PRESS RELEASE

First Nations Development Institute (First Nations), a national Native nonprofit organization established in 1980 to work with Native peoples, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, announces that it is now accepting Letters of Intent for its Native Youth and Culture Fund (NYCF) program.  

First Nations is a long-time catalyst for social and economic justice. Our mission is to assist Native peoples to control and develop their own assets and, through that control, build the capacity to direct their economic futures in ways that fit their cultures. First Nations funds Tribal programs and Native nonprofits located in or near Indian Country, including Hawaii and Alaska.

First Nations believes that Native youth represent the future of Native communities, and that their health and well being determines the future health and well being of a community, overall. By investing in youth and giving them a sense of place and tradition in the community, a community ensures that it will have bright and capable future leaders.

We are pleased to announce this 2010 request for Letters of Intent (LOIs) for projects that focus on youth, and incorporate culture and tradition to address social issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, mental health or other social issues. Specifically, we are seeking projects that focus on one or more of these four priority areas:

• Preserving, strengthening or renewing cultural and/or spiritual practices, beliefs and values.
• Engaging both youth and elders in activities that demonstrate methods for documenting traditional knowledge, practices, and/or beliefs, where culturally appropriate.
• Increasing youth leadership and their capacity to lead through integrated educational or mentoring programs.
• Increasing access to and sharing of cultural customs and beliefs through the use of appropriate technologies (traditional and/or modern), as a means of reviving or preserving tribal language, arts, history, or other culturally relevant topics.

First Nations expects to award approximately 20 grants. Some projects may have previously received funding through the Native Youth and Culture Fund (NYCF), and are seeking additional support to expand the original project, with a view toward sustainability. First Nations would prefer to review projects of no longer than one year in length, and with budgets between $5,000 and $20,000. Only in exceptional cases, will we consider projects that do not fit these guidelines.

Eligible applicants include Tribal governments, Tribal programs or Native nonprofits in or near Indian Country. Organizations that are not a tribal government, 501(c)(3), a 7871, or CDFI, may apply, but must have a fiscal sponsor that is a qualifying entity.  We do not require federal recognition for tribal governments; however, organizations must have, at a minimum, state recognition. Non-profits that apply must be in a tribal community or have a very close tie to a tribal community(ies). This program does not fund public schools.

Because of First Nations’ commitment to empowering the organizations it funds, each applicant will be required to allocate and set aside $1,000 of its proposed requested funds for attendance at a mandatory technical assistance and training event to be hosted by First Nations. This amount must be included in the total amount requested and the total requested cannot exceed $20,000 as noted above. The monies will be utilized for travel, travel-related costs and lodging for this First Nations NYCF Training Summit. It is anticipated that the required (one staff person per grantee) NYCF Training Summit will be held in September or October 2010.

First Nations seeks projects that:

• Are solid matches between the project purpose and one or more of the NYCF priorities.
• Demonstrate innovative and comprehensive activities.
• Have a clear focus on building healthier communities through preserving, strengthening, or renewing Native culture and cultural traditions among youth.
• Demonstrate the ability and/or experience necessary to accomplish the project.
• Have a clear plan of action, specific goals and objectives, and a process to periodically assess, document, and disseminate progress and lessons learned.
• Are feasible, cost-effective, and sustainable.
• Form partnerships and engage broad community participation and support.
• Have the potential for application and replication in other Native communities.

Letters of Intent will be accepted online at http://www.firstnations.org/loi and must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Mountain Time on March 19, 2010.  The full Request for Letters of Intent may be viewed here. Please read over this Request before you submit your letter of intent.

For additional information about this program and to read about previous grantees, please click here. If you have questions about the LOI process, please contact Marsha Whiting at (303) 774-7836, ext. 22 or email her at mwhiting@firstnations.org.