Indian Child Welfare Act Title II Grants
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.144
- Agency
-
Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 66 $41,232,089 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Block Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Formula Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 14-2100-0-1-452
- 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 funds Indian Child Welfare Act Title II Grants (CFDA 15.144) to establish and operate child and family welfare services that stabilize American Indian and Alaska Native families, prevent unnecessary family separation, and support tribes and off-reservation Indian organizations in delivering child protection services; the most recent grant award was made October 1, 2024, and a competitive opportunity for off-reservation programs is currently open with a due date of June 16, 2026.
The program has distributed 66 grants totaling $41.2 million in federal obligations since 1998. Recent activity shows variable annual volume—three awards in 2024, ten in 2023, thirteen in 2021, and three in 2022—indicating uneven funding cycles. The portfolio splits evenly between Block Grants and Project Grants (48 percent each), with one Cooperative Agreement and one Formula Grant. Funding flows through multiple BIA offices: the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education leads with 25 awards ($20.3 million), followed by the Central Office (24 awards, $8.3 million) and the Eastern Region (9 awards, $9.6 million); these three funders account for 97 percent of award count.
Recent awards reflect two funding streams. On-reservation block grants to federally recognized tribes range from approximately $107 thousand to $348 thousand and support ongoing tribal child welfare operations. Off-reservation project grants to Indian organizations average $200 thousand to $533 thousand and fund discrete programs: the Minneapolis American Indian Center's tribal liaison work connecting out-of-state tribes to Hennepin County child welfare proceedings; Cook Inlet Tribal Council's family counseling and foster care support expansion in Alaska; Denver Indian Family Resource Center's family preservation and reunification services; and ICWA Law Center legal advocacy with trauma-informed parent mentors.
The current open solicitation (BIA-2026-ICWA, due June 16, 2026) targets tribal organizations that are not federally recognized to establish off-reservation programs addressing family stabilization, foster and adoptive home regulation, counseling and treatment services, family assistance including childcare and respite care, and legal representation in custody proceedings. Applicants must be Indian Organizations as defined under 25 CFR Part 23; federally recognized tribes access recurring funds through the Tribal Priority Allocation budget process rather than competitive solicitation and may renew grants indefinitely upon satisfactory performance, with award amounts determined through tribal budget priorities.
Objective and description
- Objective
To promote the stability and security of American Indian tribes and families by protecting American Indian children and preventing the separation of American Indian families and providing assistance to Indian tribes in the operation of child and fami
- Description
To strengthen the stability and security of American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and families by safeguarding the well‑being of Indian children, preventing unnecessary family separation, and supporting Tribes and Off Reservation Indian Organization in the effective operation of child welfare and child protection services.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments.
- Beneficiary eligibility
American Indian children and families.
- Uses of assistance
Operation and maintenance of counseling facilities, family assistance (homemaker and home counselors), protective day care, and after school care, recreational activities, respite care, employment of professionals to assist tribal courts personnel, education and training, foster care subsidy programs, legal advice and representation, home improvement programs with the primary emphasis of upgrading unsafe home environments, preparation and implementation of child welfare codes, and providing matching shares for other Federal programs.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Grants are made on an annual basis and the funds remain available until expended by the tribe/grantee.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Only applicants who received Indian Child Welfare Act Title II grants in 1994 and who meet the requirements contained in 25 CFR Part 23 will be funded if the program has been prioritized by the individual Indian tribe through participation in the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Tribal Priority Allocation budget formulation process.
- Award procedure
In most instances, awards can be approved at the agency or regional level. The dollar value of the grant depends upon the amount that has been prioritized by the Indian tribe through participation in the Bureau of Indian Affairs budget formulation process.
- Renewals
Grants may be renewed indefinitely upon satisfactory performance by the grantee. The amount of the award may be adjusted as a result of individual tribal priorities established in the budget formulation process.
- Appeals
An unsuccessful applicant may appeal a Bureau of Indian Affairs official's decision under the procedures contained in 25 CFR Part 23, Subpart F "Appeals," and 25 CFR Part 2 "Appeals from Administrative Actions."
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Child Welfare Act Title II Grants - Public Safety | Closed | ||
| FY23 icwa off-reservation grant | Closed | ||
| Grant solicitation icwa off-reservation | Closed |
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 66 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quileute Indian Tribe Of The Quileute Indian Reservation | $8,695,750 | 21% |
| 2 | The Cherokee Boys Club, Inc. | $5,045,636 | 12% |
| 3 | Confederated Tribes Of The Chehalis Reservation | $3,082,579 | 7% |
| 4 | Confederated Tribes Of Warm Springs Reservation Of Oregon | $2,532,082 | 6% |
| 5 | Confederated Tribes Of Colville Reservation | $2,306,957 | 6% |
| 6 | Seneca Nation Of Indians | $2,090,339 | 5% |
| 7 | HOH Indian Tribe | $1,908,742 | 5% |
| 8 | Seminole Tribe Of Florida, Inc. | $1,283,893 | 3% |
| 9 | Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council | $1,251,182 | 3% |
| 10 | Comanche Nation | $1,021,036 | 2% |
10 of 47 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $2,424,018 |
| FY2024 | $3,488,246 |
| FY2023 | $2,152,941 |
| FY2022 | $3,187,783 |
| FY2021 | $3,143,827 |
| FY2020 | $1,617,533 |
| FY2019 | $1,075,681 |
| FY2018 | $706,537 |
| FY2017 | $1,195,198 |
| FY2016 | $704,397 |
| FY2015 | $1,475,931 |
| FY2014 | $1,605,810 |
| FY2013 | $1,520,571 |
Show all 13
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.144?
Assistance Listing 15.144 is Indian Child Welfare Act Title II Grants, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Indian Child Welfare Act Title II Grants?
Its CFDA number is 15.144: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.144 awarded?
66 grant awards under 15.144 have obligated $41,232,089 in federal funds to 47 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.144?
The recipients obligated the most under Indian Child Welfare Act Title II Grants are Quileute Indian Tribe Of The Quileute Indian Reservation ($8,695,750), The Cherokee Boys Club, Inc. ($5,045,636) and Confederated Tribes Of The Chehalis Reservation ($3,082,579).
How much did 15.144 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.144 obligated $2,424,018 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.144?
No opportunity listed under 15.144 is open now. The latest, Indian Child Welfare Act Title II Grants - Public Safety, was posted on March 27, 2026.
On GovTribe
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