If you’re American Indian, 18 or older, live in the seven-county metro area, and haven’t received AIFEP in the last 18 months, you’re eligible to apply for AIFEP for up to $2,500.
Donor Name: Tiwahe Foundation
State: Minnesota
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/15/2023
Size of the Grant: $500 to $2,500
Details:
American Indian Family Empowerment Program (AIFEP) creates pathways for American Indians to reach their goals, on their own terms, through microgrants. They value reciprocity in all of the relationships and they support AIFEP recipients in growing their knowledge, resources, opportunities, and networks to achieve their goals. In kinship, AIFEP recipients share their stories and encourage their communities to pursue their dreams. Together, AIFEP is transformative and impactful, creating change sustained for the future generations.
AIFEP has supported generations of American Indian people — in the skills, resources, cultural strengths that they possess. These gifts allow recipients to contribute to the cultural and social wellbeing of the community. Since its inception, AIFEP has given more than $3.5 million in grants to more than 2,000 individuals in pursuit of professional, educational, and cultural opportunities.
Impact Areas
- Culture and Language
- Learning Native languages (speaking and understanding)
- Developing kinship ties (learning from family, elders and community members)
- Learning traditional and cultural practices
- Education
- Expenses related to college degrees, certificates, vocational training, GED, and/or college entrance exams
- Economic Independence
- Employment, business, entrepreneurial opportunities and home-ownership.
- Health and Wellness
- Expenses related to improving physical and mental health initiatives
- Asset-based learning or business model development related to building a healthy community
- Work in promoting healthy food systems
- Work in promoting traditional tobacco vs. commercial tobacco
- Work in (trauma) healing
Funding Information
Grants range from $500 to $2,500.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicant must be 18 years of age. Adults cannot apply on a minor’s behalf.
- Applicant’s must provide proof of tribal lineage to a member of a federally or state-recognized tribe. This may include, but not limited to a copy of tribal identification, enrollment or lineage documentation.
- Applicant using a parent’s or grandparent’s enrollment documentation must submit documentation verifying relationship between enrolled tribal member & applicant.
- Applicant must reside in the seven-county metropolitan area of Minnesota: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Scott, Ramsey, and Washington Counties.
- Past grant recipients are eligible to apply for funding 3 years after receiving their American Indian Family Empowerment Program grant period.
- Applicants applying under the Education Impact area must include a Financial Needs Statement.
- Budget items should include supporting documents showing purchase estimates.
Ineligibility
AIFEP does NOT fund:
- Disaster relief.
For more information, visit Tiwahe Foundation.
