A guide to grants for tribal nations, Indigenous-led nonprofits, and Native serving organizations, federal programs, foundations, and Indigenous-led funders.

2025–2026 STATUS UPDATE: NEA, NEH, and IMLS — the three primary federal cultural-funding agencies — were all subject to mass grant cancellations and proposed elimination in 2025. Courts have blocked the most extreme dismantling efforts, and grants are being progressively restored as of 2026, but cycles and priorities have been materially disrupted. Verify program status at the relevant agency website before applying.

Tribal nations and Indigenous-led nonprofits have access to dedicated federal programs across nearly every federal agency, plus a growing Indigenous-led philanthropic ecosystem. Many federal programs have explicit tribal set-asides or competitions.

TL;DR: Quick Answers

Who funds Indigenous work? Most federal agencies have tribal programs (ACF/ANA, HRSA Tribal Health, DOE Office of Indian Energy, IHS, DOI BIA), Indigenous-led foundations, mainstream foundations.
Who can apply? Tribal nations, tribal organizations, tribal nonprofits, urban Indian organizations, Indigenous-led nonprofits.
What gets funded? Across the full range of community needs, with cultural specificity expected.
What’s the biggest opportunity? Federal tribal set-asides plus Indigenous-led philanthropy.

Federal Tribal Programs

Nearly every federal agency has tribal-specific funding:

BIA, BIE, and Department of the Interior programs.
ACF Administration for Native Americans (ANA).
Indian Health Service (delegated and contracted).
HRSA tribal health and workforce.
SAMHSA Tribal Behavioral Health.
CDC Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country.
USDA Native CDFIs, food sovereignty, agriculture.
DOE Office of Indian Energy.
ED tribal education programs.
IMLS Native American Library Services.
NEH, NEA humanities and arts programs.

Indigenous-Led Philanthropy

NDN Collective.
First Nations Development Institute.
Native Americans in Philanthropy.
American Indian College Fund.
Notah Begay III Foundation.
Seventh Generation Fund.
Indigenous Environmental Network (movement funder ecosystem).

Mainstream Foundation Support

Bush Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Northwest Area Foundation (regional).
Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations.
W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Walmart Foundation (Native food sovereignty programs).
Community foundations in tribal regions.

What Gets Funded

Tribal government services.
Cultural preservation and language revitalization.
Health and behavioral health.
Education (early childhood through higher education).
Economic and community development.
Land, water, and food sovereignty.
Energy sovereignty.
Youth programs.
Justice, advocacy, and sovereignty work.

Tips for a Competitive Application

Center tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
Demonstrate cultural specificity. Funders increasingly require Indigenous-led design and delivery.
Coordinate with tribal government where appropriate.
Use cultural protocols in application content.
Plan for sustainability in line with tribal community priorities.

How Grantboost Helps

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Grants for Indigenous and Tribal Communities and Organizations