Native-led_Final_application.docx

Application

Native-led Organizations Tribal Food Sovereignty Grant

Instructions: Read the complete Request for Proposal (RFP) and other associated documents before submitting this application.

Check the SWIFT Supplier Portal for the most recent updates.

Applications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT) on August 4, 2026.

Submit Application, Workplan, and Budget (as Microsoft Word and Excel documents) per the instructions listed in Section 7 and 8 of the RFP. Projects submitted without all three documents may be deemed ineligible.

[Examples and instructions for completing this template are in blue-italicized text in brackets. Fill in every blank and delete all examples and instructions before submitting your application. Submit this application as a word document.] Project information:

Organization type:

☐ Native American Tribal organization ☐ Incorporated non-federally recognized Tribe ☐ Consortia of Indian Tribes ☐ Incorporated non-profit multi-purpose community-based Indian organization ☐ Urban Indian Center ☐ Native Community Development Financial Institution ☐ National or regional incorporated non-profit Native American organizations with Native American community-specific objectives ☐ Tribal College or University

If no, explain:

Project Details

1. Project Summary: Provide a brief summary of the project (limit 50 words):

2. Project Description: Provide a detailed, persuasive narrative outlining the "who, what, when, where, why, and how" of the proposed project. Clearly articulate the problem, specific goals, and approach to the work, to align with the applicant’s priorities (limit 250 words):

3. Organization Characterization:

a. Provide a concise overview of your Tribal center or organization, including how it is well-placed to implement the proposed project:

b. Did you include the “Assurance of community representation” form? ☐ Yes ☐ No If no, why not?:

c. How does your organization work to address geographic isolation or infrastructure related barriers to accessing food?:

4. Food Sovereignty:

a. Describe how this project supports measurable movement towards food sovereignty goals:

b. Describe how this project provides a clear impact on much-needed food sovereignty actions in the community:

5. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions:

a. What GHG emissions reduction goals are supported by the workplan and activities for this project?:

b. How do you anticipate collecting data to support GHG emissions reduction calculations (these calculations will be completed by the MPCA)?:

6. Co-Benefits:

a. What are the co-benefits you anticipate from this project? (see RFP sections 4 and 6 for examples):

b. What is the need for the included co-benefits within the involved community?:

7. Community Engagement:

a. Describe the relationship your organization has with the communities impacted by the project:

b. What are the plans for outreach to be conducted throughout the project, and when sharing results with other persons and organizations?:

8. Project evaluation and assessment:

a. Clearly describe how you will assess the effectiveness of the project. Include any baseline values and anticipated or desired changes:

b. Describe detailed plans for assessment of all project components including co-benefits:

c. Describe steps for data collection and measuring related to project activities and tasks:

Experience and qualifications

1. Has your organization received federal funding in the last 5 years? ☐ Yes ☐ No

0. If yes, what grant program(s) and what year(s):

0. If yes, provide a brief summary of the funding received, how it was used, and the project outcome(s):

0. If yes, please describe procedures used to manage, track, and report on federal funds:

1. Describe your experience related to food sovereignty, in particular the work being proposed in this project. Describe the experience of both your organization and the individuals that will be working on the project:

1. Will anyone outside your organization be responsible for work performed? ☐ Yes ☐ No

2. If yes, provide name of organization(s) and contact information, experience, and qualifications related to the proposed project, and describe the role of the outside organization(s) in the project:

2. List any letters of support from outside organizations. Include the letters as attachments:

Application materials:

[Use the list below to confirm you have all the necessary materials for submitting your application and refer to the instructions listed in Section 8 of the RFP.] |_| Complete application (this document, Attachment A, submit in Microsoft Word) |_| Complete workplan (Attachment B, submit in Microsoft Word) |_| Complete budget (Attachment C, submit in Microsoft Excel) |_| Exhibits C, D, E & H (completely filled out and signed) |_| Attach supporting documents, if applicable (can be submitted in any format):

|_| Letter(s) of support from listed partners, communities, and other parties if applicable |_| Supporting documentation for the budget, if applicable, (e.g., vendor quotes for proposed purchases) |_| Assurance of community representation (this document, Attachment A, below)

Attachment A

Assurance of Community Representation

All applicants must provide assurance that your organization is representative of the Native American communities you serve.

To be considered an eligible applicant, at least two of the following three criteria must be true:

· The service population are members of the Native American Community

· The Executive Director is Native American

· The majority of your board members (51% or more) are Native American The following entities are not exempt from this policy and must meet the assurance requirements:

· A Tribal college or university or a territorial public school or university governed by a board that’s separate from the Tribe or territorial government

· An American Indian tribe applying as a nonprofit organization

Applicants that do not include this assurance in their attachments will be disqualified, and the application will not be considered for competition.

The submission of inaccurate or misleading information may be grounds for disqualification from the grant contract agreement award and may subject me and my organization to suspension or debarment proceedings, as well as other remedies available to the State, by law.

By signing here, I certify that this information is true, correct, and reliable.

Print Name Signature Title Date

EXHIBIT C: PERFORMANCE CAPACITY

INSTRUCTIONS: Please respond to these performance capacity questions as required by Minnesota Statutes 16B.981 Subd. 2 (1) and as part of the response to this Grant Request for Proposal.

1. Describe your history of performing the work that will be funded by the grant or duties similar to those required. Include your organization’s current and past staffing, current and past budget.

Click or tap here to enter text.

2. Have you been awarded a grant from the State of Minnesota in the past 5 years?

☐ No ☐ Yes

3. If “yes”, please provide the details of the award amount, the duties, and the outcomes of your grant.

Click or tap here to enter text.

Print Name Signature Title Date

EXHIBIT D: CERTIFICATION: NOT SUSPENDED OR DEBARRED BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Grant applicant must certify to this condition required under this Grant Request for Proposal INSTRUCTIONS: Sign below to finalize response and submit this document as part of the response to the RFP.

Office of Grants Management (OGM) Policy 08-04: Grant Contract Agreements and Grant Award Notifications requires that agencies must not award a grant to a vendor or grantee that has been suspended or debarred from doing business with the State of Minnesota or with the federal government.

By signing here, I warrant that my organization has not been suspended or debarred from doing business with the State of Minnesota or with the federal government.

I certify that this information is true, correct, and reliable.

The submission of inaccurate or misleading information may be grounds for disqualification from the grant contract agreement award and may subject me and my organization to suspension or debarment proceedings, as well as other remedies available to the State, by law.

Print Name Signature Title Date

EXHIBIT E: EVIDENCE OF GOOD STANDING

INSTRUCTIONS: Potential grantee must certify that the organization has a status of “in good standing” with the Secretary of State as required by Minnesota Statutes 16B.981 Subd. 2 (3) and as part of the response to this Grant Request for Proposal.

1. Is your organization (for-profit or nonprofit) registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State (SOS) and “in good standing”? (Applicants can verify that they are “in good standing” by searching for their business name on the SOS website.)

EXHIBIT H: CERTIFICATION: NO CONVICTION OF FELONY FINANCIAL CRIME BY A PRINCIPAL

Grant applicant must certify to this condition required under this Grant Request for Proposal.

INSTRUCTIONS: Sign below to finalize response and submit this document as part of the response to the RFP. Upload or attach an organizational chart or list of principals that you are certifying for below.

Minnesota Statutes 16B.981 Subd. 2 (6) requires that no current principals of a grantee have been convicted of a felony financial crime in the last 10 years. A principal is defined as a public official, a board member, or staff (paid or volunteer) with the authority to access funds provided by this grant opportunity or to determine how those funds are used.

By signing here, I warrant that no current principal of my organization has been convicted of a felony financial crime in the last 10 years.

I certify that this information is true, correct, and reliable.

The submission of inaccurate or misleading information may be grounds for disqualification from the grant contract agreement award and may subject me and my organization to suspension or debarment proceedings, as well as other remedies available to the State, by law.

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