October Funding for Indigenous and Native Communities

October brings a focused set of opportunities for nonprofits and organizations serving Indigenous and Native communities. These grants span watershed restoration, cultural education, youth health, and community development. If you're working in any of these areas, the funders below are already thinking about the communities you serve.

County of Maui East Maui Water Authority: Grant for Watershed Restoration and Community Education Projects

The East Maui Water Authority is funding projects that restore watersheds while centering cultural knowledge and community participation. Eligible work includes care of ʻauwai and loʻi kalo, invasive species control, reforestation, and cross-generational knowledge transfer. The grant also supports streamflow monitoring and related research that benefits the Huelo, Honomanū, Keʻanae, and Nāhiku communities. Up to $150,000 is available. Deadline: October 1. Apply here

Minnesota Humanities Center: Grants for Developing Cultural and Ethnic Studies Materials

The Minnesota Humanities Center is supporting individuals and organizations developing high-quality academic and cultural studies materials for K-12 students from underrepresented communities. Three related opportunities are available this month, all with an October 2 deadline. One program specifically targets communities whose cultures lack a formal writing system and are primarily orally based, including Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Oromo communities. Projects must work with Minnesota school districts or educators who intend to use the materials. These grants are funded through Minnesota's Legacy Amendment arts and cultural heritage fund. Up to $125,000 is available per award. Apply here Apply here Apply here

South Dakota Department of Health Tobacco Control Program: Grant for Youth-Serving Schools and Nonprofits for Tobacco Prevention

This mini-grant program supports schools and community organizations implementing tobacco control education with youth. Funded activities include curriculum implementation, educational campaigns around national tobacco control days, and cultural education on traditional versus commercial tobacco. The program prioritizes evidence-based prevention work that reduces youth tobacco and e-cigarette initiation. Grants of $5,000 are available. Deadline: October 7. Apply here

Community Enterprise Foundation (Bendigo Bank) and Neoen Western Downs Green Power Hub: Grant for Community Nonprofits in Regional Queensland

If your organization operates in the Western Downs region of Queensland, this grant supports charitable and not-for-profit initiatives delivering community benefit in arts and culture, energy efficiency, disaster relief, education, First Nations work, or health and wellbeing. Eligible areas include Dalby, Chinchilla, Kogan, Tara, Miles, and surrounding communities. Deadline: October 9. Apply here

South Dakota Department of Health and The Wellmark Foundation: Grant for Infant Safe Sleep Community Programs in South Dakota

This grant funds community-led, evidence-based projects that promote safe sleep practices and reduce sudden unexpected infant deaths in South Dakota. Projects may include safe sleep education, community outreach campaigns, culturally tailored resources, and initiatives focused on fathers or tribal communities. Priority is given to communities experiencing disproportionate rates of infant mortality. Up to $40,000 is available. Deadline: October 16. Apply here

If you're working toward a funder relationship that isn't on this list yet, let us know. We're always looking at the landscape on behalf of the communities you serve.

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