Best Grants for Native Americans in Iowa

Federally recognized tribal governments working on salmon recovery planning and conservation project development can use this non-competitive funding for staff, contractors, permitting, and project effectiveness monitoring in Iowa and beyond. Grants from Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board help Native American communities incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into project design and cultural resource review, with awards up to US $100,000.

Tribal governments, community language programs, tribal schools, colleges, and enrolled tribal members in Iowa and other eligible Lewis and Clark Expedition tribes can seek funding for Native language documentation and revitalization projects. Focused on preserving endangered Indigenous languages, Endangered Language Fund supports education programs, recordings, curricula, scholarships, travel, and related project costs, with awards up to US $20,000.

Native American artists, scholars, educators, and environmental advocates working on Wabanaki cultural preservation and environmental stewardship, including those in Iowa, can seek support for projects that sustain traditional knowledge, resources, and spaces. Focused on cultural, artistic, and environmental preservation, Maine Community Foundation invites applicants, with preference for Wabanaki and other Indigenous individuals, to apply.

Nonprofit charitable organizations and local governments can seek funding for Native American services, culture, education, health, housing, public safety, and related programs through the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians’ charitable fund. Focused on community benefit, Native American organizations across the U.S., including those serving Iowa, may be eligible if they meet the fund’s location requirements.

American Indian and Alaska Native high school seniors in Iowa planning full-time study at an accredited nonprofit U.S. college or Tribal College or University can receive $2,000 - $3,000 scholarships for higher education costs. The American Indian College Fund offers a single application that considers students for its full portfolio of merit-based awards each year.

American Indian and Alaska Native students in Iowa attending a Tribal College or University can apply for scholarships supporting certificate, undergraduate, or graduate study. Grants from American Indian College Fund help Native students across the U.S., with awards averaging US $2,000 - US $3,000, through a single annual application covering multiple scholarship opportunities.

American Indian and Alaska Native students in Iowa attending accredited nonprofit U.S. colleges or universities can receive $2,000 - $3,000 for certificate, undergraduate, or graduate study. Grants from American Indian College Fund help those enrolled full-time with at least a 2.0 GPA, including descendants of enrolled tribal members, access merit-based scholarship support.

Native American organizations and programs supporting Native services, culture, education, health, or environmental protection in Iowa may be eligible for this community-focused funding. Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s Community Fund prioritizes initiatives that help people help themselves, including projects advancing Native rights, Tribal sovereignty, and Native arts and culture across the U.S.

Iowa federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes, Tribal colleges or universities, Tribal health programs, and Tribal organizations can access funding through the Native American Research Centers for Health program to support health-related research. Administered by the National Institutes of Health, awards also strengthen research careers and research infrastructure for Tribal entities across the U.S.

Native-led organizations and community-based initiatives in Iowa working on language revitalization, MMIWG2S, innovative community leadership, or COVID-19-related food insecurity can seek support through the Vadon Foundation. Grants from Vadon Foundation help Native American services and cultural programs in the U.S. and Canada sustain healthy, thriving indigenous nations across generations.

Iowa tribal governments, local and state governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on Native American land issues can access funding through the Indian Land Tenure Foundation to advance legal and policy reforms. Projects may include estate planning, land policy development, landowner associations, and initiatives that strengthen tribal sovereignty and control over Indian land.

Tribal, local, and state governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofits working with Native communities in Iowa can apply for Indian Land Tenure Foundation’s Economic Opportunity grants to improve Indian use and control of reservation lands. Funding supports projects that prioritize land acquisition planning, productive land use, and expanded direct owner management across Indian Country.

Native-led grassroots organizations in Iowa and across the U.S. that organize and advocate to improve Native communities can apply for general operating support to build leadership and collective action. Grants from Common Counsel Foundation’s Native Voices Rising support groups rooted in Native communities working on progressive social change, including environmental justice, health, healing, and intergenerational engagement.

Sophomore and junior undergraduates in environmental fields or Native American and Alaska Native students focused on tribal public policy or health care can receive up to US $7,500 for academic expenses in Iowa and nationwide. With a mission to support future leaders, the Udall Foundation provides scholarships plus orientation and access to its alumni network.

501(c)(3) nonprofits in the U.S. supporting American Indian self-sufficiency, education, or cultural preservation can seek project-specific funding, including organizations serving Iowa. Focused on American Indian entrepreneurism, higher education, and cultural programs, the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Foundation awards US $10,000 - US $20,000 and requires follow-up reports on funded projects.

Native-led organizations focused on cultural and ecological renewal rooted in reverent connection to the Earth may be eligible for funding, including work benefiting Native communities in Iowa. Kalliopeia Foundation supports U.S.-based projects in land care and Indigenous leadership that regenerate land, uplift traditional knowledge, and foster intergenerational community healing and leadership.

The Community Development Block Grant Program for Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages aims to foster the development of viable communities by providing funding for housing, living environments, and economic opportunities, primarily benefiting low- and moderate-income individuals. The program is competitive, offering both single-purpose and imminent threat grants to address urgent public health and safety issues, ensuring that tribes can improve their community welfare effectively.

The TIRBEE funding opportunity supports federally-recognized Tribes and Tribal Entities in establishing or enhancing Institutional Review Boards. This initiative aims to strengthen the capacity for biomedical research involving human participants within these communities by improving review and oversight capabilities. Eligible organizations are invited to apply, with applications subject to NIH's standard peer-review process to ensure only the most meritorious proposals are considered.

The Funding the Future of Finance in Indian Country/Johnson Scholarship offers financial support to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate students pursuing full-time degrees in business, accounting, or finance. The program aims to enhance diversity in these fields and provides awards of up to $10,000 per academic year based on need. Applicants must demonstrate Tribal affiliation through a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

The Elizabeth Furber Scholarship honors the legacy of Elizabeth Furber by providing financial assistance to American Indian and Alaska Native female graduate students. This scholarship supports students pursuing full-time degrees in various fields, including fine arts, music, and creative writing. As a need-based award, it requires applicants to demonstrate Tribal affiliation through a Tribal Eligibility Certificate. This opportunity empowers eligible students to achieve their academic goals.

The BIE Special Higher Education Program offers financial assistance to American Indian and Alaska Native graduate and professional students enrolled full-time in accredited institutions across various fields. Awards fluctuate annually based on applicant qualifications and available funding, ensuring support aligns with need-based criteria. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate Tribal affiliation through a Tribal Eligibility Certificate. This initiative aims to empower Indigenous scholars in their academic pursuits.

Native Forward awards are allocated based on the financial aid information provided by the institution’s Financial Aid Office. Awards can vary, ranging from $100 to $30,000 per academic year.

Native Forward Scholars Fund members of federally and state-recognized Tribes as well as first and second-generation descendants. However, Native Forward Scholars Fund scholarship opportunities have different Tribal eligibility requirements and can be determined by submitting a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

Land Conservation and Indigenous Languages Scholarship

The purpose of the Land Conservation and Indigenous Languages Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time at an accredited institution and pursuing degrees with a focus in Indigenous languages, natural resources, land management, and conservation or cultural preservation. 

This opportunity is a need-based award.

What We Do

At the North Carolina Community Foundation, we bring together generous people and connect them to causes and organizations they care about.

Our mission is to inspire North Carolinians to make lasting and meaningful contributions to their communities.

Our Philanthropic Network

We believe in the power of permanent philanthropy to strengthen our communities and people. By stewarding and growing donors’ gifts, our philanthropic network makes a powerful impact through robust grants and scholarships programs.

Bill Taylor Scholarship Endowment

Criteria

Enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians or their spouses, children or other immediate family members attending a two- or four-year college or university.

The TURTLE Program aims to empower Tribal Entities by fostering a skilled workforce in biomedical research. It supports undergraduate and graduate students in health research, ensuring they complete their degrees and transition into impactful careers. With phased awards, the program emphasizes effective training and mentoring, inviting eligible organizations to apply. Applications will undergo NIH's peer-review process, ensuring only the most meritorious proposals are funded, ultimately enhancing Tribal health research capabilities.

CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the public health system save and improve lives by unleashing the power of partnerships to protect the health, safety and security of all communities, everywhere. The CDC Foundation is authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners, corporations, organizations and individuals to support the critical health protection mission of CDC and the public health system.

The CDC Foundation manages hundreds of programs each year aimed at protecting communities across the country from a variety of health threats—from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like malaria and HIV to emergency responses, such as Ebola and Zika.

Implementation and Evaluation of Healthy Native Babies Project (HNBP) Materials Partner

The CDC Foundation is re-releasing this RFP and request proposals from Tribes, Tribal Serving Organizations (TSOs) and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) [T/TSOs/UIOs] to implement and evaluate the implementation of the updated Healthy Native Babies Project (HNBP) materials within their service areas. This initiative aims to strengthen culturally relevant infant safe sleep education, increase community awareness and support Native families in reducing sleep related infant deaths. Selected T/TSOs/UIOs will adapt, disseminate and assess the use of HNBP materials in ways that reflect the cultural, linguistic and community-specific needs of the Native populations they serve.

The Charles Hamlin Scholarship, established by Nurses Educational Funds, Inc., supports professional nurses pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in nursing. Applicants must hold a current RN license and demonstrate a commitment to nursing leadership, particularly in orthopedic care and the well-being of Native American communities. The scholarship honors Dr. Charles Hamlin's legacy, emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity in healthcare and preventing burnout among healthcare professionals. This award aims to empower future nursing leaders and enhance diversity in the field.

Steven Thayer Hopi Scholarship

This scholarship was established by the family of Steven Thayer to provide scholarship funding for young Hopi artists to develop their talents and artistic skill.