National Indian Youth Leadership Development Project, Inc.

National Indian Youth Leadership Development Project, Inc., operating as National Indian Youth Leadership Project (NIYLP), is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing culturally guided, adventure-based educational programs and mentoring services to at-risk, high-risk, and underserved American Indian youth. Registered to receive federal awards since 2005, NIYLP has established itself as a key provider of youth development services through both federal contracts and grants. The organization's primary offering is the evidence-based "Project Venture" program, which combines outdoor education, adventure-based learning, and leadership skills development to promote positive outcomes for Native American youth.

NIYLP has secured several federal contracts, primarily from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service (IHS), to implement its Project Venture program across various Native American communities. Recent contract awards include a $150,000 purchase order to deliver the program at the Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico, and an $83,333 contract to provide a full Project Venture program for the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility in Pinon, Arizona. The latter was awarded under the Buy Indian set-aside designation. These contracts typically involve youth experiential outdoor education, adventure-based learning, leadership skills development, and other activities designed to support IHS facilities' youth initiatives. NIYLP's contracts with IHS demonstrate its ability to tailor its services to meet the specific needs of different Native American communities and health care facilities.

In terms of federal grants, NIYLP has received substantial funding from various agencies to expand and enhance its youth development programs. A notable award is a $2,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention under the Juvenile Mentoring Program. This grant supports NIYLP in providing mentoring services to over 4,500 youth across 16 sites in 10 states, while also recruiting and training over 1,400 youth peer mentors. Another significant grant of $750,000 from the same agency funds NIYLP's efforts to deliver culturally guided interventions for youth and families affected by opioids on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The organization has also received funding from the Department of Education to implement Project Venture in New Mexico schools. These grants enable NIYLP to address a range of issues including substance abuse prevention, mental health support, and positive youth development through its culturally responsive programs.