Running Strong for American Indian Youth: Dreamstarter Grants

Running Strong for American Indian Youth believes in the dreams of young American Indians: creating stronger communities, overcoming poverty, and building a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. Every year, Running Strong grants are awarded to community non-profits who will mentor a young Dreamstarter and work with them to implement a project inspired by the young person’s dream for her or his community. Teams of one nonprofit organization and one Native American youth should work together to complete a Dreamstarter application outlining their idea, funding needs, and how the project will benefit youth.

Each year, Dreamstarter grants will be awarded to projects addressing a different theme. The theme for Dreamstarter 2020 is Health and Wellness.

Amount: Ten $10,000 grants will be awarded. Successful Dreamstarter applicants will receive an “I am a Dreamstarter” award of $500 after the successful completion of the grant period.

Eligibility: American Indian Youth Dreamstarters must:

• Be between the ages of 14 and 30 at the time of application deadline
• Be an enrolled member of a current or terminated federal/state Indian Nation and able to provide documentation
• Complete the application together with their Mentor Organization
• Agree to be featured by name in photos, videos, and written stories on the Running Strong website and other materials
• Participate in the four-day Dreamstarter Academy training program
• Produce at least one video and two blog posts with photographs during the grant period, with the help of Running Strong staff
• Provide monthly updates on the progress of the Dreamstarter project
• Complete a final report and evaluation with their Mentor Organization at the end of the project

Dreamstarter Mentor Organizations must:

• Be a 501(c)3 or 7871 non-profit organization or school serving one or more American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian communities in the United States
• Apply together with an eligible young American Indian Dreamstarter applicant
• Assign a staff member to mentor the youth Dreamstarter participant throughout the grant period, including participation in the four-day Dreamstarter Academy training program
• Agree to be featured by organization and staffer’s name in photos, videos, and written stories on the Running Strong website and other materials
• Supervise and implement the Dreamstarter-funded project, including management of the $10,000 grant award
• Assist the youth Dreamstarter participant in producing at least one video and two blog posts with photographs
• Provide monthly updates on the progress of the Dreamstarter project
• Complete a final report and evaluation at the end of the project

Link: https://indianyouth.org/Dreamstarter/application

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