Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments Scholarship

Scholarship Eligibility 

Applicants must be full-time, or part-time undergraduate or graduate students, majoring in an agricultural-related field or demonstrate how their degree program relates to Native food systems. Additionally, applicants must:

• Be tribally affiliated and be able to provide documentation.
• Have at least a 2.75 GPA.
• Demonstrate a commitment to helping their community reclaim local food-system control.

First Nations has transitioned the online Grantmaking system to Fluxx. To complete the Native Food Security Grant application, applicants must register as an organization via the online portal located at First Nations | Sign in. The registration is located at the bottom right of the page. Select “Register as an Organization,” answer the eligibility quiz, and complete the organization and contact information section and click “Submit.” An email will be sent to the contact provided once registration is approved with a link to establish a password. Registrations are reviewed within 4 business hours (Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm Mountain Time). On weekends (Friday to Sunday), they are reviewed and approved only once per day so response times may vary.

NOTE: Please check your Junk or Spam folder if an email is not received within 24 hours.

Once in the online portal, click on the “Apply for Funding” text in the menu on the left. Listed on the Apply for Funding page will be a section for the NAFSI Scholarship application with a green “Apply Now” button. Click on the button to access the application.

All applicants will receive a confirmation of submission after completing the NAFSI Scholarship application form via email from First Nations Grantmaking (do-not-reply.grants07-us-east-1@fluxx.io  to the submitter’s email address. Please check junk or spam folders should this email not arrive.

First Nations recognizes that some of our most rural and remote applicants may have limited access to high-speed internet. Any exceptions to the use of the online system must be made two weeks in advance of the application deadline by submitting an email request to grantmaking@firstnations.org. Please include your name, organization, contact information, and the name of the application for which you are applying. If you do not have access to email, call our office at (303) 774-7836 and ask to speak with a member of the Grantmaking Department.

Important Note: Please allow enough time to submit a complete application before the deadline, as the online system will shut down automatically at 5 pm Mountain Time on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, and no data may be entered thereafter. Partial, faxed, emailed, or mailed applications that are not received on time due to user error will not be considered. Any requests for exemptions to the online system must be received no later than two weeks before the deadline.

Applicants should be aware that any awarded funds will be includable in their taxable income unless the use of the scholarship funds meets the criteria outlined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which excludes scholarship income if:

• You’re a candidate for a degree at an educational institution that maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of students in attendance at the place where it carries on its educational activities; and
• The amounts you receive are used to pay for tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at the educational institution, or for fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses at the educational institution

More information can be found regarding applicable taxes from the IRS  and by accessing the IRS Interactive Tax Assistance Tool. Questions regarding taxable income should be directed to a tax professional. Applicants selected to receive scholarship funds will be required to provide a W-9 form and will receive a 1099 document for the tax year awarded, which should be included in their year-end tax return.

Applicants will be asked to submit the following information and materials for considerations as a scholarship recipient:

• A personal statement, including:
  • A summary of accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and personal interests as it relates to Native food systems (in 500 words or fewer).
  • A statement on how you plan to use your degree to support Native food systems
  • A statement of how the award funds will support your education
• Proof of tribal affiliation (e.g., enrollment card, CIB, letter from tribe, OHA registry)
• College enrollment verification form (these can be requested from your school administration office and must show enrollment for the upcoming semester)
• Unofficial transcript (entering freshman can submit high school transcripts)
• One photograph depicting you and your work in food systems that can be shared on First Nations publications, including social media (in JPEG format) (optional)
• Resume (optional)

All applicants must complete the First Nations online grant application, including submission of necessary attachments, no later than Tuesday, June 16, 2026, by 5 pm Mountain Time.

Contact First Nations
If you have any additional questions about the RFP or this specific funding opportunity, please contact the NAFSI team at NAFSI@firstnations.org. If you have questions about or need support with the grant application system, please contact the Grantmaking department at grantmaking@firstnations.org or by phone at (303) 774-7836.

Request for Accommodations
If you are being provided additional accommodations for disabilities through the university, college, or tribal college to assist in the completion of the scholarship application, please notify First Nations in advance. First Nations will work with applicants to reduce any barriers that may prevent submitting the application in a timely manner.

First Nations does not require documentation from applicants or their universities, colleges, or tribal colleges to allow for accommodations. We do recommend that applicants contact First Nations prior to starting the application so that we are prepared to provide further assistance throughout the open application timeline.

Application Deadline: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 5 pm Mountain Time.