Exploring Eligibility: Federal Grants for Native American Tribal Governments and Organizations

Editor’s Note: This blog post was first published in 2016 and updated on May 18, 2020.

There are a variety of federal financial assistance opportunities specifically for American Indians and Alaska Natives. This article, which is part of the Exploring Eligibility blog series, will explain where Grants.gov fits into your search process.

If you are a member of a Native American tribal entity searching for federal grants or benefits, you probably fall into one of these situations in which you are looking for:

1. Federal grants or benefits on behalf of a federally-recognized Native American tribal government.
2. Federal grants or benefits on behalf of a Native American tribal organization that is not a federally-recognized government, or
3. Personal assistance or benefits.

Applicant Resource: NIH Online Course ‘Entrepreneurial Finance for Biomedical Innovators’

“Can I get funding for my business?”

The short answer to this question is usually no, as we have explained in previous posts.

But there are cases where federal grants can be awarded to small businesses. One such case is with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

“These programs allow US-owned and operated small businesses to engage in federal research and development that has a strong potential for commercialization,” explains NIH on the programs’ website. “In Fiscal Year 2018, NIH’s SBIR and STTR programs will invest over 1 billion dollars into health and life science companies that are creating innovative technologies that align with NIH’s mission to improve health and save lives.”

Resource: SBA’s Online Training Course on Financing a Small Business

Entrepreneurs and small business owners often ask us, “Can I get a government grant to support my enterprise?”

Perhaps they have an idea for a new business. Or maybe they are looking for funding to help grow their business.

Awhile back, we published a short video about this topic, but the Small Business Administration has a more in-depth online resource for folks looking to finance a small business.

The free, self-paced online course Financing Options for Small Businesses addresses many of the questions we hear from entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Video: Can I Get a Federal Grant for My Small Business?

We often hear from entrepreneurs and small business owners who are seeking federal grants to support their activities.

The promise of “free money” to launch or grow a business is alluring. But, is there any truth to the idea?

In the following video, we address this question and provide additional tips for entrepreneurs and small business owners looking for government funding.

Exploring Eligibility: Federal Disaster Assistance for Damaged Homes & More

The Exploring Eligibility blog series previously covered the general availability of federal grants for home repairs, among other topics. This follow-up post focuses on grants and other forms of financial assistance associated with federally-declared disaster zones.

Hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, forest fires and other natural disasters can leave deep scars on the communities they impact. Homes and property can be damaged or destroyed. Jobs and businesses can be lost. Lives can be upended.

When a natural disaster strikes and a region is declared a federal disaster zone, the U.S. government can authorize several forms of assistance designed to help impacted communities recover and rebuild.

Grant Writing Basics: Make Sure You Are Eligible before Writing

Welcome to the Grant Writing Basics series, in which we will provide you with tips and advice for writing grant applications on Grants.gov. Our goal is to provide the essential info—the basics to begin building (i.e., writing) on a solid foundation.

The first grant writing tip? Save yourself time by confirming you are eligible to apply for the grant before you begin strategizing or writing the application.

This may seem, well, basic, but we want to avoid assumptions. If you (i.e., the organization you are applying on behalf of) do not meet the specific eligibility requirements, then you cannot receive the grant funds.

Exploring Eligibility: Federal Grants for State and Local Governments

If you’re looking to apply for a federal grant on behalf of a state or local government, you have several paths open to you.

The first and most obvious is the Grants.gov Search feature that allows you to narrow and tailor your query by agency, category, funding instrument type, and – most importantly – by eligibility.

Exploring Eligibility: Can Foreign Nonprofits and NGOs Apply for U.S. Federal Government Grants?

Several weeks ago, we explored the topic of federal grant eligibility for nonprofit organizations. But what if your nonprofit organization is based outside of the United States? Are you eligible to apply for and receive a federal grant?

Yes! Foreign nonprofit entities and nongovernmental organizations (NGO) may apply for federal grants. However, eligibility varies for each grant program, so continue reading to understand this process.

Great! I know the grant I want to apply for. How do I get started?

Exploring Eligibility: ‘Where Do I Find Grants For My Education?’

The ever-increasing cost of higher education understandably has students turning to the federal government for assistance – through loans, grants, and work-study programs.The good news is that there are plenty of programs available for students; however, you won’t find them on Grants.gov. Instead, your go-to resource for information about student funding opportunities is the website of the United States Department of Education, ED.gov.

So you’re telling me that Grants.gov does not offer grants for education?

Grants.gov does, in fact, offer federal government grants for education-related programs. It’s important to understand, however, that these education grants are for organizations, institutions, local governments, and – in some cases – businesses to implement an education-related program. 

Exploring Eligibility: Nonprofit Organizations Seeking Federal Grants

Nonprofit organizations pursue a wide range of important and beneficial missions – both in the United States and internationally. Included in this broad group are charities, schools and universities, environmental protection groups, religious and faith-based organizations, social welfare and advocacy groups, scientific institutions, non-governmental agencies, and many more.

Although 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits are the most well-known, there are over 20 different types of classifications. If you’re interested in learning more on this topic, here are two authoritative sources of information: Charities & Nonprofits and Title 26 Internal Revenue Code, Subtitle A—Income Taxes, Chapter 1—Normal Taxes and Surtaxes, Subchapter F—Exempt Organizations, §501.

Grants for Nonprofits

Many federal grants are available to nonprofit organizations, including those with or without 501(c)(3) classification. In the Grants.gov Search page, we split nonprofits between those that have and do not have 501(c)(3) status because this is a distinction made both by federal awarding agencies and by authorizing legislation for the grant programs.