In the interest of increasing the presence of minorities that are underrepresented in vital industries, Native American grants are becoming more widely available. This is especially important in the so called “STEM” industries: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Colleges and universities also offer grants for minority students in order to diversify their student populations. However, because grants are traditionally only awarded once per year, students seeking Native American grants should be prepared to put forth considerable effort in the application and awards process.
Native American students searching for educational funding should be certain to know the differences between grants and scholarships. While both are free sources of college money that never needs to be re-paid, there are some key differences. The most significant difference is in how the programs are applied. Scholarships are usually only designed for recent high school grads and under graduate college students. Funds from scholarships must be used for educational purposes and certain obligations must be met prior to and after award. Conversely, grants can be used for a wide range of purposes, and can be obtained by people of any age and in any educational stage.
But despite the differences, grants and scholarships are applied for in the same manner. Students seeking Native American grants should be careful to research thoroughly and be certain that they meet all of the requirements prior to making an application. Duplicate applications should be obtained: one can be used as a “rough draft”, and the second can be a final version. This is important because errors or omissions on grant applications will likely result in a rejection. Students should have the final version of the application reviewed by a good writer or editor before submitting the application and all supporting documentation prior to the grant deadline.
Best sources of Native American grants
The American Indian College Fund is an excellent source for grants, scholarships and work study programs. Students with more than 25% Native American blood may be eligible for thousands of dollars in grant money each year. While a great deal of these funds is distributed to individuals, the AICF also provides millions of dollars in grants to schools and universities nationwide.
Another specialized source for Native American grants is the Bureau of Indian affairs. Upon providing documented proof of ancestry, students may be eligible for thousands of different types of grants and scholarships that are available through the BIA. Some of these grants might have additional requirements, such as minimum GPA, volunteerism, or field of study. Because there are no limitations to the amount of grants a person can receive each academic year, students are encouraged to apply with both the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the American Indian College Fund- among many others.
The federal government provides millions in grants and other forms of educational aid through the United States Department of Education. Students can fill out a FAFSA at more than 4,000 schools nationwide to determine their eligibility for all types of federal aid. Some grants that can be used as Native American grants include the federal Pell grant and the FSEOG, the TEACH grant, and certain academic competitiveness and athletic performance grants. Information provided on the FAFSA will also be used to make determinations of eligibility for similar internal school programs.
Other sources of grants can include the following donors: charitable foundations and organizations, civic groups, private individuals, state and local governments, businesses, corporations, and professional associations. Native American students researching for private grants might find the following organizations very useful:
The Daughters of the American Revolution, the American Indian Graduate Center, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and the private Adolph Van Pelt Foundation.
However, despite the fact that these grants are plentiful, they are not often advertised. Therefore, students should be prepared to conduct their own research for Native American grants.