Tribal Grantees: Empowering Tribal Communities with Grants Management
Supporting Native American tribes with efficient and effective grants management involves understanding and addressing the unique experiences of tribal grantees. It also requires incorporating cultural sensitivity and honoring their situations throughout the grant management process.
In this article, we’ll examine some of these factors and provide resources in the form of conferences and events you can attend to build your understanding to better empower tribal communities through grant funding.
Tribal Grantee Experiences
Native American tribes are a vital and unique part of the United States population, with distinct cultural and historical contributions. When selecting and applying for grant funding, it’s important to honor, recognize, and address the specific opportunities and needs these tribes have.
Some of the unique and relevant tribal grantee experiences may include:
Sovereignty and Self-Governance. Many tribal governments operate under sovereign status, which can lead to complexities in federal grant requirements and reporting. Developing grant guidelines that respect tribal sovereignty while ensuring compliance with federal regulations should be prioritized. This may be accomplished through technical assistance tailored to tribal governments to navigate grant requirements and best practices for adhering to them.
Capacity or Infrastructure Constraints. Tribal organizations in remote areas may lack the administrative capacity and infrastructure to manage grants efficiently. There may be capacity-building grants available that are designed to enhance administrative capabilities like training in financial management, grant writing, and compliance.
Cultural or Linguistic Barriers. Language barriers and cultural differences can affect communication and understanding of grant requirements and objectives. Culturally competent staff or consultants who understand tribal cultures and languages can be engaged to support tribes by fostering relationships based on mutual respect and trust.
Long-Term Sustainability. Tribes may be particularly sensitive to losing grant funds and should be supported so that grants are contributing to sustainable development within tribal communities beyond the grant period. Working with tribes early on is crucial to ensure that grant proposals include long-term sustainability plans, such as community engagement strategies and partnership building. Many nonprofits often seek tribal partners to support their programs and may provide support for grantee networking and collaboration to share best practices and lessons learned.
Cultural Considerations Remain Important
Native American tribes have a strong sense of culture. These cultural considerations can come into play related to grant management and should be assessed to determine their role with grants and grant management.
Some possible cultural considerations to explore include:
Respect for Tribal Sovereignty and Traditions
Working with sovereign tribes requires acknowledging early on the impact of the sovereignty of those tribes through the grant process. Consult with tribal leaders and elders to ensure grant activities align with the tribe’s unique values and priorities.
Along with the tribe’s sovereignty, recognize the importance of traditional knowledge and practices in project planning and implementation.
Community Involvement and Decision-Making Practices
Tribal communities are often tight knit, making it important to involve as much of the community as possible to support inclusive decision-making practices. Seek and support grant applications that promote community engagement and partnerships.
Furthermore, explore culturally appropriate communication that respects tribal practices. Employing practices that make consultation easier, such as creating a flow chart that includes elders for reviewing reports and monitoring progress and tasks, will help foster efficiency and trust.
Flexibility or Adaptations (When Allowable)
Explore opportunities for adapting programs to fit with tribal values and traditions. Building timelines that honor tribal celebrations, holidays, and calendars will both aid the grants process and show understanding for those aspects of life most important to the tribe’s members.
Understand the mechanisms for tribal processes and report those needs to grantmaking agencies continuously through monthly reporting and ongoing communication.
Continuous Quality Improvement and Learning
Seek feedback from other tribal grantees and partners on grant management practices. Identify specific grant programs designed for tribal grantees and solicit feedback from those programs.
Research and explore peer learning opportunities through conferences, training and technical assistance providers, and university or other partners.
Grant-focused Tribal Conferences: A Quick Resource
Several regular conferences focus on tribal grants and grant management, providing opportunities for tribal governments, partner organizations, consultants, and grant seekers to learn, network, and collaborate.
These conferences provide valuable platforms for tribal leaders, grant managers, and community members to increase their knowledge of grant opportunities, improve grant writing skills, learn about compliance and reporting requirements, and network with peers and funding agencies. They play a crucial role supporting tribal communities in accessing and effectively managing grant funds to address their unique needs and priorities.
Tribal Self-Governance Conference (TSGC): https://www.tribalselfgov.org/event/2024-tsg-conference/
Hosted by the Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (TSGAC), the Tribal Self-Governance Conference focuses on tribal self-governance and includes sessions on federal grant management and funding opportunities.
Focus areas include self-governance, federal grants, funding strategies, and tribal sovereignty.
National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit: https://www.nihb.org/nthc/
The Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit addresses public health issues in tribal communities and includes sessions on grant opportunities, funding sources, and grant management for health-related projects.
Focus areas include public health, health disparities, funding opportunities, and grant writing.
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI): https://www.ncai.org
NCAI's annual convention focuses broadly on policy and advocacy, but the mid-year conference includes sessions specific to grant funding and management for tribal governments and organizations.
Focus areas include policy advocacy, federal grants, economic development, and tribal governance.
National Native American Law Enforcement Association (NNALEA): https://nnalea.org/
The NNALEA conference focuses on law enforcement and public safety issues in Native American communities, including sessions on grants and funding opportunities for tribal law enforcement agencies.
Focus areas include law enforcement, public safety, grants for law enforcement, and community policing.
National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) Annual Convention & Trade Show: https://naihc.net/annual-convention/
NAIHC’s convention includes sessions on housing issues and funding opportunities for tribal housing projects, including discussions on grant programs and grant management.
Focus areas include tribal housing, affordable housing, funding opportunities, and grant writing.
TribalNet Annual Conference & Tradeshow: https://www.tribalnetconference.com
TribalNet features sessions relevant to tribal technology, which often includes discussions on funding opportunities and grant management for IT and infrastructure projects.
Focus areas include tribal technology, IT infrastructure, funding opportunities, and grant strategies.
Photo by Alex Moliski on Unsplash