Millions available in native recovery grants
The disparities that Native Americans face become much more visible in times of crisis. The disparity of opportunities, discrimination and lack of access to finance are just some of the obstacles they face, and to be successful requires resilience, strength and endurance.
Recovery fund area grants of up to $ 5.5 million will be made available for long-term recovery of projects led by Indigenous communities in New Mexico as part of a program New Mexico Foundation program announced last week. The New Mexico Foundation will accept eligible project proposals until October 14.
As state and tribal governments prepare to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal recovery and infrastructure funding over the next two to three years, a unique funding opportunity, the Native American Recovery Zone Grant Fund, is available to support Indigenous-led recovery projects. in the following areas: family economic security, health systems, local food systems, opportunities for young people and water resilience. The grant funding is intended to build the capacity of these organizations and connect them as directly as possible to larger funding sources to help these projects achieve their development goals.
The Recovery Fund Zone Grant allows the foundation to leverage its funding and provide deeper support to native-led recovery efforts than it otherwise would have. The money will initially support 12 projects with grants of up to $ 25,000 in the first year, with the first grants due in November. All 12 projects will receive additional funds over the next two years. Funding will also go to Indigenous-led organizations whose work is complementary to the original 12 projects, including a leadership network that will build the capacity of the leaders of these projects.
The New Mexico Foundation has partnered with local, regional, and national partners to create the Native American Recovery Fund Zone Grant to support Indigenous-led recovery projects. The collaborative effort aims to provide up to $ 5.5 million in support of Indigenous-led recovery projects. The grant, which has so far raised about $ 2.5 million of the $ 5.5 million, is administered by the New Mexico Foundation. The organizers include Roanhorse Consulting LLC, Pivot New Mexico, New Mexico earthworks and 501 (c) PA,
Funders will partner and establish new relationships with Native American leaders and tribes to broaden their perspectives and approaches to funding Native communities. Foundations that have donated so far include Albuquerque Community Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, Anchorum St. Vincent, The Aspen Institute, Con Alma Health Foundation, McCune Charitable Foundation, Santa Fe Community Foundation, Native American Advised Fund, Thornburg Foundation , Colorado River Sustainability Campaign. and other donors who have not released their names.
“Despite incredibly difficult conditions for our Native American communities across the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to see resilience and leadership emerge as we work to ‘build back better’ in the years to come.” said JoAnn Melchor, president and CEO of the New Mexico Foundation.
Grant decisions are expected to be announced by October 30, 2021, followed by a possible convocation of the beneficiary at the end of November. For more information on the Native American Recovery Fund Zone Grant application: https://newmexicofoundation.org/native-american-recovery-fund-zone-grant/