Best Grants for Native Americans in Alabama

Alabama 501(c)(3) organizations serving children, indigent Native Americans, or neglected animals can seek funding for programs in education, health, human services, environment, arts, and related areas. Grants from Melba Bayers Meyer Charitable Trust help Alabama Native American services and other charitable initiatives that prevent cruelty to children or animals and advance community well-being.

Arts organizations and fiscally sponsored arts groups in Alabama rooted in Native or other communities of color with under $500,000 in annual revenue can apply for South Arts’ Cultural Sustainability grants, awarding US $50,000 - US $150,000 for general operating support. Funding may cover rent, salaries, utilities, wellness initiatives, and other organizational sustainability needs.

Native American and Alaska Native students in Alabama pursuing certificate, undergraduate, or graduate degrees at accredited nonprofit U.S. colleges can receive $2,000 - $3,000 scholarships for tuition and education costs. Grants from American Indian College Fund help eligible students who are tribal members or descendants with at least a 2.0 GPA and full-time enrollment.

Native American and Alaska Native students in Alabama and nationwide enrolled at Tribal Colleges and Universities can apply for scholarships averaging US $2,000 - US $3,000 to support certificate, undergraduate, or graduate study. Grants from American Indian College Fund help Indigenous students at accredited non-profit institutions in the U.S. cover educational costs.

American Indian and Alaska Native high school seniors in Alabama planning full-time study at an accredited nonprofit U.S. college or Tribal College can receive scholarships averaging US $2,000 - US $3,000 for higher education costs. The American Indian College Fund uses one application to consider students for its full portfolio of merit-based awards.

Charitable organizations and local governments in select Oregon counties, plus Native American organizations across the U.S., can seek funding for education, health, housing, public safety, addiction treatment, the arts, environment, and cultural and historic preservation. Focused on Native American services and heritage, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians invite eligible groups, including those serving Alabama, to apply.

Federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, Tribal colleges or universities, Tribal health programs, and Tribal organizations can access funding through the National Institutes of Health to support health-related research and infrastructure. Eligible Tribal entities in Alabama may apply for Native American-focused research, career development, and capacity-building projects under this limited competition program.

Native American-serving organizations working on services, culture, education, health, or environmental protection in Alabama and beyond can seek support for community programs. Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s Yocha Dehe Community Fund prioritizes initiatives in health and wellness, Native arts and culture, environmental protection, and the advancement of Native rights and Tribal sovereignty across the U.S.

Native-led grassroots organizations focused on community organizing and advocacy can access funding to strengthen leadership and collective action efforts, including in Alabama. Grants from Common Counsel Foundation’s Native Voices Rising program provide general operating support for groups rooted in Native communities that develop leaders, engage large numbers of members, and work to improve policies affecting Native people.

Native American–serving 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the U.S., including those in Alabama, can seek project-specific funding for American Indian self-sufficiency, entrepreneurism, education, and cultural preservation. Focused on advancing American Indian culture and rights, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Foundation awards US $10,000 - US $20,000 and requires follow-up reports on funded projects.

Tribal governments, local and state governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Alabama can apply for Indian Land Tenure Foundation’s Economic Opportunity support to improve productive use and control of reservation lands. Funding helps Native communities prioritize land acquisition strategies, develop land use opportunities, and expand direct owner management of Indian land, benefiting Native American communities.

Alabama Native American governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on legal issues around Indian land ownership and control can access funding through Indian Land Tenure Foundation’s Legal Reform Grant Program. Projects may include estate planning, land policy reform, landowner associations, or initiatives that strengthen tribal sovereignty and improve the legal framework for owning and managing Indian land.

Native-led organizations focused on cultural and ecological renewal rooted in reverent connection to the Earth may be eligible for support, including work benefiting Native communities in Alabama. Kalliopeia Foundation supports U.S.-based projects in land care and Indigenous leadership that regenerate soil, soul, and community, especially intergenerational efforts and those uplifting Indigenous women and traditional knowledge.

Native-led organizations and community initiatives strengthening Indigenous nations through language revitalization, safety for women, girls and Two-Spirit people, and innovative leadership may be eligible for support in Alabama and beyond. Grants from Vadon Foundation help Native American services and culture programs in the U.S. and Canada address multi-generational challenges and build long-term community wellbeing.

Individuals working on Wabanaki cultural preservation, Native arts, or environmental stewardship, including those from Alabama, may be eligible for this scholarship supporting cultural, artistic, and environmental preservation projects. Focused on traditional knowledge, the Maine Community Foundation’s David Moses Bridges Scholarship funds work connecting master artists and apprentices, research and publications, and protection of culturally important natural spaces.

With a mission to support emerging leaders, the Udall Foundation provides Alabama undergraduate students focused on environmental issues, Tribal public policy, or Native American and Alaska Native health care with scholarships up to US $7,500. Eligible U.S. sophomores and juniors at accredited colleges may apply through their institution’s faculty representative.

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 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.

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.

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.

Contractor for Implementation and Evaluation of Healthy Native Babies Project Materials

This RFP request proposals from Tribes, Tribal Serving Organizations (TSOs) and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) [T/TSOs/UIOs] to implement and evaluate 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. 

This project is a rapid turnaround project to support T/TSOs/UIOs in:

• Implementing HNBP materials in clinical, community, and family setting
• Training staff and community partners
• Evaluating reach, effectiveness, and community feedback
• Identifying barriers, facilitators, lessons learned, and best practices for future replication

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.

The Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Service Coordinator (ROSS-SC) Program for Fiscal Year 2026 aims to empower residents of Public and Indian Housing by addressing barriers to economic self-sufficiency. Through grant funding from HUD, Service Coordinators assess individual needs, linking residents to educational, professional, and health resources. This support enables participants to achieve financial stability and independence, facilitating their journey towards self-sufficiency and enhancing their quality of life.

The Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program (TCRGP) aims to enhance research capacity at Tribal colleges, focusing on agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. By fostering leadership skills and knowledge, the program prepares students for competitive careers in agriculture and related fields. Projects involving innovative agricultural technologies, such as AI and data science, are encouraged. TCRGP also emphasizes training opportunities for undergraduate students to equip them for success in a digital society and explore pathways in AI for food and agricultural sciences.

Udall Foundation

The Udall Foundation awards scholarships, fellowships, and internships for study in fields related to the environment and to American Indians and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and tribal public policy; provides funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and to the Native Nations Institute to conduct environmental policy research, research on American Indian and Alaska Native health care issues and tribal public policy issues, and training; and provides assessment, mediation, training, and other related services through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution (National Center or NCECR).

Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy

The Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy (Native American Graduate Fellowship) recognizes outstanding Native American and Alaska Native graduate students who are currently pursuing advanced degrees in health care fields—including, but not limited to, health administration, health education, public health, medical practice, policy, research, or related-degrees—and who have demonstrated a commitment to Native health care. The Native American Graduate Fellowship Program honors the legacies of Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III.

Indian Health Service

The Indian Health Service, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services , is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally-recognized tribes grew out of the special government-to-government relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. This relationship, established in 1787, is based on Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, and has been given form and substance by numerous treaties, laws, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive Orders. The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS provides a comprehensive health service.

IHS Extern Program

Become an IHS Extern

The Indian Health Service (IHS) offers IHS scholarship recipients and other qualified students the opportunity to participate in a hands-on instructive experience that will complement the knowledge and skills developed in school. This experience will help to enhance pre-professional training, while also familiarizing yourself with Native communities that are of interest to you when you begin your health professions career.

IHS externs are employed for 30 to 120 workdays per calendar year during non-academic periods

Salary

Externs received a salary based on experience and years of academic training that is comparable to industry standards. IHS will waive your salary if the externship fulfills a required academic field placement or an internship.

Housing

Externs are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements. Host sites may be able to provide information or resources to assist in identifying housing options within the community. Externs are encouraged to maintain communication with their Extern Coordinator and host site to ensure all arrangements are confirmed prior to travel. This preparation supports a smooth transition into the externship experience and enables externs to focus on contributing to the Indian Health.

Eligible degree programs for Summer 2025 (must be accepted into program at time of application):

• Pre-Nursing (Sophomore Level, leading to a Bachelor Degree of Science)
• Pre- Medicine (Junior/Senior Level, leading to a Bachelor Degree of Science)
• Pre-Dentistry (Junior/Senior Level, leading to a Bachelor Degree of Science)

Must be enrolled in the Bachelor Degree program by January 1, 2025:

• Nursing
• Environmental Health
• Engineering (Civil or Environmental - Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)
• Clinical Laboratory Scientist
• Dental Hygiene
• Diagnostic Radiology

Must be enrolled in the Master Degree program by January 1, 2025:

• Nurse Midwife
• Social Work (LCSW)
• Nurse Practitioner
• Physician Assistant
• Occupational Therapy

Must be enrolled in the Doctoral Degree program by January 1, 2025:

• Clinical Psychology
• Dentistry
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Nurse Practitioner (DNP)
• Optometry
• Pharmacy
• Physician, Allopathy
• Physician, Osteopathy
• Physical Therapy
• Podiatry

Duties include:

• Gain working knowledge and experience in your chosen health profession or field with Indian Health Service during non-academic periods for up to 120 workdays per calendar year.
• Assist preceptor in daily duties in their academic field.
• Assist and prepare reports on assigned projects.
• Assist on day-to-day administrative operations by performing tasks related to their department functions.