Best Grants for Native Americans in West Virginia

Tribal language programs, tribal schools and colleges, and tribal community initiatives working on Native American language documentation or revitalization in West Virginia can access funding through the Endangered Language Fund’s Native Voices Endowment; awards up to US $20,000 support eligible Lewis and Clark–connected tribes. Grants may cover salaries, equipment, travel, and other project costs.

Federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, tribal colleges, health programs, and tribal organizations conducting health-related research can apply for this Native American Research Centers for Health opportunity, administered by the National Institutes of Health. Focused on research projects, career development, and infrastructure, it may benefit West Virginia tribal entities engaged in Native American services and cultural preservation.

Native-led organizations and community-based initiatives in West Virginia working on language revitalization, MMIWG2S, innovative community leadership, or COVID-19-related food insecurity can access funding through Vadon Foundation to strengthen Indigenous nations. Eligible entities include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribal or other governmental entities, hospitals, and U.S. colleges or universities, with support also available across the U.S. and Canada.

Tribal governments, local and state governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on Native American land issues can seek funding for legal reform projects in the U.S., including West Virginia. Grants from Indian Land Tenure Foundation help advance estate planning, land policy reform, landowner associations, and initiatives strengthening tribal sovereignty over reservation lands.

West Virginia Native American-serving governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofits can access funding through Indian Land Tenure Foundation to advance economic opportunity tied to reservation lands. Projects may help tribal communities prioritize land acquisition strategies, create productive land-use opportunities, and expand direct owner management of Indian land for long-term community benefit.

West Virginia organizations serving Native communities through education, health and wellness, Native arts and culture, environmental protection, or Native rights and Tribal sovereignty can access funding through Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s Community Fund. Eligible groups nationwide, including those in West Virginia, may be supported for programs that help people help themselves in these priority areas.

American Indian and Alaska Native students in West Virginia pursuing certificate, undergraduate, or graduate study at accredited nonprofit U.S. colleges can receive US $2,000 - US $3,000 scholarships for their education. The American Indian College Fund supports full-time students who are tribal members or descendants with at least a 2.0 GPA through one annual application.

American Indian and Alaska Native students in West Virginia enrolled at a Tribal College or University can apply for scholarships from the American Indian College Fund, with awards averaging US $2,000 - US $3,000. Eligible applicants must attend a TCU and be enrolled tribal members or descendants of enrolled members in the U.S.

American Indian and Alaska Native high school seniors in West Virginia planning full-time study at accredited nonprofit U.S. colleges or Tribal Colleges and Universities can receive scholarship support, typically US $2,000 - US $3,000, from the American Indian College Fund. Awards are merit-based, use a single annual application, and support certificate, undergraduate, or graduate programs.

Native American organizations across the U.S. and eligible charitable organizations or local governments in specified Oregon counties can receive funding for education, health, housing, public safety, addiction treatment, arts, environment, and cultural or historic preservation projects. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians provide these charitable grants, which may benefit Native-focused programs serving West Virginia communities.

Native-led grassroots organizations in West Virginia working on community organizing and advocacy for Native communities can apply for Native Voices Rising grants from Common Counsel Foundation. Funding provides general operating support to groups rooted in Native communities that build leadership, engage large numbers of members in collective action, and work to change policies and rules affecting their people.

Individuals working on Native American cultural preservation, Wabanaki heritage, or environmental stewardship in West Virginia can apply for the David Moses Bridges Scholarship supporting cultural, artistic, and environmental preservation projects. Focused on traditional knowledge, this Maine Community Foundation program may support Indigenous artists, scholars, educators, and environmental activists advancing Native culture and protecting culturally important natural spaces.

Sophomore and junior undergraduates in fields related to the environment, Tribal public policy, or Native health care can receive up to US $7,500 for academic expenses through this national scholarship, including students in West Virginia. With a mission to support future leaders, the Udall Foundation provides funding plus orientation and access to its alumni network.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting American Indian self-sufficiency, education, or cultural preservation in the U.S., including those serving West Virginia, can seek project-specific support through this program. With a mission to advance American Indian entrepreneurism, education, and culture, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Foundation provides US $10,000 - US $20,000 for clearly defined initiatives.

West Virginia Native-led and Indigenous-focused organizations working on land care, ecological renewal, and cultural or spiritual connection to Earth can access funding through Kalliopeia Foundation. The foundation prioritizes U.S.-based projects that regenerate land and community, uplift Indigenous leadership and knowledge keepers, and foster intergenerational leadership and storytelling beyond a single community.

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 Champions for Change program, initiated by the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, empowers Native youth through leadership opportunities. Founded in 2011, it selects 5-6 exceptional young leaders (ages 14-24) each year to inspire their communities and promote positive change. Participants engage in tailored advocacy training, fostering skills to create impactful stories from Indian Country, while all applicants join the CNAY network, enhancing their community involvement.

Tribes, Tribal Serving Organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations in West Virginia can apply for CDC Foundation support to implement and evaluate Healthy Native Babies Project safe sleep materials. Funding helps adapt culturally relevant resources, train staff and partners, and assess reach, effectiveness, and community feedback to reduce sleep-related infant deaths among Native families.

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 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.

Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is a sovereign nation and has three main branches of government – Judicial, Executive, and Legislative. One of our most important resources is our people.

Education

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz seeks to provide opportunities for Tribal members to reach potential, establish independence and improve quality of life through lifelong learning and education.

Arthur S. Bensell Memorial Scholarship

Arthur S. Bensell was an educator, civic leader, Tribal Council member and Tribal Chairman. He spent many years in service to his community and Tribe as Mayor of the City of Siletz and tribal leader.

Art attended Ohio State University and graduated from Heidelberg College in 1934. During his career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he served as a teacher, principal and reservation principal in Minnesota, Alaska and North Dakota. Upon returning to Siletz, Art became involved in tribal business affairs and served many years on the Tribe’s Education Committee and always strived for better educational opportunities for Tribal members.

A memorial scholarship fund was established through the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians to honor and award Tribal members in education. The $1000 scholarship is administered by the Tribal Education Committee and strengthened by various fund raising activities throughout the year.

Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians is a sovereign nation and has three main branches of government – Judicial, Executive, and Legislative. One of our most important resources is our people.

Education

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz seeks to provide opportunities for Tribal members to reach potential, establish independence and improve quality of life through lifelong learning and education.

Cathern Tufts Memorial Scholarship

Cathern Tufts, affectionately known as “Cat” in the offices of the CTSI administrative offices and Tribal elder woodcuts, was the Tribal Attorney for fourteen and a half years until she passed in 2018 following a short illness. She was a Siletz Tribal member who graduated from Arizona State University School of Law. She served an internship in Washington D.C. prior to going to work as an attorney. Her parents and friends wished to honor her life and achievements through this memorial scholarship. This scholarship is for students in pre-law, law, or in a natural resource field.