Urban Native American Project Applications Due March 31 from First Nations Development Institute

Reminder: Urban Native American Project

Applications Due March 31, 2014

First Nations Development Institute (First Nations [ http://www.firstnations.org/ ]) and the National Urban Indian Family Coalition (NUIFC [ http://nuifc.org/ ]) are accepting applications from nonprofit organizations that increase the availability and effectiveness of comprehensive community programming in urban Indian centers and communities. The project also supports new and expanded activities in urban Indian environments with the goal of improving opportunities that can be attained in all Native American urban communities.

*Grantmaking Priorities*

First Nations receives many more proposals from qualified organizations than it is able to fund, therefore, the application process is highly competitive.

When making funding decisions, First Nations prioritizes organizations that exhibit these characteristics:

* Actively engages American Indian community members in future changes to the urban environment

* Capacity, ability and interest in providing, or expanding on existing integrated asset-building programs that include Native American-controlled Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), housing programs, Individual Development Account (IDA) programs, financial education programs and financial service programs (e.g., Earned Income Tax Credit and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)) that are conduits for building their communities' ability to improve management of and access to (primarily financial) assets

* Serve as information center and resource for the community while realizing cultural preservation and leveraging cultural assets

* Engages American Indian community members in thinking about long-term outcomes and the ways in which to engage productive processes to hold institutions accountable to best practices and policy as the urban landscape grows and changes

* Highlight the urban experience and expertise of your nonprofit and act as a model of good planning, infrastructure, community organizing and leadership

* Name up to 10 individuals/leaders to engage in an organizational assessment and/or on-site training, and share practices, exchange information, and explore strategies with other American Indian urban projects/centers/nonprofit organizations through First Nation's Leadership Development Academy. These leaders will have interest and ability to discuss, debate, and analyze the current and future social, political, cultural, economic and environmental landscape in the urban environment

* Offer innovative programs and services that reflect evidence-based solutions, and/or that represent creative, effective approaches to addressing persistent needs or challenges

* Support of additional local and/or regional partner organizations and leaders

* Receive support from other foundation and corporate funders

* Ability to meet the specific needs of partners and funders

* Ability to carry out the logistical and practical preparations for a two-day meeting (secure facility for the meeting, provide audio-visual equipment, arrange for field trip or tour)

* Intention and readiness to implement actions emerging from training and technical assistance activities.

The RFP will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 proposals will be accepted online that presents a general plan of the program/project requiring funding. To be considered, phase 1 applications must be received *by 5:00 p.m. (MDT) on March 31, 2014.*

Following an internal review process, select applicants will be invited to submit a fully-developed proposal (Phase 2) through an invitation-only process in late April 2014. Three grants will be awarded in amount of $40,000 each.

For more information and to begin an application visit: http://www.firstnations.org/grantmaking/2014UNNHSF [ http://www.firstnations.org/grantmaking/2014UNNHSF ]

Other Funding Opportunities from First Nations

*Native Youth and Culture Fund

Applications due this Thursday - March 20, 2014*

First Nations is seeking proposals for projects that focus on projects that focus on youth, and incorporate culture and tradition to address social issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, mental health or other social issues. First Nations believes that Native youth represent the future of Native communities, and that their health and well-being determines the future overall health and well-being of a community. First Nations expects to award approximately 20 grants with budgets between $5,000 and $20,000.

For more information visit: http://www.firstnations.org/grantmaking/2014nycf [ http://www.firstnations.org/grantmaking/2014nycf ]