Grant Making Guidelines

General Support Grants | Mini Grants | Program Criteria

Types of Grants We Provide:

Seventh Generation Fund supports Native communities whose goals and objectives closely match one of our Program Areas. To submit a grant please go to the How to Apply page.:

  • Arts and Cultural Expression
  • Environmental Health & Justice
  • Human Rights
  • Intergenerational Leadership
  • Sacred Earth
  • Sustainable Communities
  • Women’s Leadership
General Support Grants: top ↑

Deadlines for submitting a proposal for these grants:
March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1

$600 - $5,000 per year

  • Assist with establishing an emerging, grassroots Native organization or community
  • Cover general operating costs of an existing Native organization
  • Help a Native community-based organization accomplish its work
  • Facilitate project-specific training, pay for experts/consultants, or provide for other organizational capacity building needs
  • Support group participation in regional workshops, national forums and special conferences to help build new skills to benefit the community

Applications must be postmarked no later than the deadline. We will acknowledge receipt of your proposal You will receive written notification of our decision within 6-8 weeks

Mini Grants top ↑

$50 - $500

There are no deadlines. Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year in the form of a one or two-page letter that includes a proposed budget for the project. These grants do not require 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor.

Program Criteria top ↑

Seventh Generation Fund directs our small grants to Indigenous communities and organizations. Our approach is holistic in nature and Native-centered. The following selection criteria apply to all projects that SGF supports within our seven program areas.

Your proposal must demonstrate how your project meets each of these criteria:

  • The project is focused in the Native community within which it will take place, with its purpose, design and implementation strategy firmly grounded in and originating from the Indigenous peoples/communities it serves.
  • The leadership authority and decision-making activities are clearly vested in the people impacted by the project.
  • The project promotes and enhances the language, culture, traditional institutions, values and way of life of its constituents.
  • The project demonstrates the capacity and intent to become self-reliant and commits to the development of training and technical assistance strategies to increase self-reliance.
  • The project demonstrates the capacity and willingness to carry out its mission in a manner that impacts the largest number of people and broadest segments of their society.
  • The project is willing to incorporate internal training processes within its structure and planning in order to increase the number of skilled people in the community.
  • The project must not promote or perpetuate racism, sexism, oppression nor exploitation of other humans or the natural environment.
Seventh Generation Fund Does Not Fund: top ↑
  • Individuals
  • Non-Indigenous organizations
  • Organizations without 501c3 determination or those without a fiscal manager/sponsor
  • Political campaigns or direct lobbying
  • Scholarships or fellowships
  • Fundraising events
  • Religious organizations, missionary or proselytizing activities
  • Capital improvements