Native Farmer Professional Cohort Grant

Native Farmer Professional Cohort Grant is a grant from First Nations Development Institute that funds Native American farmers and ranchers to participate in a professional development cohort program designed to strengthen Indigenous agricultural enterprises and food sovereignty.

The program provides $10,000 grants to support participation in cohort learning, peer networking, and technical assistance that helps Native farmers build sustainable and economically resilient agricultural operations. Eligible applicants are Native American farmers and ranchers. First Nations Development Institute has invested in Native communities since 1980 through its national grantmaking program.

Native Farmer Professional Cohort | First Nations Development Institute Native Farmer Professional Cohort July 25, 2025, at 5 pm Mountain Time Since 1980, First Nations Development Institute, a Native-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has worked to strengthen American Indian economies to support healthy Native communities.

First Nations invests in and creates innovative institutions and models that strengthen asset control and support economic development for American Indian people and their communities. Founded in 1980, First Nations began its national grantmaking program in 1993.

Through mid-year 2024, First Nations has successfully managed 3,473 grants totaling $85 million to Native American projects and organizations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territory American Samoa. The Native Farmer Professional Cohort is facilitated in partnership with two First Nations programs, Stewarding Native Lands and Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments.

First Nations’ Stewarding Native Lands program envisions a future where Native stewardship is woven into all lands to nourish vibrant ecosystems and communities. We invest in and center Native peoples in the stewardship of their lands for a generous future.

The Stewarding Native Lands program supports Tribes and Native nonprofits across the program’s strategic initiatives, including Community Pathways, Stewardship, Environmental Sovereignty and Justice, Climate, and Woven Lands.

About Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments 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).

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. The cohort will be a 12-month commitment from August 4, 2025, to July 31, 2026.

Selected Native farmers will receive a stipend of $10,000 over the course of 12 months. Stipends will be sent directly to selected participant in three payments over the cohort period. Stipends are intended to support the participation of selected Native farmers in the cohort activities.

In addition, participants will receive individualized technical assistance to deepen their work and boost farming, ranching, and conservation operations. Travel and other costs for participation in the cohort are covered by First Nations. Download a PDF of this RFP here.

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. Online Application Overview The online application will require applicants to provide their contact information, demographic information, and additional supporting information regarding the applicant’s eligibility.

Eligibility will be determined by supporting documentation, which will require applicants to upload attachments throughout the online submission process. Additionally, applicants will be asked to provide information regarding their experience in stewarding land, animals and plants, as well as a vision for the cohort period through short responses. All applicants will receive confirmation of their application submission via AirTable.

Please check your junk or spam folder should this email not arrive in your inbox. Applicants unable to confirm submission of their application should reach out to Kenaba Hatathlie at ( khatathlie@firstnations. org ) for support.

Application questions and short response In the application, applicants will be asked to respond to two writing prompts. These prompts are designed to yield more insight into the applicant’s experience in agriculture and stewarding land, animals and plants, and to understand the applicant’s vision for the cohort period.

Statement of Community Impact: In 200 words or less, please share about your relationship with the land and how it centers your approach to caring for the soil, water, plants, and animals in your Tribal communities.

Please include in your response: 1) how your engagement in land stewardship and Native food systems aligns with your and your community’s values; 2) how your work supports Native peoples and communities; and 3) how you are deepening connections to traditional knowledge and stewardship.

Vision for Cohort Period: In 200 words or less, please describe your personal and/or professional goals related to stewarding land, animals, and plants to support your Tribal community. Please explain how the Native Farmer Professional Cohort will advance your goals.

Please make sure to address in your response: 1) the goals you hope to achieve during the cohort; 2) your vision for expanding community access to Native food systems and Native land stewardship practices, and 3) goals for aligning your work with your community values and priorities. Description on Land Access: Please describe the farm land you will be focusing your attention on during the cohort year.

Please provide in your response: (1) a description of the land you are working with, including acreage and other details of development; (2) any access agreements you have in place (if applicable); (3) optionally, please upload a photo or aerial map (from Google maps, or likewise) of the land you will be focusing on for the 12-month cohort period. One letter of recommendation: Applicants must submit one letter of recommendation.

The individual should speak about the applicant’s role as a Native farmer and experience working with and supporting the Tribal community. This attachment must be uploaded as a . pdf or Word file.

One high-quality photo of the applicant Biography: Applicants must submit a biography detailing their experiences, achievements, and impact. They may highlight their background in Native food systems and/or land stewardship, formative experiences, major accomplishments, challenges, and contributions to their community.

All applicants must complete the online grant application, including submission of necessary attachments, no later than FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2025, by 5 pm Mountain Time. NOTE THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED FROM JULY 18! Important Note: Please allow enough time to submit a complete application before the deadline.

The online system will shut down automatically at 5 pm Mountain Time on Friday, July 18, 2025, and no data may be entered thereafter. Partial, faxed, emailed, or mailed applications that are not received on time due to user error will not be considered. Any requests for exemptions to the online system must be received no later than two weeks before the deadline, July 3, 2025.

First Nations seeks applicants who: Are committed to participating in the cohort for the 12-month cohort period. Are committed to implementing stewardship initiatives aligned with cultural values. Are interested in developing their management and leadership skills and learning more about traditional land stewardship practices.

The selection for this opportunity is a one-stage competitive process. First Nations will make final selections and notify all participants regarding the status of their application on or before August 4, 2025. Notifications will be emailed using the contact information listed on the application.

If you do not receive an email notification by this date, please contact khatathlie@firstnations. org . All applicants must complete the online application, including submission of necessary attachments, by Friday, July 18, 2025, no later than 5 pm Mountain Time.

Unfortunately, First Nations cannot make any exceptions to the application deadline. Partial applications, incomplete applications due to user error, or faxed/emailed/mailed applications will not be considered unless they have received prior approval from First Nations. First Nations recognizes that some of our most rural and remote applicants may have limited access to high-speed internet and be unable to submit the online application.

Any exceptions to the use of the online application must be made by July 3, 2025. For application assistance email khatathlie@firstnations. org .

Please include your name, this cohort opportunity, and the best phone number to reach you. If you do not have access to email, please call our office at (303) 774-7836 and ask to speak with Kenaba Hatathlie. If you have questions about the cohort, please contact Cetan Christensen, Lead Program Officer, by email at cchristensen@firstnations.

org or by phone at 720-669-4523. If you need assistance submitting your online application, please contact Kenaba Hatathlie at khatathlie@firstnations. org or call our office at (303) 774-7836 and ask to speak with a member of the Stewarding Native Lands program.

Connect with First Nations: First Nations Development Institute First Nations Development Institute First Nations Development Institute 696 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 222