RFP

Green Jobs in Indian Country Grant Opportunity

Application Deadline:

April 20, 2022, at 5pm Mountain Time

General Information

Native American communities have sustainably managed their lands for thousands of years, cultivating, adapting, and transferring traditional ecological knowledge over many generations. This expansive reservoir of knowledge and deep connection to land keep Native communities strong and encourage the land to be productive. Such relationships benefit the natural world that we depend on, and acknowledge the importance of being in harmony with and having true connection with places. First Nations recognizes Native communities’ ability to steward their land to ensure their sustainable, economic, spiritual and cultural well-being. In response, First Nations created its Stewarding Native Lands program to provide financial and technical assistance to support Native ecological stewardship and improve Native control of and access to ancestral lands and resources.

In the past 20 years, green jobs have been brought to the forefront of the climate change dialogue as a potential path toward climate change mitigation and economic development. They are broadly defined as jobs that produce goods or services that benefit the environment. While public attention of this area is relatively recent, making investments toward green jobs in Native communities represents a continuation of a millennia of both culture and economy.

First Nations is now accepting applications under our Stewarding Native Lands (SNL) program for Native communities that are in the early stages of developing and/or expanding programs that support green job development in response to climate change. First Nations expects to award 10 grants averaging $100,000 each to eligible organizations. Organizations that have not been formalized as a nonprofit are encouraged to apply through a fiscal sponsor.

Grant support is made possible through funding from the Bezos Earth Fund.

Grant Period

The grant period for this funding opportunity is June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023.

Grant Award Ceilings

Total requests for project budgets within this funding opportunity should not exceed $100,000.

Grant Submission Deadlines

All applicants must complete the First Nations online grant application, including submission of necessary attachments.

Full applications will be due April 20, 2022, at 5pm MDT.

First Nations cannot make any emergency exceptions to application deadlines. Partial applications, incomplete applications due to user error, or faxed/emailed/mailed applications will not be considered unless they have received prior approval.

Please allow yourself enough time to submit a complete application before the deadline, as the system will shut down automatically at 5 pm Mountain Daylight Time on April 20, 2022, and no data may be entered thereafter. We do not accept partial, faxed, emailed or mailed applications. Applications that are not received on time due to user error will not be considered.

Download a PDF of this RFP here.
Download
Eligibility

Types of eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:

  • Federal and State Recognized Tribal Governments and Departments
  • Native-controlled 501(c)(3) nonprofits
  • Native-controlled community organizations with fiscal sponsorship
  • Native §7871 Organizations

Please refer to the FAQ section for further insight regarding applicant eligibility.

Application

Application Requirements:

  • A brief history of the organization, its mission and previous work.
  • A concise description of the proposed project and how it will directly contribute to green job creation or advancement. A summary of project activities and how they will be implemented.
  • At least three specific and measurable objectives to be accomplished during the project year.
  • An estimated budget for the proposed project.
  • Information on additional funding sources your project is utilizing (if any).
  • A timeline of project activities.

The following required attachments must be uploaded during the online submission process:

Tax-Status Documentation. A copy of the organization or fiscal sponsor’s IRS Determination Letter if the applicant is a 501(c)(3) organization or a community organization using a fiscal sponsor. Tribal programs and governments may submit proof that they are a federal- or state-recognized tribe. This document should be uploaded as a PDF file.

Description of Board of Directors. Native-controlled nonprofits should submit a list of their Board of Directors, with tribal affiliation of each director where applicable. Community organizations with fiscal sponsors should submit a list of their leadership team, with tribal affiliation of each team member where applicable. Tribal programs and governments should submit a list of their Tribal Council in lieu of a Board of Directors. This document should be uploaded as a PDF file.

Description of Key Leadership Staff. Native-controlled nonprofits and community organizations with fiscal sponsors should submit a list of key staff who will be responsible for overseeing and implementing the proposed project. Tribal programs and governments should submit a list of key staff responsible for overseeing and implementing the proposed project. This document should be uploaded as a PDF file.

Budget. (Download Suggested Budget Form) An estimated budget for the proposed project with a detailed cost breakdown that is reasonable and directly related to proposed grant activities. This form must be uploaded as an Excel file.

Timeline. (Download Suggested Timeline Form) A detailed project timeline that documents important project activities for each identified objective. Include staff who will be responsible for the implementation of the project and when each activity will be completed. The form provided is in Excel format and it must be uploaded as an Excel file or PDF file.

All applicants must complete a full proposal in the First Nations online grant application portal, including submission of necessary attachments, no later than April 20, 2022, at 5pm MDT.

Selection Criteria

Selected grantees under this opportunity must use funding to support projects that will create or advance green jobs in Native communities. Examples of allowable projects under this funding opportunity include, but are not limited to:

Green job creation or advancement related to any of the following sectors:

  • energy sovereignty
  • energy efficiency
  • recycling
  • waste management
  • transportation
  • education, training, or public awareness
  • regulatory compliance
  • manufacturing
  • disaster preparedness

Examples of unallowable activities under this funding opportunity include:

  • Green job creation or advancement related to:

– Pollution clean-up
– Natural resource conservation
– Sustainable agriculture
– Environmental justice

  • Purchase of Real Estate
  • Scholarships or tuition assistance
  • Films, television and/or radio programs
  • Endowments
  • Development campaigns
  • Funding for individuals
  • Support of lobbying activities or drafting legislation
  • Support of litigation

 

Grant Requirements

Evaluation & Reporting: Grantees will be required to submit one mid-grant progress report and one final report. These reports will enable First Nations to (1) tell grantee stories, including accomplishments, challenges, impact, and programming practices; and (2) measure the impact of funding support on grantee programs.

Help

First Nations will hold one informational webinar to discuss the call for proposals and address any questions on the following date:

Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 10 am Mountain Time

Register here.

This Q&A session will provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions about the application, selection criteria, guidelines, or other related topics. Participation is NOT mandatory; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to participate in the webinar.

First Nations has compiled several free resources related to the grant writing process. Whether you are a small organization new to grants or an organization with extensive experience, these resources will help with development of your application to First Nations.

Please click here to access First Nations’ free grantseeker resources.


Should you have any additional questions about the call for applications or this specific funding opportunity, please contact Abigail Han by email at ahan@firstnations.org or by phone at 505-226-5223.