We are no longer accepting proposals for this funding cycle. Please sign up to receive emails from us to ensure you receive future notifications about funding opportunities from First Nations.

Eligibility and RFP Instructions
Release Date: November 21, 2011
Due on or before 5:00 p.m. MDT on Friday, December 16, 2011

The purpose of the Native Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative (NAFSI) is to assist targeted, rural and/or reservation-based Native American communities in ensuring adequate food supplies for their communities, with a particular focus on locally-grown, healthy foods, and in developing or expanding a locally-controlled and locally-based food system that provides healthy foods to community members and that supports local food producers and the local economy.

Through the NAFSI Grant Project, First Nations will support and strengthen the capacity of 10 organizations such as community garden projects, food banks, food pantries, and/or other agricultural projects relating to food systems control. Support will be provided through re-granting, technical assistance, and training so that they may increase the availability of healthy, locally-produced foods in Native communities.

Grantees will be selected to participate in the grant project as described below:

• First nations will award up to 10 grants, ranging from $25,000 to $30,000 to support projects working to ensure adequate food supplies for their communities, with a particular focus on locally-grown, healthy foods, and in developing or expanding a locally-controlled and locally-based food system that provides healthy foods to community members and that supports local food producers and the local economy. This can include costs for organizational capacity development and supporting projects including but not limited to food banks, food pantries or other projects related to expanding Native community control of food systems. Grant funds may not be directed toward purchasing land or food supply for food banks. Please note, this grant will not directly fund food purchases, unless all other funding for these items has been exhausted.
   
• Each recipient will receive year-long individualized tailored technical assistance (at no cost to the grant recipient) in critical areas of need based on an organizational effectiveness assessment conducted at the onset and conclusion of the grant period.

Methods of technical assistance delivery include but are not limited to:

• Onsite visits (One TA visit will be provided to each selected Grant Recipient)
• In-person meetings, telephone calls, emails, review of documents
• Provision of publications/education resources
• Direct consultation by First Nations staff and consultants and/or
• The purchase of TA through other organizations or consultants
• One representative from each selected organization will be required to attend one training institute hosted by First Nations Development Institute. The training institute will be two days in length and will cover a wide range of topics related to organizational capacity building. The dates and location of this training have yet to be announced.
• One representative from each selected organization will attend the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) Annual Conference. Grantees will attend this national annual conference in the fall of 2012 to network with an estimated 700 attendees from social and economic justice, anti-hunger, environmental, community development, sustainable agriculture, community gardening and other fields.

Financial assistance will be given to organizations that work to ensure adequate food supplies for their communities, with a particular focus on locally-grown, healthy foods, and in developing or expanding a locally-controlled and locally-based food system that provides healthy foods to community members and that supports local food producers and the local economy.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

First Nations will only read applications from the following eligible entities:

1. Native American-controlled, nonprofit 501(c)(3), tribal organizations designated as 7871§ under the Internal Revenue Code, community-based groups that provide community garden projects, food banks, food pantries and/or other agricultural based project that provide food to Native communities and focus on Native food system control.
    
2. Nonprofit organizations must provide proof of nonprofit status through one of the following acceptable forms of documentation:
   • A reference to the applicant organization’s listing in the IRS’s most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code
   • A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
   • A statement from a state taxing body, state attorney general, or other appropriate state official certifying that the applicant organization has nonprofit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
   • A certified copy of the organization’s certificate or incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes nonprofit status.
   • Any of the items listed above for a state or national parent organization/fiscal agent and a statement signed by the parent organization/fiscal agent that the applicant organization is a local nonprofit affiliate.

3. Native American organizations and groups, including faith-based organizations, that document that they working to ensure adequate food supplies for their communities.

CRITERIA FOR GRANT SELECTION

Proposals that will not be considered are those that do not focus on locally-grown, healthy foods, and the development or expansion of a locally-controlled and locally-based food system that provides healthy foods to community members and that supports local food producers and the local economy. Proposals submitted by ineligible entities, and proposals submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed. Faxed, incomplete or late proposals will not be considered. 

Funding Priorites

As with all First Nations initiatives, our goal through the NAFSI is to assist targeted, rural and/or reservation-based Native American communities in ensuring adequate food supplies for their communities, with a particular focus on locally-grown, healthy foods, and in developing or expanding a locally-controlled and locally-based food system that provides healthy foods to community members and that supports local food producers and the local economy. We seek to support projects that address sufficient food supplies and healthy, fresh foods in Native communities; and the need for educating Native communities on community food security and food related programs as methods of economic development.

The grants awarded may be used for costs associated with program sustainability and other capacity and organizational building needs. Eligible projects will include, but are not limited to community gardens, food banks and/or food pantries or other projects related to expanding Native community control of food systems. Grant funds may not be directed toward purchasing land or food supply for food banks.

Some eligible items can include, but are not limited to infrastructure enhancement, such as refrigeration, shelving, and software (for food distribution tracking, transportation related items and gardening/food preparation equipment, etc.) or other programmatic needs.

Another allowable grant purposes may include additional staff training for topics not covered by First Nations' training and other technical assistance that will result in improved programs and activities. 

Training and TA needs to be provided could include, but are not limited to the following examples:

1. Leveraging/Assessing Financial Resources:  nonprofit accounting practices, including the development or refinement of an appropriate chart of accounts; producing, interpreting and analyzing financial statements; identifying and implementing a computerized accounting system; process of establishing appropriate internal controls; budgeting; working with accounting professionals; appropriate articles of incorporation, bylaws; policies and procedures e.g.., personnel manual, travel policy); and required reporting (annual report, IRS Form 990); identifying governmental and non-governmental sources of revenue; developing effective funding proposals; leveraging resources; monitoring and reporting on grant deliverables (i.e., to grant sources); and development of internal fundraising systems.
    
2.  Developing an Effective Evaluation Methodology: program monitoring; evaluation and reporting (quantitative and qualitative).
    
3. Understanding and Implementing a Community Assessment Program: use of First Nations Food Sovereignty Assessment Tool (FSAT) in developing local food systems in accordance with community needs.
    
4. Communication and Marketing Skills: organizational marketing, branding, and creating organizational communication plans.
    
5. Increased Community Engagement: basing programs on community needs; conducting outreach and reporting to community members; and vehicles of community involvement.

APPLYING FOR NAFSI

NAFSI applicants must fully completethe First Nations ONLINE NAFSI Grant Application Including all necessary attachment that include the following:

1. Attachment A: An estimated budget for the proposed project that breaks down costs and is reasonable and related to grant expenditures.
2. Attachment B: A financial statement for the most recently completely fiscal year.
3. Attachment C: A detailed Project timeline that documents important project goals, milestones and benchmarks.
4. Attachment D: A copy of the organization’s or fiscal sponsor’s IRS Determination Letter
5. Attachment E: List of Board of Directors and Key Staff  
6. Attachment F: A completed W-9 for the organization or parent organization/fiscal sponsor.

GRANT DECISIONS AND AWARD NOTIFICATION
All applicants will be notified by December 30, 2011 as to whether or not they were selected for the initiative.

GRANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Grant terms and conditions will be based upon size and scope of the project. Grant agreements will be mailed following notification to the grantee and will contain such information as project start and end dates, objectives to be achieved during the project period, approved project budget, the grant disbursement schedule and reporting requirements (e.g. interim, final and budget expenditure reports). Grant agreements must be returned to First Nations NO LATER THAN Tuesday January 17, 2012.  The 2012 NAFSI grant period will commence February 1, 2012 and end January 31, 2013.

CONFERENCE CALLS FOR INTRESTED APPLICANTS:
Two group conference calls will be scheduled so that First Nations staff and applicants may discuss the proposal application form and First Nations proposal criteria before the application deadline.  Participation is not mandatory; however applicants are encouraged to participate.  Applicants can participate in either or both calls.  These calls provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions or just listen to questions and discussion regarding the proposal, selection and the review process.  First Nations staff will respond to all conference call participants’ questions. 

1. The first call will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2010 at 11 a.m. Mountain time.
2. The second call will be held on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 2 p.m. Mountain time.
   
   The call in number is:  1-877-427-7602 (toll-free)
   The Meeting Number is:  *7371897264* (the * must be entered before and after the meeting number).

We are no longer accepting proposals for this funding cycle. Please sign up to receive emails from us to ensure you receive future notifications about funding opportunities from First Nations.

Applications were due at 5:00 p.m. MDT on Friday, December 16, 2011.   To view a submitted application:

The deadline for applications is 5:00 pm MST on Friday, December 16, 2011. Proposals that exceed the word count limits in any section, are incomplete, or are received after the deadline will not be considered