Deadline: 14-May-25
Applications are now open for the Native Food Sovereignty Grant Program to advance food sovereignty and security, strengthen tribal food economies and support the relationship between community, place and food.
Focus Areas
- First Foods and Maternal Health: The First Foods and Maternal Health projects support efforts to revitalize Tribal customs, knowledge, and practices related to childbirth, prenatal and infant nutrition, maternal nutrition, and community support systems. Project activities may include:
- Advancing reproductive justice
- Promoting equitable cultural birthing practices
- Supporting prenatal to postnatal nutrition
- Native Farm to School: Native Farm to School projects provide educational opportunities and support to Native youth, program coordinators, school staff, community organizers, and knowledge keepers of all ages. Project activities may include:
- Developing school programming centered on community, traditional foodways, traditional knowledge, traditional foods, language, or land stewardship
- Incorporating local or traditional foods school into the school system
- Expanding student’s access to place and land management practices
- GATHER: New and Innovative Food Sovereignty: Gather Food Sovereignty projects are new or innovative projects that focus on Native food sovereignty by expanding community knowledge or resources and addressing critical food system needs. Project activities may include:
- Fostering deep relationships with traditional foods and food systems to ensure that Native food systems can thrive
- Establishing new Tribal department, Native-led organization, program, or project that uplift food sovereignty
- Establishing new or innovative way of building community or staff capacity to support food systems work
- Native Food Policy: Native Food Policy projects focus on strengthening and adapting Tribal, local, regional, and national policies to advance Native food sovereignty. Key policy areas may include:
- Access to traditional food sources and rights to cultural foodways
- Food safety, nutrition, and Native food preferences
- Policies to support food incentives or food programs
Priorities
- Native Control: Recognize and respect the inherent right of Native communities to exercise control over their food systems, ensuring decisions align with their unique needs and values.
- Culturally Rooted: Prioritize initiatives deeply grounded in and reflective of the diverse cultural heritage of Native communities, fostering a strong connection to traditional foodways.
- Community Empowerment: Develop programs and initiatives that empower Native communities economically, socially, and culturally, promoting a sense of ownership and pride in their food systems.
- Intertribal Collaboration: Foster collaborative efforts that encourage knowledge exchange, shared resources, and collective solutions among Native communities to address common challenges and amplify impact.
- Intergenerational Wisdom: Emphasize the importance of preserving and passing down and up traditional knowledge and practices related to food, ensuring the transmission of wisdom and practice across generations.
- Equity and Justice: Commit to achieving equity and justice in all aspects of the food system, addressing historical inequities and advocating for policies that promote fairness and inclusivity.
Funding Information
- Total requests for project budgets within this funding opportunity can range from $10,000 to $40,000.
- Duration: The grant period for this funding opportunity will be one year.
Eligibility Criteria
- Tribal government programs, Tribal § 7871 entities, Native-controlled nonprofit organizations, and Native-controlled community organizations are eligible to apply.
- Examples of eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:
- Federal- and state-recognized tribal governments (e.g., tribal arts programs, tribal cultural and heritage departments and centers, tribal museums, tribal economic development departments)
- Native-controlled 501(c)(3) nonprofits
- Native-controlled community organizations with fiscal sponsorship
- Tribal § 7871 entities.
Selection Criteria
- First Nations will award grants based on the following selection criteria:
- Focus Area: The project must have one clearly defined primary focus aligning with grant objectives, with any optional secondary focus areas enhancing impact (note: having a second focus area doesn’t affect the scoring of applications). A strong narrative should connect project goals to Native food sovereignty.
- Project, Budget, & Timeline: The project summary must outline objectives and scope, with a justified and reasonable funding request. A well-organized, detailed, and realistic budget is required, along with a clear implementation plan that includes key milestones. Potential challenges should be identified with feasible solutions.
- Community Impact & Equity: The project clearly defines the community served and demonstrates one or more of the following measurable benefits to Native communities: the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge, values, and governance; partnerships with Tribal and community organizations; equity considerations prioritize Native populations.
- Priority Scoring: Additional points are awarded for Tribe-led projects, inclusion of traditional foods, first-time applicants with First Nations, projects in rural areas or located on reservation.
For more information, visit First Nations Development Institute.
