The First Nations’ Native Farmer Professional Cohort aims to strengthen the farming and land stewardship skills of 12 Native farmers and support them in accessing resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS).
Donor Name: First Nations Development Institute
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Program
Deadline: 07/18/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The focus of the Native Farmer Professional Cohort is to improve soil health, water quality, local food systems, and land stewardship in alignment with Native values. Participants will learn about conservation planning, business planning, Native agricultural traditions, and natural resource management.
The cohort is a 12-month enrichment opportunity designed to support knowledge-sharing and networking among Native farmers. The cohort includes virtual webinars, fieldwork, and three in-person training sessions. Participants must also complete a project evaluation and submit a one-page reflection at the program’s conclusion.
By the end of the 12-month program, participants will:
- Deepen their understanding of traditional land stewardship practices to improve Tribal lands.
- Receive three specialized trainings on conservation and business planning.
- Establish a peer network with Native beginning farmers.
Funding Information
Selected Native farmers will receive a stipend of $10,000.
Grant Period
The cohort will be a 12-month commitment from August 4, 2025, to July 31, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible, applicants must be tribally affiliated, beginning or very beginning farmers based in the United States. Applicants must be involved in stewarding land, animals, and plants, and stewardship activities directly related to building Native food security, building the health of communities and community members, and using their work as a mechanism for entrepreneurship and economic development.
- Eligibility includes, but is not limited to:
- Applicants must be Tribally affiliated with a Native American community
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Applicant must be “Beginning Farmers” with 10 or fewer years of experience.
For more information, visit FNDI.
