Rooted Pathways Grant Program 2025

First Peoples Fund offers the Native Arts Ecology Building (NAEB) Rooted Pathways Program to strengthen Native arts and cultural organizations across the United States. The NAEB program is part of a larger effort to nurture Indigenous Arts Ecosystems and is supported through the Wallace Foundation's Advancing Well-Being in the Arts initiative. Through this program, First Peoples Fund extends its impact beyond individual artists by supporting organizations that foster the Indigenous arts ecology in their communities. Rooted Pathways provides unrestricted general operating support to Native-led arts and cultural organizations, businesses, and collectives. The program is designed to help these organizations deepen their alignment with their mission and vision, strengthening their foundations and empowering their growth and resilience. Awardees also participate in a Learning Cohort to enhance capacity and peer learning, and they are required to submit both Interim and Final reports documenting their progress. Eligible applicants include Native-led arts organizations, businesses, and collectives, both nonprofit and for-profit, with budgets under $500,000. Organizations must serve U.S.-based Native artists and culture bearers affiliated with federally recognized or state-recognized tribes, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians. Applicants must demonstrate at least two years of operational activities and include leadership that reflects Native ancestry. Academic enrollees and past Wallace Foundation award recipients through other participating organizations are not eligible. The application window for the current cycle is from June 2 through June 20, 2025, with grants covering the period from August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026. Each grantee will receive an award of $55,000. The program is non-rolling but recurring, with an anticipated next cycle in June 2026. Questions regarding the Native Arts Ecology Building program can be directed to Bridget at bridget@firstpeoplesfund.org or by phone at (605) 348-0324. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review all eligibility criteria carefully and prepare documentation accordingly to support their application.