The Native Food Sovereignty Grant is offered by First Nations Development Institute through its Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments (NAFSI) program. First Nations, a Native-led nonprofit active for over 44 years, focuses on strengthening American Indian economies and promoting healthy Native communities. NAFSI specifically supports efforts to advance food sovereignty, food security, tribal food economies, and traditional food systems.
This grant supports Tribal and Native-controlled initiatives that affirm Native communities' right to self-determination and governance of their food systems. Applicants must select a primary project focus from one of the following categories: First Foods and Maternal Health, Native Farm to School, GATHER: New and Innovative Food Sovereignty, or Native Food Policy. Projects should be rooted in community empowerment, cultural heritage, and intergenerational knowledge.
Eligible applicants include Tribal government programs, Tribal § 7871 entities, Native-controlled nonprofits, and Native-controlled community organizations. First Nations defines Native-controlled organizations as those with a majority Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian leadership. The grant awards range between $10,000 and $40,000 for a one-year grant period.
Applications must be submitted through First Nations’ online Fluxx portal by Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 5:00 pm Mountain Time. Required submission materials include a project budget, detailed project timeline, tax-status documentation, and a leadership and staff list. Office hours for applicant questions will be hosted on May 5 and May 8, 2025. For questions regarding the program or system support, applicants are encouraged to contact the NAFSI team or the Grantmaking Department.
First Nations places a strong emphasis on projects that empower communities, promote equity and justice, foster intertribal collaboration, and preserve cultural practices and knowledge. Applications are evaluated based on focus area alignment, project details and timeline, community impact, and priority scoring for Tribal-led projects, first-time applicants, and rural initiatives.
