Deadline: 24-Jun-21
The First Nations Development Institute is seeking applications for its Western COVID-19 Response Grant Program to strengthen American Indian economies for supporting healthy Native communities by investing in and creating innovative institutions and models that strengthen asset control and support economic development for American Indian people and their communities.
With the generous support of the May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust, First Nations will establish a Western COVID-19 Response Grant that will provide support to one or more of the Trust’s focus populations including elders, military veterans, individuals with a disability who are transitioning to live independently, and/or children in foster care. Additionally, all grantees are to be located in the Western United States.
Funding Information
- Through the Western COVID-19 Response Grant First Nations expects to award up to 14 grants ranging from $23,000 to $28,000 to support tribes and organizations that are working to create long-term COVID-19 recovery and immediate COVID-19 relief to Native communities.
Allowable Activities
Selected grantees under this opportunity must use funding to support work contributing to COVID-19 relief efforts in Native communities specifically focused on the Trust’s target populations: elders; military veterans; individuals with a disability who are transitioning to live independently; and/or children in foster care. Grantee projects should use funding for long-term recovery programs and/or immediate relief efforts.
Examples of allowable activities under this funding opportunity include, but are not limited to:
- Distributing PPE to foster care homes in the community
- Creating a community-based program to address COVID-19’s effects on youth mental health
- Connecting youth and elders through cultural programs designed to combat isolation due to COVID-19 and also build inter-generational knowledge building in the time of COVID-19
- Providing staff salaries for a veterans’ service organization to remain open and create long-term recovery plans for their operations
- Distributing food baskets to elders in the community over six months and designing a survey to see how their mental health has improved with regular contact from deliveries
Eligibility Criteria
- Types of eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:
- Federal- and State-Recognized Tribal Governments (Tribal Government Programs, such as Tribal Arts Programs, Heritage Departments, and Economic Development Entities)
- Native-controlled 501(c)(3) nonprofits
- Native-controlled community organizations with fiscal sponsorship
- Native 7871 Organizations
- Any grantee awarded funds must be within the geographic spread of the May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust. These states are:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- Wyoming
Selection Criteria
- In line with the targeted work of the May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust, grantees must serve one or more of the following groups:
- Elders
- Foster Youth
- Adults and Transitioning Youth with Disabilities
- Veterans and Military Families
- First Nations seeks projects that demonstrate:
- That they can help strengthen Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian communities
- A clear focus within projects and programs connected to the organization’s stated mission
- Proper alignment with stated funding priorities and eligibility guidelines
- A new or innovative idea or an ongoing effort that substantially builds upon past success
- The ability and/or experience necessary to successfully accomplish the proposed project
- Strong leadership that reflects the community served
- A clear plan of action with specific, measurable, and realistic goals and objectives
- Logical and sequential development of project or program-implementation timelines
- Accurate, reasonable, and consistent project or program budget
- Periodic assessment, documentation, and dissemination of progress and final results
- Feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of proposed projects or programs
- Sufficient organizational capacity to successfully implement the proposed project or programs
- Strategic plans for collaborating and forming partnerships
- Direct engagement of target audiences within the planning, implementation, and evaluation process
For more information, visit https://www.firstnations.org/rfps/western-covid-19-response-grant/