First Nations Development Institute: Native Agriculture & Food Systems Initiative

First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) recognizes that Native food systems are important assets to Native communities. As a result, First Nations has long supported Native communities as they fortify traditional food systems, seek to increase access to healthy and fresh foods, increase awareness of and involvement with where food comes from, and expand knowledge of the linkages between foods, Native cultures and/or contribute to tribal economic growth and development of entrepreneurially-related food ventures.

First Nations’ Native Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative (NAFSI) grants will be awarded to organizations in Native communities with the goal of growing and/or expanding direct services to and/or programs that serve or directly collaborate with Native American farmers and ranchers. In sum, the goal of these grants is to provide much-needed grant assistance to grow or expand programmatic and other services to organizations in Native communities that serve Native farmers and ranchers.

Farming is inclusive of traditional forms of agriculture such as gathering and fishing. Priority will be given to projects aimed at expanding outreach and needed services to Native farmers, ranchers, and producers leading to increased capacity, revenue, and other positive farm outputs that will grow farmer capacity and Native farm and ranch operations. Priority will be given to organizations that can assist and contribute to capacity-building and training activities that will grow the human capital and organizational capacity and increase the long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency of Native farmers and ranchers and increase the growth/sustainability of the economy and agricultural sector in Native communities.

Amount: A total of $647,000 is available to make up to 20 awards that will average $30,000-$40,000 each.

Eligibility: U.S.-based, Native American-controlled nonprofit organizations, tribal organizations, Native organizations, or Native American community-based groups that further Native American farming and ranching activities, in a manner designed to assist individual Native American farmers and ranchers.

Link: https://firstnations.org/grantmaking/2018NAFSIKeepseagle

Note: The deadline listed above is to submit a letter of intent as Phase I of the application process. First Nations plans to invite 40-50 applicants to submit a Phase II full proposals that will be due December 14, 2018.

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