Grantmaking

Founded in 1980, First Nations began its national grantmaking program in 1993. Through mid-year 2021, we have successfully managed 2,276 grants totaling $46 million to Native American projects and organizations in 42 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. Territory American Samoa.

Our grantmaking program provides both financial and technical resources to tribes and Native nonprofit organizations to support asset-based development efforts.

Recent Grant, Scholarship & Fellowship Opportunities

Tribal Ecological Stewardship in the Northern Great Plains – Closed September 14, 2021
Native Youth and Culture Fund (NYCF) – Closed August 20, 2021
Strengthening Native Programs and Feeding Families – Closed August 17, 2021
Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship – Closed July 13, 2021
Western COVID-19 Response – Closed June 24, 2021
Native Youth Business Plan Competition – Closed June 22, 2021
GATHER Food Sovereignty Grant – Closed January 14, 2021
California Tribal Fund COVID-19 Response: Recovery & Resilience – Closed November 20, 2020
Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship – Closed October 22, 2020
NAFSI College Scholarship – Closed October 15, 2020
Native Youth and Culture Fund (NYCF) – Closed March 12, 2020
Native Youth Business Plan Competition – Closed January 15, 2020

Current grant opportunities

Providing Grants Across the Nation

Click on the map to view our Grantee Directory

Current Grant Opportunities

Native Farmer and Rancher Apprenticeship Network

DEADLINE EXTENDED! First Nations' Native Farmer and Rancher Apprenticeship Network will provide training and Technical Assistance (TA) as well as networking opportunities to a cohort of 30 select Native American Beginning Farmer and Ranchers (BFRs) to expand their business capacity and strengthen land management strategies. Eligible applicants should be located in one of the following six states: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Arizona, or New Mexico. Applicants should be willing to commit to a 30-month apprenticeship, which will involve traveling to regional in-person trainings, participating in virtual webinars and fieldwork, and networking with other producers.

Apply by Jan. 14, 2022

Access to Ancestral Lands Grant Opportunity

Under the Access to Ancestral Lands grant opportunity within the California Tribal Fund, First Nations will award 12 to 15 grants averaging $35,000 to California-based tribes or tribally-controlled non-profit organizations as they work toward strengthening California-based Indigenous stewardship and protection of ancestral lands. The purpose of the grant is to increase California Tribal people’s access to ancestral homelands.

Apply by Jan. 31, 2022

Our Grantmaking Impact

Founded in 1980, First Nations began its national grantmaking program in 1993. Through year-end 2021, we have successfully managed 2,611 grants totaling $51.6 million to Native American projects and organizations in 44 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territory American Samoa.

2611 Grants

awarded to Native projects

$51.6 Million

in total grants awarded

44

States, D.C. & American Samoa in our grant scope so far