Native Food Sovereignty Grant

Posted by First Nations Development Institute

Type: Funding
Application Deadline: May 14, 2025 at 12:00 am

About First Nations Development Institute & Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments (NAFSI)

For over 44 years, First Nations Development Institute (First Nations), a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has worked to strengthen American Indian economies to support healthy Native communities. First Nations invests in and creates innovative institutions and models that strengthen asset control and support economic development for American Indian people and their communities. First Nations began its national grantmaking program in 1993. Through year-end 2024, we have successfully managed 3,640 grants totaling $94.3 million to Native American projects and organizations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territory American Samoa. For more information, visit www.firstnations.org.

The Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments (NAFSI) program is a cornerstone of First Nations’ efforts to advance food sovereignty and security, strengthen tribal food economies, and support the relationship between community, place, and food. Established in 2001, NAFSI supports Native food systems through grantmaking, convenings, and advocacy, uplifting the enduring commitment of Native communities to their food relatives and the earth. We provide cycles of funding opportunities focused on Native Food Security, Native Food Sovereignty, Native Food Economies, and Native Food Networks. Learn more about our program here, https://www.firstnations.org/our-programs/nourishing-native-foods-health/

NAFSI Program Priorities

  1. Native Control: Recognize and respect the inherent right of Native communities to exercise control over their food systems, ensuring decisions align with their unique needs and values.
  2. Culturally Rooted: Prioritize initiatives deeply grounded in and reflective of the diverse cultural heritage of Native communities, fostering a strong connection to traditional foodways.
  3. Community Empowerment: Develop programs and initiatives that empower Native communities economically, socially, and culturally, promoting a sense of ownership and pride in their food systems.
  4. Intertribal Collaboration: Foster collaborative efforts that encourage knowledge exchange, shared resources, and collective solutions among Native communities to address common challenges and amplify impact.
  5. Intergenerational Wisdom: Emphasize the importance of preserving and passing down and up traditional knowledge and practices related to food, ensuring the transmission of wisdom and practice across generations.
  6. Equity and Justice: Commit to achieving equity and justice in all aspects of the food system, addressing historical inequities and advocating for policies that promote fairness and inclusivity.

Native Food Sovereignty Grant Overview

Native Food Sovereignty projects support the inherent right of Tribal communities to exercise self-determination and self-governance in all aspects of their food systems. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians have the right to produce their own traditional foods on their own lands to sustain themselves, their families, and their communities. Tribes and community organizers have the authority to shape and influence the conditions that strengthen the control of the Native food system. These projects establish and safeguard Native food traditions while carrying forward the stories, identities, relationships, and responsibilities that Native cultures live by.

When applying, select one primary focus for your grant project. You may also select optional secondary focus areas.

1. First Foods and Maternal Health 
The First Foods and Maternal Health projects support efforts to revitalize Tribal customs, knowledge, and practices related to childbirth, prenatal and infant nutrition, maternal nutrition, and community support systems. This opportunity is designed for projects that honor ancestral wisdom while promoting the health and well-being of Indigenous communities, strengthening their connection to cultural food systems and community networks. Project activities may include:

  • Advancing reproductive justice
  • Promoting equitable cultural birthing practices
  • Supporting prenatal to postnatal nutrition
  • Expanding access to culturally congruent lactation practices, and first foods education for Native parents, caregivers, and children
  • Increasing traditional food access for infants and young children
  • Building organizational or program capacity to support maternal and infant health initiatives

2. Native Farm to School
Native Farm to School projects provide educational opportunities and support to Native youth, program coordinators, school staff, community organizers, and knowledge keepers of all ages. The goal is to ensure young Tribal leaders experience traditional foodways within culturally inclusive school food systems. Project activities may include:

  • Developing school programming centered on community, traditional foodways, traditional knowledge, traditional foods, language, or land stewardship
  • Incorporating local or traditional foods school into the school system
  • Expanding student’s access to place and land management practices
  • Hosting a community event or workshop
  • Fostering youth mentorship with community foodways
  • Supporting curriculum development or educational materials design

3. GATHER: New and Innovative Food Sovereignty
Gather Food Sovereignty projects are new or innovative projects that focus on Native food sovereignty by expanding community knowledge or resources and addressing critical food system needs. Eligible initiatives must be less than five years old and may include new or emerging organizations, programs, grassroots food sovereignty efforts, and Native-led innovation and pilot projects. Project activities may include:

  • Fostering deep relationships with traditional foods and food systems to ensure that Native food systems can thrive
  • Establishing new Tribal department, Native-led organization, program, or project that uplift food sovereignty
  • Establishing new or innovative way of building community or staff capacity to support food systems work
  • Creating a new partnership between Tribal sectors and community organizations that support a more collaborative Native food system
  • Implementing innovative culturally based education programs that continue our cultural food stories
  • Acquiring land, infrastructure, or key equipment to support new food sovereignty initiatives
  • Developing food project plans or conducting a community food sovereignty assessment

4. Native Food Policy
Native Food Policy projects focus on strengthening and adapting Tribal, local, regional, and national policies to advance Native food sovereignty. Each Native community faces distinct challenges and organizational policies that shape local food system initiatives. These projects examine food system policies at multiple levels to reinforce community control over food systems. Key policy areas may include:

  • Access to traditional food sources and rights to cultural foodways
  • Food safety, nutrition, and Native food preferences
  • Policies to support food incentives or food programs
  • Policies that integrate Native food knowledge into education
  • Policies that support access to or governance of land, water, food, and animal stewardship
  • Policies that support climate resilience and food security
  • Policies that strengthen Inter-Tribal trade or barter systems
  • Establishing or supporting a food policy group
  • (Re)Establishing culturally informed governance or decisions-making practices

These examples illustrate possible project activities but do not represent an exhaustive list of the allowable activities. Participation in any of these activities is not a requirement of this funding.

Grant Period

The grant period for this funding opportunity will be one year.

Grant Award Ceiling

Total requests for project budgets within this funding opportunity can range from $10,000 to $40,000.

Grant Submission Deadline

Applications are due Wednesday, May 14, 2025, no later than 5 pm Mountain Time. Unfortunately, First Nations cannot make any exceptions to the application deadline. Partial applications, incomplete applications due to user error, or faxed/emailed/mailed applications will not be considered unless they have received prior approval from First Nations.

More information