Strengthening Tribal Nations
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.067
- Agency
-
Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 3 $2,348,546 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 14-2100-0-1-999
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education administers the Strengthening Tribal Nations program (CFDA 15.067) to provide financial assistance to federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations supporting Tribal self-determination, government-to-government relationships, protection of Indian families and Indian Country, sound management of trust resources, and education for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The most recent grant award was disbursed on January 1, 2020.
Grant activity under this program is sparse and declining. Only three federal grant awards have been obligated since 2016, with a combined federal commitment of $2.3 million. Awards occurred in 2016, 2017, and 2020; no awards appear in the portfolio for 2021 forward. The funding concentration is absolute: the Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs Central Office accounts for all three awards and the entirety of federal dollars obligated.
The assistance-type mix is predominantly Cooperative Agreements (two awards, 67 percent) with a smaller Project Grant component (one award, 33 percent). Recent awards funded Tribal training initiatives and Tribal Interior Budget Council meetings conducted in cooperation with the National Congress of American Indians. Award magnitudes ranged from $46,221 for a discrete training project to $1.2 million for multi-year cooperative efforts. The largest recent award, a Cooperative Agreement obligating $1,179,226 for Strengthening Tribal Nations activity, was awarded January 1, 2020 and completed January 31, 2026.
The program authorizes project periods of five years or less, with non-competitive continuation applications required annually within the project period. American Indians and Alaska Natives are designated as the ultimate beneficiaries of funded projects. The source material does not surface any grant opportunities currently posted or recently advertised on Grants.gov. Given the absence of awards since 2020 and no active solicitations evident in available data, the program's current funding status and application timeline are unclear.
Objective and description
- Objective
To provide funding to advance nation-to-nation relationships, support Indian families and protect Indian country, support sustainable stewardship of trust resources, and advance Indian education.
- Description
Provides financial assistance to federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations to support Tribal self-determination, strengthen government-to-government relationships, protect Indian families and Indian Country,promote sound management of trust resources, and advance education for American Indian and Alaska Native communities, consistent with applicable federal authorities.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
.
- Beneficiary eligibility
American Indians/Alaska Natives will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the funded projects either directly or indirectly depending upon the nature of the project.
- Uses of assistance
Funds may be used to coordinate Tribal-Federal advisory committee meetings concerning BIA budget formulation and implementation of PL 93-638; develop communication strategies and tools, including websites to share updated information and resources; provide trainings; and conduct historical budget research and trend analysis.
- Use restrictions
Funds shall not be used for the construction of a new building or facility or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building or facility (including site grading and improvement, and architect fees). Funds may not be used for any purposes other than those approved in the grant award documents.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
The project period is limited to 5 years or less. Within the project period, a continuation application must be submitted annually on a noncompetitive basis for each year of support.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Criteria for selection vary and are dependent upon authorizing legislation and/or program-specific guidelines posted with the funding opportunity posed, as appropriate, on www.grants.gov.
- Award procedure
The program posting a funding opportunity to www.grants.gov, as appropriate, adheres to the award review, selection and award procedures described in its authorizing legislation.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Refer to the application guidelines attached to the funding opportunity posed, as appropriate, to www.grants.gov
- Renewals
Agreements may be renewed for additional one-year terms upon written agreement by the parties.
Grant awards
| Award | Recipient | Federal obligations | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strengthening tribal nations | National Congress Of American Indians Fund | $1,179,226 | |
| Tribal training | Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community | $46,221 | |
| Ncai/BIA tribal interior budget council meetings | National Congress Of American Indians Fund | $1,123,099 |
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Congress Of American Indians Fund | $2,302,325 | 98% |
| 2 | Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community | $46,221 | 2% |
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $311,855 |
| FY2023 | $302,372 |
| FY2022 | $108,976 |
| FY2020 | $292,271 |
| FY2019 | $360,170 |
| FY2018 | $425,000 |
| FY2017 | $547,902 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.067?
Assistance Listing 15.067 is Strengthening Tribal Nations, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Strengthening Tribal Nations?
Its CFDA number is 15.067: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.067 awarded?
3 grant awards under 15.067 have obligated $2,348,546 in federal funds to 2 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.067?
The recipients obligated the most under Strengthening Tribal Nations are National Congress Of American Indians Fund ($2,302,325) and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community ($46,221).
How much did 15.067 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.067 obligated $311,855 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
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