The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) 2025 Request for Applications (RFA) supports nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, Tribal governments, and Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) committed to advancing the success of Native farmers and ranchers. Established from the cy pres funds of the Keepseagle v. Vilsack litigation, NAAF was created to fund projects that address systemic challenges in Native agriculture, focusing on business assistance, agricultural education, technical support, and advocacy services. NAAF is currently in its seventh funding cycle, with grants available for 12- or 24-month projects.

A total of $10,000,000 will be distributed through the 2025 funding cycle. Applications will open on March 1, 2025, and close on May 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT. No letters of intent are required. Applications must be submitted electronically through the NAAF online system. Applicants are encouraged to attend informational webinars held throughout March and April for support and clarification. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, educational institutions under Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii), federally and tribally operated schools, certified Native CDFIs, and Tribal governments or their instrumentalities. Fiscal sponsorships are permitted for nonprofits awaiting 501(c)(3) determination. Tribal applicants must provide a limited waiver of sovereign immunity. Projects must serve Native farmers and ranchers within the U.S. or its territories. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Funding amounts and project scopes vary by applicant type. Nonprofits and Tribal governments can request between $100,000 and $250,000 per focus area; educational institutions may request $75,000 to $150,000; CDFIs may request varying amounts but not the full available pool of $5.5 million. A special focus area on Infrastructure and Climate Resilience offers awards from $150,000 to $500,000 across all eligible applicant types. A separate Youth Programming pool of $1 million provides grants ranging from $20,000 to $200,000 to support agriculture engagement for Native youth up to age 18.

Projects should integrate strategies to enhance access to capital, such as business and credit education, technical assistance, or lending programs. NAAF places strong emphasis on outcome-based projects with measurable goals in areas such as food sovereignty, economic development, and intertribal collaboration. Applications will be scored based on access to capital impact, proposed outcomes, demand from the Native farming community, team capacity, evaluation plans, and innovation or replicability.

All funded projects must meet IRS standards for charitable and educational purposes, and indirect costs are capped at 15%. Grantees must comply with reporting requirements, including submitting regular progress reports and attending an in-person or virtual grantee meeting. Cover letters, resumes of key personnel, and detailed budgets with justifications are required for application completeness.

For inquiries, applicants may contact the NAAF Grant Team at grants@NativeAmericanAgricultureFund.org or by phone at 479-445-6226. More details and support documents, including webinar recordings and budget templates, are available at www.NativeAmericanAgricultureFund.org.