Indigenous communities experience climate impacts at rates far higher than wealthy nations, yet access less than 1% of global climate finance. Major climate funds, including those managed by the World Bank and UN agencies, impose requirements that systematically exclude Indigenous peoples. These barriers include demands for formal government registration, complex grant applications written in English, and requirements to match funding with their own capital. Indigenous advocates argue these obstacles are intentional rather than accidental, designed to favor large corporations and established institutions over grassroots communities. The Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund require applicants to work through official government channels, which often leaves Indigenous groups sidelined in countries where their rights lack legal recognition. Smaller organizations serving Indigenous populations lack the administrative infrastructure to navigate these processes. Meanwhile, Indigenous lands store more carbon and harbor greater biodiversity than protected areas managed by governments. Communities managing these territories receive funding fractions compared to conservation projects run by international NGOs. Reforming climate finance requires lowering administrative barriers, accepting applications directly from Indigenous organizations, and providing technical support for grant writing. Several smaller funds now operate with fewer restrictions, but scaling this approach across major institutions remains stalled.