Values and mission alignment: NDN Foundation provides grants to Indigenous-led organizations, Tribes, groups, projects and individuals whose work, goals and intentions align with the NDN mission, values, core principles and strategies.  NDN grantmaking is intended to honor and advance the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. 

         See: Our Mission

Geographic focus: North America:  the United States and the  U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Boriken/Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Canada and Mexico.  

Organizations/Individuals: 

Grantmaking may be provided to the following recipients:

• Indigenous-led non-profit organizations. Indigenous-led is defined as 100% board of directors/decision-makers, and 70% staff. 

• U.S.-based Tribal Nations, tribal non-profit entities, Alaska Native Villages, or their non-profit entities, Indigenous-led Native Hawaiian organizations.

• First Nations or Aboriginal communities, groups, and organizations based in Canada.

• Indigenous communities, groups, and organizations based in Mexico.
• Indigenous owned businesses in the US and related Island Nations, Canada or Mexico
• Individual Indigenous people who are connected to the direct action and are willing to assume the tax liability for the grant. 

NDN Collective defines Indigenous peoples as ethnic communities whose ancestry descends from the earliest, original inhabitants of a given region, in contrast to groups that have settled, occupied, and/or colonized the region more recently. The land on which we live and the natural resources on which we depend are inextricably linked to our identities, cultures, livelihoods, as well as our physical and spiritual well-being. The total estimated population of Indigenous peoples is approximately 370 million people worldwide (5% of the global population). We use Indigenous peoples with an “s” to recognize the diversity of individuals and groups that identify with the term, which has been distilled to a singular noun throughout history in an attempt to group our people together rather than recognize our differences and diversity. This is consistent with the UN Declaration on The Rights of Indigenous peoples.

Groups or organizations that do not currently meet the criteria for “Indigenous-led” can apply as long as they also submit a plan outlining how they intend to become “Indigenous-led” (100% Leadership/70% staff) in the future.

Yes, if you are a recipient of another grant from NDN Collective you can still apply and receive a grant from the Community Action Fund. If you already have registered for any NDN grant opportunity or received a grant from NDN, please click Log-in Now on NDN Collective’s Fluxx grant making portal. You do not need to register again.

The CAF is a one-time grant. However, if an action has multiple phases a followup grant can be considered.

The Community Action Fund is an urgent response grant. If your grant proposal is approved, we try our best to get the funds to grantees within 3 weeks of the application submission.

No. Funds can not be used to back pay and reimburse an action or event that has already taken place. Funds need to be used from the grant start date.

The Community Action Fund does not support: 

• Long-term, ongoing planned projects/activities/service delivery programs
• Annual operating costs 
• Bridge/gap funding
• Scholarships
• Capital projects or land purchase
• Events
• Sponsorships

CAF is meant to support frontline direct action and climate change response efforts that are already happening with or without NDN Collective’s support. CAF grant does not fund long-term ongoing projects nor operational costs for organizations and companies.

While CAF does support Landback efforts, this grant cannot be used to purchase land. Please refer to NDN’s Community Self Determination grant for long term efforts including land purchase.

Yes. In order to receive an NDN Foundation grant, you or your group/organization must have a Tax Identification Number. You can apply as a non-profit organization, as an individual, a Tribe/First Nation, or as a business. The tax identification of the  organization or individual becomes responsible for accountability of the grant and/or taxable income if applicable, and must be submitted with the application.

Yes, you can establish a fiscal sponsorship with a nonprofit organization. This may be a local non-profit organization with which you have an established relationship or with a regional/national organization that is willing to serve as your fiscal sponsor. Your organization/group can then apply for an NDN grant utilizing the tax status of the fiscal sponsor.

A memorandum of understanding, letter of agreement, or some form of documentation must also be submitted verifying the fiscal sponsorship (signed by both parties) at the time of submitting your application for it to be considered complete.

Although we value our grantee partners’ ability to leverage our resources with others, we do not require a match.

For Application Questions reach out to: Thomas Kenote, Program Officer, at thomas@ndncollective.org. 

For Spanish speaking applicants reach out to: Helen Aldana, Program Officer, at helen@ndncollective.org 

For Fluxx Portal Technical Support reach out to: grantsinfo@ndncollective.org