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Native American Agriculture Fund

Annual Giving
$10.0M
Grant Range
$75K - $0.5M
Decision Time
5mo

Native American Agriculture Fund

Quick Stats

  • Total Assets: $181,000,000 (as of July 2024)
  • Annual Giving: $10,000,000 (annually through 2033)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 4-5 months
  • Grant Range: $75,000 - $500,000 (depending on applicant type and focus area)
  • Geographic Focus: National (serving Native American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural communities across Indian Country)

Contact Details

Website: https://nativeamericanagriculturefund.org
Email: grants@nativeamericanagriculturefund.org
Phone: 479-445-6226
Mailing Address: 534 W. Research Center Blvd., Suite 220, P.O. Box 1427, Fayetteville, AR 72701

Overview

The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) was formally established in 2018 as a private charitable trust following the Keepseagle v. Vilsack settlement (1999-2010), which addressed decades of USDA discrimination against Native American farmers dating back to 1981. The settlement resulted in $266 million being placed in trust to be distributed over 20 years. NAAF envisions "a future where Native farmers and ranchers thrive and play a crucial role in land stewardship and the Nation's economic viability." Since 2019, NAAF has distributed $83 million across more than 450 distinct projects, reaching over 80 Tribal nations. In 2023, the Board of Trustees committed to allocating $100 million over the next decade through competitive grants of $10 million annually. The Fund's 2024 Annual Report, "Ripples of Change," highlights strategic investments fueling innovation, food security, and economic growth across Indian Country.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

NAAF offers two main categories in its annual Request for Applications:

General Focus Areas (12- or 24-month projects):

  • Business Assistance: $100,000 - $250,000 (nonprofits/Tribal governments); $75,000 - $150,000 (educational institutions)
  • Agricultural Education: $100,000 - $250,000 (nonprofits/Tribal governments); $75,000 - $150,000 (educational institutions)
  • Technical Support & Advocacy Services: $100,000 - $250,000 (nonprofits/Tribal governments); $75,000 - $150,000 (educational institutions)

Special Focus Area:

  • Infrastructure and Climate Resilience: $150,000 - $500,000 (all eligible applicant types)

Applications open annually on March 1 and close on May 1 at 11:59 p.m. CT through an online portal.

Priority Areas

NAAF prioritizes projects that:

  • Deliver developed content with practical application to the success of Native farmers and ranchers
  • Apply existing research or curriculum to assist Native producers in improving their operations
  • Use new approaches or Tribal knowledge in curriculum development
  • Support Native farmers, ranchers, fishers, harvesters, and community producers
  • Focus on food security initiatives
  • Build community-centric and cultural models of economic development
  • Provide loans, scholarships, and access to capital
  • Support youth programming in agriculture
  • Expand agricultural infrastructure and climate resilience
  • Include fisheries, forestry, and grasslands (NAAF defines agriculture broadly)

What They Don't Fund

  • Housing loans: Rural home loans were not included in the Keepseagle settlement and are not eligible
  • Direct payments to individual farmers or ranchers: Grants must go to eligible organizations that provide services to Native agricultural producers, not directly to individuals
  • Research-only projects: Projects focusing exclusively on research or curriculum development without practical application to Native producers are not high priority
  • Projects outside the trust agreement scope: All funded activities must ultimately benefit Native American farmers and ranchers

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Stacy Leeds, J.D. (Cherokee Nation) - Board Chair
Foundation Professor of Law and Leadership at Arizona State University; Board President of Akiptan, Inc.; Vice President of American Indian Graduate Center

Sybil Bullard (Lumbee) - Vice Chair
Co-Owner of JR Jones Grains, Inc.; grain merchandiser; board member at Lumbee Guaranty Banks Corporate and Scotland Healthcare System

Additional Trustees:

  • Juanita Cole-Crasco (Gros-Ventre Tribe) - Lifelong rancher, educator, and leader from Fort Belknap Indian Reservation with 40+ years in education and agriculture
  • Jackson S. Brossy (Navajo Nation) - Vice President of Native American Financial Services at Huntington Bank; Principal of Native Management Partners, LLC
  • Aja DeCoteau (Confederated Tribes) - Executive Director of Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
  • Zach Ducheneaux (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) - Fourth-generation rancher; founder of 5th C consultancy; former USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator
  • Michelle Fox, J.D. (Aaniiih, Amskapi Piikani) - Associate Attorney at Big Fire Law; managing director for NDN Collective; fifth-generation cattle rancher
  • Blake Jackson (Choctaw) - Attorney; food/agricultural policy professional; tribal governance specialist
  • Kristen Kipp (Blackfeet) - Tribal cattle producer and agriculture advocate; FSA Producer Outreach Manager
  • Santana Nez-Coleman (Navajo Nation) - Agriculture specialist and scientist; rancher
  • Tyler Pearson (Cherokee Nation) - Vice President of Apis Holdings/Intertribal Holdings

Leadership Staff

Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, JD (Colville) - CEO
Libby Washburn (Chickasaw Nation) - Associate CEO
Kathy Callahan, CPA (Cherokee) - Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Chanel Ford (Spokane Tribe) - Director of Programs
Whitney Sawney (Cherokee) - Director of Communications and Policy (honored in the 2024 Native American 40 Under 40 Class)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through NAAF's online portal using the Foundant platform. The application process requires:

  1. Eligibility verification: Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, educational institutions (Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code), tribally controlled or Bureau operated schools, Tribal governments, or Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
  2. No letter of intent required: Applications can be submitted directly during the open period
  3. Complete application package: All required forms and information must be included
  4. Application support: NAAF hosts five webinars throughout the application period to provide technical assistance

Application Portal: Opens March 1, closes May 1 at 11:59 p.m. CT annually

Decision Timeline

  • Application Period: March 1 - May 1
  • Review Process: Applications are reviewed by a review panel, which submits recommendations to the Board of Trustees for final funding decisions
  • Notification: Approximately 4-5 months after the deadline (typically around September)
  • Grant Announcement: Public announcement of grantees follows board approval

Success Rates

While overall success rates are not publicly disclosed, specific data points include:

  • In the first CDFI funding year, NAAF received approximately $52 million in requests but had only $2 million available
  • CDFI-distributed funds achieved a "99-ish percentage rate success" in reaching their communities
  • In 2024, 35 projects were funded from the $10 million available pool
  • Since 2019, more than 450 distinct projects have been funded

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Applicants should contact NAAF directly at grants@nativeamericanagriculturefund.org for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

NAAF has provided specific guidance for successful applications through webinars and resources:

Key Application Elements

Frame Community Stories with Data: Successful applications combine narrative about Native communities with quantitative evidence of need and impact.

Avoid Common Pitfalls:

  • Don't submit research-only proposals without practical application
  • Don't focus solely on curriculum development unless it uses new approaches or Tribal knowledge
  • Ensure projects directly benefit Native farmers, ranchers, or agricultural producers

Build Realistic Budgets: NAAF emphasizes the importance of budgets that accurately reflect project costs and demonstrate fiscal responsibility.

Align with Mission Areas: Projects must clearly connect to NAAF's four core focus areas (business assistance, agricultural education, technical support/advocacy, or infrastructure/climate resilience).

Demonstrate Practical Application: Projects that "deliver developed content with practical application to the success of Native farmers and ranchers" or "take research and assist individuals in applying the results of that research to improve their operations" are prioritized.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects

  • Spokane Tribe of Indians (Washington): Agricultural Management Program and Irrigation Update - 24-month project supporting farmers, ranchers, and community producers through agricultural management, irrigation, and financial assistance
  • Fort Lewis College (Colorado): Hands-on agricultural training exclusively for Native students from tribes nationwide
  • Dził Ditł'ooí School (New Mexico): Agribusiness education and practical experience for 55 Diné students, including specialized curriculum for 10 student farmer interns
  • Sinte Gleska University: Expansion of Sunkawakan Oyate equine and agricultural programs with year-round youth opportunities
  • STAR School (Arizona): 4-H Livestock Club program supporting youth animal husbandry
  • Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute: Food hub development project

Post-Award Considerations

Grantees should be prepared for:

  • Regular reporting expectations
  • Compliance requirements
  • Opportunities to share impact through storytelling and media
  • Potential for multi-year project funding (12- or 24-month grants)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Emphasize practical application: NAAF prioritizes projects that apply existing research or developed curriculum to directly improve Native agricultural operations, not research or curriculum development alone
  • Demonstrate broad agricultural scope: Remember that NAAF defines agriculture broadly - include fisheries, forestry, and grasslands projects if relevant
  • Attend technical assistance webinars: NAAF hosts five webinars during each application period - attend these to understand current priorities and ask specific questions
  • Build relationships before applying: While not required, understanding NAAF's work and connecting with their staff through webinars can strengthen your application
  • Frame proposals with both stories and data: Successful applications balance compelling community narratives with quantitative evidence
  • Match your organization type to the appropriate award range: Understand the funding tiers (educational institutions receive lower ranges than nonprofits/Tribal governments; Infrastructure/Climate Resilience offers higher amounts)
  • Plan for annual cycles: With applications opening each March 1, unsuccessful applicants can refine and resubmit in subsequent years

References

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