Indigenous Tomorrows Fund
The Indigenous Tomorrows Fund represents more than a funding mechanism—it embodies a vision for how philanthropy can honor Indigenous wisdom, strengthen the self-determination of Native communities, and support emerging leaders and their vision for a thriving future.
This initiative celebrates the legacy, power, and promise of young people through a participatory grantmaking process and addresses longstanding disparities that affect Indigenous communities.
Recent Updates
2026 Grant Applications Open On May 20!
We’re excited to share that the next grant cycle for the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund will open May 20, 2026! For details about the Request for Proposals (RFP) read the full announcement here.
2025 Grant Recipients
Congratulations to all of the recipients of the 2025 Indigenous Tomorrows Fund grants!
Read the Full Announcement here or read the Associated Press story here.
Join Us In Creating Indigenous Tomorrows
We invite you to join this journey—not simply as funders, but as partners in reimagining what's possible when philanthropic resources flow in sync with Indigenous self-determination and intergenerational wisdom.
To ensure ease of participation, the Fund is designed to accommodate a variety of funder-specific grant requirements and focus areas.
Participating funders will:
- Be invited to serve on the advisory committee.
- Provide guidance and direction to the youth who will lead the work.
- Inform the creation of the guiding principles, request for proposal/application, and measurement rubrics that will support the long-term structure of the fund.
To learn more about the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund, contact Savannah Baber at sbaber@nativephilanthropy.org
Our Approach
Unlike conventional funding models where decisions are made by those removed from community realities, this Fund transfers decision-making authority to young leaders (ages 14-24) who understand the nuanced needs, challenges, and opportunities within their communities.
The Indigenous Tomorrows Fund represents a fundamental shift in how philanthropy operates by:
- Honoring Indigenous self-determination by ensuring those most affected by funding decisions have authority in making them
- Creating leadership and career opportunities for youth that extend beyond the grantmaking process itself
- Modeling a new paradigm for philanthropic engagement with Indigenous communities that other funders can learn from and adopt
Through comprehensive training on participatory processes and mentorship from experienced grantmakers and elders, young people sit on the Fund’s advisory committee, establish funding priorities, evaluate proposals, make final funding decisions, and even support the Fund’s day-to-day operations.
This process is supported by Native Americans in Philanthropy's expertise while ensuring the authentic leadership of young people remains central.
Timeline
2026 GRANT CYCLE
In 2026, the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund will deploy a total of $1.65 million to communities across the United States.
- RFP announced on May 11, 2026
- Application Opens on May 20, 2026
- Applicant Information Sessions on May 28, 2026 & June 22, 2026
- Application Closes on Jul 14, 2026
- Award Notification in October 2026
THE PILOT YEAR (2025)
In 2025, NAP launched the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund’s pilot phase and achieved several ambitious goals:
- Shared the RFP at the HIP-NAP Joint Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in June 2025
- Launched a diverse advisory committee of youth stakeholders, elders and mentors, funders, and non-profit organizations who engage in youth-led work
- Recruited a Native Youth Grantmaker alumnus as a dedicated fellow and hire a program manager to provide operational support for the fund
- Surveyed and engaged youth leaders (14-24) to secure representative input on fund priorities
- Provided participatory grantmaking training to youth grant reviewers and decision-makers
- Awarded 24 grants of $30,000 to non-profit organizations, schools, and Tribes
- Deployed $720,000 in total funding during this initial phase
- Documented learnings, challenges, and successes to inform the full-scale implementation
- Develop a culturally grounded evaluation framework that captures both quantitative outcomes and qualitative, relationship-based impacts
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2025 Grant Recipients: Learn about the Recipients of the 2025 Indigenous Tomorrows Fund grants, and read the Full Announcement here or the Associated Press story here.
LONG-TERM VISION (2026-2030)
Following the pilot, the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund will expand significantly, aiming to deploy $25-50 million over five years to fund and support innovative solutions across the United States.
This expanded Fund will:
- Increase both the number and size of grants awarded
- Engage additional funders and partners to create a sustainable funding ecosystem
- Document and share the model to influence broader philanthropic practices
Through this comprehensive approach, the fund aims to create ripple effects that extend far beyond the direct investment, catalyzing a movement toward greater Indigenous self-determination in philanthropy.
The Funding Collaborative
Native Americans in Philanthropy
NAP will continue its history of collaborating with national non-profit organizations implementing youth-led initiatives, drawing upon their wisdom and guidance as established institutions with deep experience in supporting Indigenous youth in their communities.
We are deeply grateful to the Newman's Own Foundation and Novo Nordisk for funding the 2025 pilot year of the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund and for their partnership throughout the development of the program.
Newman's Own Foundation
Nourishing and transforming the lives of children facing adversity.
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Devoted to developing a brighter future for millions of children and young people with respect to their educational, economic, social and health outcomes.
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
Supporting the realization of human rights and social and economic justice for all people.
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
To preserve the Tribe’s sovereignty while strengthening the social, cultural, and economic well-being of its people.
Private Donors
Generous and dedicated private donors support the Fund’s proven ability to move resources efficiently and support high-impact, youth-led solutions.
NAP is actively seeking new funding partners to help sustain the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund and grow its impact through youth-led, participatory grantmaking. All ITF funders supporting the 2026 grant round will be invited to join the ITF Funders Committee, where they will have the opportunity to engage with the youth leading the program as well as grantee partners, Tribal leaders and other funding partners.
If you are interested in learning more about the collaborative funding opportunity, please contact Katie Williams, katiewilliams@nativephilanthropy.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the application deadline for the 2026 grant cycle?
The application deadline for the 2026 grant cycle of the Indigenous Tomorrows Fund is July 14th, 2026 at 8pm EST/5pm PST.
Please note that JustFund requires registration prior to completing the grant application. Most accounts are approved within 24-48 hours. You must register prior to the application deadline to be considered.
Are international organizations eligible to apply?
No, at this time we only fund U.S. 501c3 organizations and U.S.-based Tribal Nations.
Can the grant award be used to support general operating costs or salaries?
Yes, the grant awards provide flexible funding which can be used to support general operations and salaries. Proposed use of funds will be considered in the application review process.
Is there a cap on indirect cost rates?
There is no cap on indirect rates, unless there is a fiscal sponsor, in which case indirect rates are capped at 15%. Please note, indirect rates will be considered in evaluating the competitiveness of a proposal and should reflect and be proportional to the work being proposed. For example, a proposal with an indirect rate greater than 25% may not be as competitive as one that is at 25% or less. Feel free to offer information related to your indirect rate needs if you think it would be helpful for application reviewers.
When will awards be announced?
We intend to notify all applicants of an award decision by mid-October 2026.
What is the performance period for the grant award?
The performance period is 12 months, with the full award paid at the beginning of the performance period. We use the performance period for learning and evaluation purposes, and we do not expect proposals to describe work plans that are limited to a 12 month period. However, we do hope to see that organizations are ready to implement the grant award within the performance period.
What are the reporting requirements?
We will check in with grantees at least twice during the performance period, and we will ask that grantees share their relevant goals for their organization with us at the beginning of the performance period. We value learning alongside our grantees, and we hope to establish a learning community with grantees, funders, and the ITF youth advisory committee.
Can I reapply next year?
Yes, all previous applicants and grantees are encouraged to apply. At this time, we do not offer renewals of grant awards, but we will consider applications from prior grant recipients.
Is there an application guide?
We have provided a Request for Proposals that details our grantmaking framework, strategy, and application process.