that cannot happen again.

This system is intentional.
It exists to ensure that power remains where it belongs—within the communities we serve.

Centering Indigenous Leadership

Midwives and community leaders define priorities, guide care, and shape the future of maternal health in their communities.

All programmatic decisions originate from Indigenous leadership.
Every other structure exists to support—not override—that authority.

How the System Functions

Naye Xjaw operates through a coordinated structure that separates roles while maintaining alignment:

  • Midwives and community leadership → define direction and care

  • Guatemala-based administration and board → ensure local operations and legal compliance

  • U.S.-based administration and board → support fundraising, financial management, and international accountability

This structure allows the organization to grow without compromising its core principles.

Institutional Structure & Partnership Model

Naye Xjaw Maya Midwifery International is a coordinated partnership between two autonomous entities: Asociación Naye Xjaw in Guatemala and Maya Midwifery International (MMI) in the United States.

This structure is designed to center Indigenous leadership while ensuring strong financial management, legal compliance, and long-term sustainability.

Indigenous Leadership and Authority

Asociación Naye Xjaw, led by Maya midwives and community leadership in Guatemala, holds primary authority over:

  • Program design and implementation

  • Clinical care and midwifery practice

  • Cultural knowledge and traditional medicine

  • Biodiversity stewardship and territorial practices

  • Community relationships and priorities

Financial Stewardship and Institutional Support

Maya Midwifery International (MMI), a U.S.-based 501(c)(3), is responsible for:

  • Fundraising and donor engagement

  • Financial administration and grant management

  • Regulatory compliance in the United States

  • International partnerships and external coordination

MMI operates in service of the priorities defined by Asociación Naye Xjaw and does not determine programmatic direction.

Built for Accountability

This system is designed to prevent the concentration or misuse of power.

It includes:

  • Clear separation between leadership, administration, and oversight

  • Transparent financial reporting and internal controls

  • Ethical safeguards and whistleblower protections

  • Defined fund flow and approval processes

  • Structured communication and reporting between entities

Accountability is not a constraint.
It is what makes Indigenous self-determination sustainable.

How We Work

Operational Structure

The Guatemala-based team supports daily operations and works directly with midwives and communities.

Key functions:

  • Program coordination

  • Financial management

  • Clinical and operational support

  • Legal compliance within Guatemala

Guatemala Administration

Supports the financial and operational sustainability of the model without determining programmatic priorities.

Responsibilities include:

  • Fundraising and donor relations

  • Financial administration

  • Grant management

  • Strategic partnerships

U.S. Administration

Provides institutional oversight within the national legal framework.

Responsibilities include:

  • Legal governance and compliance

  • Organizational oversight
    Safeguarding mission alignment

Guatemala Board

Ensures accountability in alignment with nonprofit standards.

Responsibilities include:

  • Financial oversight

  • Compliance with U.S. regulations

  • Institutional support and governance

U.S. Board

Why This Structure Matters

Many organizations fail because decision-making becomes disconnected from the communities they serve.

Naye Xjaw was built differently.

By combining Indigenous leadership with strong governance and operational systems, this model ensures:

  • Cultural integrity

  • Operational effectiveness

  • Financial transparency

  • Long-term sustainability

This is what allows the work to endure—and to grow.