Native Language Immersion Grant Program

The National Fund for Excellence in American Indian Education (The Fund) grant program is dedicated to improving academic outcomes, including through expanding access to Native Language instruction for students enrolled in BIE schools. To advance this mission, in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), the Fund is excited to announce the availability of $6,500,000 in grant funding for BIE-funded schools. These grants are aimed at enhancing existing language immersion programs or establishing new initiatives that broaden access to Native language instruction and improve academic outcomes. The Fund will award between six to twelve grants to support the expansion of language immersion instruction.

Eligibility:

Any BIE-funded school is eligible to apply for these grants.

Allowable Activities:

Grant funds may be utilized for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to:

  • Development of instructional materials (guides, digital resources, multimedia content).

  • Recruitment and training initiatives for educators.

  • Design and implementation of mentorship programs.

  • Creation of summer learning and after-school opportunities.

Deadline:

All applications must be submitted via email by April 8th, 2025 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered. 

Grantees will be awarded by April 29th, 2025.

To Apply:

Please send your applications to info@nfeaie.org with the required information, project narrative, and budget narrative attached.

Funding Details:

Applications will be evaluated based on their scope and alignment with program objectives, with funding amounts ranging from $500,000 to $1,000,000.

Additional Information and Assistance:

For further information or assistance regarding the application process, please contact our program office at info@nfeai.org. You can also visit our FAQs page.

We also encourage prospective applicants to participate in our upcoming virtual office hours:

  • Tuesday, March 4th from 1-2pm EST

  • Tuesday March 11th from 11-12pm EST

  • Wednesday March 26th 4-5pm EST

Visit our Office Hours page for more information.

Thank you for your commitment to the preservation and promotion of Native languages. The NFEAIE team looks forward to supporting your initiatives through this grant program!