Awarded Grants

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) To support CNH’s continued growth, the organization has made significant investments in developing a strategic plan in 2024-2025. This work, facilitated by Rowen White (Mohawk) and supported by Native Voices Rising and First Nations Development Institute, is helping to solidify and expand CNH’s capacity for sustainability. A key priority of this work is to conceptualize and implement culturally appropriate governance that reflects the organization's commitment to community-driven priorities and a vision for a thriving Cherokee community. This will be the first completed strategic plan in the organization’s history and is much overdue. To prevent organizational drift and to maximize program impact it is essential that CNH successfully engage in strategic planning development. This work includes reviewing and editing core organizational documents, developing a framework for fundraising and development, and building a succession plan. In addition, the theory of change that CNH staff and board members are developing will be vital to conceptualizing our current and future programming needs while also setting us up to assess organizational impact in the community. While funding for the main strategic planning has been covered we do not have additional funding for the development of visuals to accompany this work. Building off of Executive Director Trey Adcock PhD’s time in the FNDI Fundraising 2024 Co-hort, this proposal seeks funding to support CNH’s logic model development as a form of participatory, culturally responsive planning and evaluation. Specifically, we will use the funding to contract with a facilitator to build a cohort of Cherokee artists to engage in this process. By building the skill set of Cherokee artists to include logic modeling and visualization we are also helping build capacity within the broader EBCI community. The end products will illuminate our strategic planning for key stakeholders, future board members, community members and potential donors.

This project will increase tribal environmental asset control on or near Native lands.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) Role models are intended to guide and mentor those who seek opportunities or wish to learn. Those kinds of individuals have and continue to exist and thrive in the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project. The team in 2009 were operating out of Tom Faber’s trunk, providing activities for camp not knowing what would become of their efforts. With hard work and many testimonials later, the program would grow to provide many initiatives and several dedicated to building the future leaders of our community. In order to pursue the mission of ZYEP by providing the youth with positive mentors, it is vital to provide training opportunities for the young leaders (16-24 year old camp counselors, after school mentors, coaches, etc.) to one, build on their skill set and two, practice their teachings through ZYEP programming. Within summer camp, camp counselors go through an extensive two week training filled with presentations necessary to prepare them for youth engagement. Trainings include: CPR/First Aid provided by Zuni Fire and EMS, suicide prevention training provided by on-site certified trainers, cultural responsiveness, risk management, reporting procedures, an overview of ZYEP policies, team building activities, an overnight camping retreat, and so much more. According to post evaluation surveys from the 2024 camp counselors, 80% felt the training prepared them for summer camp. Over 60% of counselors highlighted three training sessions they enjoyed the most. They included a review of reporting and emergency situations (scenario practice), group games and icebreakers, and the overnight camping retreat. Funding from this grant would allow ZYEP to supply camp counselor training materials, fund an overnight camping retreat for the counselors to practice group management skills and participate in team building activities, and fund counselor background checks in order to foster an important ongoing partnership with the Zuni Public School District.

This grant will support Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) H3M began with the knowledge that a nonprofit can assist with addressing the needs of the Hopi people by doing projects/programs outside of the normal box. Our cultural ways and our language is the foundation of everything we do with our people especially the youth. Our speaking Hopi population was important to get their input into our programs and projects. Their way may be the best way to teach those who cannot speak to speak. This provides an opportunity for the Hopi speaker, for example, that is usually not called upon to provide their input, and we found they have just as much to offer and share. The creativity and knowledge of our keepers in this area such as the language was important to keep open to make an impact on what it is we believed was important for the youth and everyone to learn and live. Our unique identity is through our cultural life ways and our language. H3M hosting a planning session is another way to get stakeholders to participate in the future of their own lives as well as their extended family members. This will help with building support for the organization in all the work that is being done. We may also find future Board Members and donors to help with sustaining H3M in governance and funding. The circles of wisdom, thoughts, feelings and forward thinking is increased and not just by a handful and/or those who are always at the table. These sessions grows the amount of thinkers and supporters a lot which is an awesome opportunity for one to feel a part of something and something that is huge and very important. At the same time, H3M will have a plan to with a roadmap to follow. This plan will help with the future planning, programming, fundraising, resources, and all that is needed to keep H3M alive, vibrant and making a difference our future for all, wherever they reside.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) Securing funding for materials, supplies, and equipment is far easier than securing funding for overhead expenses. Worrying about how we can keep our doors open and lights on is always at the back of our minds. Funding that assists in alleviating operating expenses will free up more time and resources to help us achieve objectives, complete projects, and better serve our community.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) Loko ea Fishpond, a historically significant cultural site nestled on the North Shore of Oʻahu, was designed to raise fish; help support a natural and sustainable foodshed for the Ahupuaʻa of Kawailoa and Moku of Waialua, the traditional land area encompassing the North Shore of Oʻahu Community. Mālama Loko ea Foundation (MLEF) supports a small, underrepresented, Native Hawaiian Community— approximately 10% of the ~24,000 in the 2020 US census. Prior to the arrival of Westerners, Native Hawaiians managed a self-sufficient agricultural system distinguished by thriving loko iʻa— fishponds and abundant agriculture. Today the restoration of Loko ea represents the timely reimagination of what it means to honor Hawaiian culture and support a thriving, sustainable community in modern-day Hawaii. MLEF remains steady in addressing the needs of Native Hawaiian people as it implements a comprehensive ʻāina momona (abundant land) plan to restore traditional Hawaiian agriculture practices. MLEF partners with community organizations, farmers community members to increase cultural and food access. MLEF hosts monthly community workday lunches, kupuna (elders) lunches and community programs. Currently, approximately 80% food consumed in Hawaiʻi is imported. MLEF seeks to increase community capacity to process bountiful gardens and farms with in the organization and community organizations through a four phased ʻAi Pono Community Food Hub Project: 1. Pilot Māla O Nauahi Food Garden (Complete) 2. Food Hub 1: Food Processing Center (Donated) and Drying Room (Current Project) 3. Food Hub 2: Community Kitchen and Eating Space (Future) 4. ʻOhana Māla-Gardens with community workshops, eating and sharing space (Future) Support from the NFCoP Grant Writing Lab will provide the resources to plan and implement the phase 2 of the ʻAi Pono Community Food Hub.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) The People’s Land Collaborative (TPLC) was created in response to the pressing need for collaborative and transformative land stewardship and leadership within the Navajo Nation, where land health has been increasingly challenged by increasing land use demands. As our communities face growing environmental and economic pressures, the need for strategic, culturally informed planning has become evident. The Social Sustainability Map is a crucial step in identifying all stakeholders involved in grazing on the Navajo Nation, providing a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationships and resources within our community. This grant presents an opportunity to finalize the Social Sustainability Map and develop brand guidelines that will not only enhance our organization’s visibility and cohesion but also serve as the foundation for long-term strategic planning. By mapping these stakeholders and establishing a unified brand, TPLC will be better equipped to foster collaboration, advocate for sustainable practices, and effectively communicate our mission to a broader audience. The grant will empower us to solidify our role as a leader in sustainable land stewardship, ensuring that our work benefits both the Navajo Nation and other Indigenous communities.

Our project aims to create sustainable job opportunities for Indigenous youth while fostering climate resilience in our community. By cultivating stewardship practices, we empower young leaders to manage local resources effectively, increase community engagement, and leverage traditional knowledge to address the climate crisis and protect our environment for future generations.

Program Opportunity Statement (Recommended 300 words or less) The Blackfeet Nation has long faced significant challenges related to food insecurity, health disparities, and the loss of traditional food systems. These issues, compounded by economic instability and the impacts of climate change, have created a critical need for sustainable, culturally grounded solutions. FAST Blackfeet was founded to address these challenges by reclaiming our food sovereignty, promoting nutrition and growing education, and providing accessible, healthy food to our community. As our organization has grown, so too have the demands on our dedicated staff, who are the backbone of our programs. However, the increasing workload, coupled with limited resources, has made it challenging to retain and support our staff effectively. Any staff turnover threatens the continuity and effectiveness of our services, directly impacting our ability to meet the needs of the community. This grant presents an opportunity to strengthen our organization’s capacity by investing in staff retention and wellness. By focusing on these areas, we can ensure that our team remains motivated, supported, and equipped to continue the vital work of addressing food insecurity and promoting sustainable practices. The grant will allow us to implement wellness initiatives and provide professional development opportunities all of which are essential for maintaining a stable and effective workforce. Ultimately, this investment in our staff will translate into more robust and sustainable programs, better service delivery, and a greater overall impact on the Blackfeet Nation. By securing this grant, we aim to build a resilient team that can continue driving our mission forward, ensuring a healthier, food-secure future for our community.