Posted on January 9, 2013

Northwest Area Foundation Awards $1 Million to American Indian College Fund

The Northwest Area Foundation has announced a $1 million grant over two years to the American Indian College Fund in support of tribal colleges delivering programs that contribute to vibrant and healthy communities.

The grant to the Tribal College Leaders in Community Innovation Project will be used to provide project funding and resources to five tribal colleges offering programs in the areas of children and families, health and wellness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship, and citizenship. In addition, the fund will use a portion of the grant to develop marketing tools and conduct outreach designed to encourage philanthropic investment in tribal colleges.

Tribal colleges in Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, and Washington are eligible to apply for project funding; applications will be available in mid-January through the American Indian College Fund Web site.

"Tribal colleges play a vital role in their communities," said Northwest Area Foundation president and CEO Kevin Walker. "Not only do they offer higher education anchored in Native American culture, they generate ideas and inspiration for any community seeking practical approaches that will help people build a better future. These awards will spotlight models of success that we hope can be shared and replicated throughout Indian Country and across the nation."