Grant Proposals Sought for Native Agriculture & Food Systems Projects

LONGMONT, Colorado (Dec. 9, 2015) -- First Nations Development Institute (First Nations [ http://www.firstnations.org ]) today announced it is now accepting grant proposals under its Native Agriculture & Food Systems Initiative (NAFSI) for projects that will be conducted between March 2016 and February 2017.

Through the generous support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation [ http://www.wkkf.org ], First Nations plans to distribute up to 10 grant awards averaging $30,000 each to support projects that aim to strengthen local food-system control; increase access to local, healthy and traditional foods; and decrease food insecurity and food deserts, all with an emphasis on serving Native American children and families. Desired projects will noticeably improve a tribe and/or tribal community's effort to increase access to healthy and fresh foods for vulnerable children, families and communities. Additionally, desired projects will help increase awareness of and involvement with where their 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.

All applications are due by 5 p.m. Mountain Time on Monday, January 25, 2016. All applicants must fully complete the First Nations Online Grant Application [ http://www.firstnations.org/grantmaking/2016NAFSI ], including the submission of all necessary attachments.

Organizations eligible to apply include U.S.-based, Native American-controlled, nonprofit 501(c)(3), tribal organizations, or Native American community-based groups committed to increasing healthy food access in rural and reservation-based Native communities and improving the health and well-being of Native American children and families. In the past, we have supported a variety of innovative projects, including: food sovereignty assessments, farmers' markets, farm-to-school programs, food co-ops, youth agricultural mentorship projects, and traditional foods projects, to name a few. Priority will be given to projects aimed at increasing the availability of healthy, locally-produced foods in Native communities, reducing food insecurity, entrepreneurship and/or programs that create systemic change by increasing community control of local food systems. Moreover, this project will give priority to organizations that can assist and contribute to the development of emerging and promising practices in strengthening Native food systems.

For full information about this grant opportunity and to begin an application, visit: http://www.firstnations.org/grantmaking/2016NAFSI [ http://www.firstnations.org/grantmaking/2016NAFSI ]

About First Nations Development Institute

For 35 years, using a three-pronged strategy of educating grassroots practitioners, advocating for systemic change, and capitalizing Indian communities, First Nations has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own – be they land, human potential, cultural heritage or natural resources – and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native American communities. First Nations serves Native American communities throughout the United States. For more information, visit http://www.firstnations.org [ http://www.firstnations.org ].