Native Voices Rising (NVR) is a grantmaking initiative jointly managed by the Common Counsel Foundation and Native Americans in Philanthropy. Its 2025 grant cycle focuses on supporting Native-led grassroots organizations that are deeply embedded within their communities and work toward social justice and systemic change. Grants provided by NVR are unrestricted general operating support, allowing grantees the flexibility to use the funding according to their most pressing needs.
NVR prioritizes groups that are based in and serve Native communities, are led by Native individuals (with at least 51% of leadership and board members being Native), and that emphasize community leadership development and political education. Additionally, funded organizations must engage their communities in setting programmatic priorities and mobilizing collective action to influence policy or hold corporate actors accountable. Proposals must align with these core values and show active and sustained community involvement.
Grant amounts range from $20,000 to $40,000, with an average award expected to be around $30,000. These awards are intended to bolster organizations that are improving Native communities through organizing and advocacy rather than through direct services or one-time events. Applications must be submitted through the NVR grant portal, and new applicants will need to create an account to access the system.
The application includes narrative responses covering areas such as the organization’s mission, current programming and campaigns, recent accomplishments, methods of community engagement, leadership development practices, and collaboration with other organizations. Final decisions will be announced in early November 2025, with completed proposals due by Friday, July 4, 2025, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Organizations must possess IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, 7871 designation, or be fiscally sponsored by an entity that does. Ineligible entities include those based outside the U.S., re-granting institutions, capital campaigns, scholarship funds, government-sponsored programs, land acquisition projects, and stand-alone media or documentation initiatives.
