COLLECTIVE ABUNDANCE FUND
COLLECTIVE ABUNDANCE FUND
COLLECTIVE ABUNDANCE FUND
The Collective Abundance Fund is available to Indigenous individuals and families in the tri-state region of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota with grants of $25,000 or $50,000 to support their dreams and aspirations of rebuilding Indigenous wealth.
APPLICATION PORTAL
Opens March 1, 2024 and Applications due on April 24, 2024 @ 5pm US CST.
Registration is now closed.
Final Selections are expected to be made in July 2024.
Collective Abundance Grant is expected to start August 15, 2024.
"Indigenous wealth is a quality of life and mindset that encircles family and community well-being and the care of relationships (self, family, extended family, community, land, environment), and a spirit of generosity. Money is a tool to support basic needs and bring financial security and self-determination so that one can live a “good life,” abundant in social and cultural sharing."
- NDN Collective Abundance Fund
GRANT PURPOSE & INTENTION
The NDN Collective Abundance Fund provides wealth building grants to Indigenous people who reside within the tri-state region of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The program supports the re-building of generational wealth, while beginning to address the wealth gap among Indigenous individuals and families. This is just one action that supports the advancement of our work to Defend, Develop, and Decolonize. This grant is an opportunity to advance the dismantling of colonial thinking that created exploitative and extractive economic systems that have negatively impacted our People and communities. This work is centered around a redefinition of wealth from our Indigenous perspective, rather than the western definition of wealth that is rooted in capitalism which promotes the accumulation of money and material possessions often without regard to the protection of people and Mother Earth. The NDN Collective Abundance Fund embraces the following definition of wealth:
“Indigenous wealth is a quality of life and mindset that encircles family and community well-being and the care of relationships (self, family, extended family, community, land, environment), and a spirit of generosity. Money is a tool to support basic needs and bring financial security and self-determination so that one can live a “good life,” abundant in social and cultural sharing.”
Grant Type
Awarded Grantees will receive grant awards of $25,000 or $50,000 to invest in and support their self-determined wealth-building activities that create long-term, transformative change. NDN Collective’s principles and strategies to Defend, Develop & Decolonize inspire all Collective work, therefore wealth-building plans must reflect sustainable, generational, regenerative values. Grant term start dates for selected grantees are scheduled to begin August 15, 2024.
Awarded Grantees will receive an initial 95% of their cash award at the start of their grant. Upon receipt of an approved final report, including documentation of expenses in alignment with the grantee’s wealth-building plan, release of the remaining 5% will be issued to the grant recipient.
NDN is making Collective Abundance Fund awards for the charitable purpose of building family and generational wealth from an Indigenous perspective and to begin to address the wealth gap among Native families. NDN is under no obligation to make any award, and it will receive no services in return for making any award.
NDN intends for the Collective Abundance Fund awards to be a gift. A payment intended to be a gift is generally not taxable to the individual receiving it, but that is not always the case. NDN cannot advise any recipient on their tax liability with respect to their award, nor can it advise on whether an award will impact a recipient’s eligibility for benefit programs. We encourage applicants to seek full understanding of potential impacts of a cash award for their individual and family households. This includes understanding and assessing the potential impact of receiving a grant on their current and future eligibility of public county or tribal assistance programs and services individuals and families may receive. In addition, grantees are strongly encouraged to consult with their tax advisors.
Self Determined Wealth Building Plans
This grant will support a one year (12 month) plan for achieving wealth-building goal(s), including the following goals and grant activities:
- Homeownership or Household Stability - down payment, home repair, home rehabilitation, home addition, multi-generational housing development.
- Education or Skill Building - tuition, fees, books, supplies.
- Financial Planning - financial courses, training, financial management/advice.
- Business Development - capital investments, equipment, supplies.
- Food Security - sustainable family food systems, such as gardens and greenhouses, land purchase, infrastructure investments, livestock, food processing/production equipment and supplies, hunting/fishing.
- Cultural Traditions: Language, Cultural Knowledge, Healing Practices, Art, cultural mentors, apprenticeships, supplies, equipment.
- Reliable Livelihood: Reliable childcare, transportation, technology, or debt relief may be considered that support a reliable livelihood and lead to a wealth building goal, like homeownership, education, business.
The Collective Abundance Fund will NOT support the following
- Activities that are extractive in nature or that may cause harm to people or Mother Earth will not be supported (for example: non-regenerative practices in farming or ranching)
- Activities in response to emergencies or crises.
- Activities supporting luxury, recreational, or ongoing expenses (rent, utilities).
- Applicants and activities outside of the tri-state area of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.
- Note: For educational goals and attending school/training outside of the tri-state area, you must provide current written documentation that reflects your primary residence of MN, ND, or SD.
- Awarded grantees may not reapply in following years. Applicants who are not awarded a grant may reapply in subsequent years.
ELIGIBILITY
We invite Indigenous individuals and families who reside within the tri-state area of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota to imagine opportunity and envision a collective regenerative economy where all people live well, balanced, and healthy. We believe that by directly supporting Indigenous individuals and families, we are also investing in their communities, societies, economies, and the collective movement.
Applicants must be Indigenous to the United States, Mexico, Canada, Borikén/Puerto Rico and the U.S. “Territories”: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
If you are currently an NDN Collective
- Employee
- Member of Board of Directors
- Contractor/Consultant
- Advisory Board/Committee Member
- Immediate blood, adopted family or spouses/domestic partner of an NDN Collective employee or Board of Directors. This includes parents, children, and siblings
you are Not Eligible to Apply for any NDN grant program that is directed to an individual, including: Collective Abundance Fund, Radical Imagination, or Changemaker Fellowship.
GRANT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Application is a two-step process. Registration and Application Opens March 1, 2024. Registration MUST be completed prior to the Initial application. Incomplete or late applications will NOT be considered. Plan accordingly!
- REGISTRATION
Registration ends at 3 p.m. US Central Standard Time/2 p.m. US Mountain Time on Wednesday April 17, 2024. You must register in order to receive log-in credentials to complete the grant application. Be sure to complete registration well in advance of the registration deadline to ensure a timely submission. If you’ve registered in the past for any NDN grant opportunity, you still need to register for this grant opportunity. Please allow for up to 2-3 business days to receive login credentials. Please check your email and spam or junk folders for your login credentials before inquiring further.
2. APPLICATION
The Grant Application process is open and grant applications are being received until Wednesday April 24, 2024, 5 p.m. Central Standard Time/4 p.m. US Mountain Time. It is best to begin working on your application well before the deadline to accommodate for any unforeseen circumstances, and to give yourself enough time to complete all required sections and upload any supporting documents. Technical support cannot be ensured after 12 p.m. US Central Time /11 a.m. Mountain Time on April 24, 2024.
TOOLS TO BUILD A GOOD APPLICATION
Grant Selection Priorities
Applications will be reviewed May - June, 2024.
Final grant selections are expected to be made in July 2024. The official start of the 12-month grant program is expected to be August 15, 2024 with required grantee orientation. Payments are expected to be disbursed late August, 2024.
Selection criteria are based on the following grant application and selection priorities.
Wealth-Building Plan, Activities, & Resource Planning
Wealth-building plans must describe:
- How it supports your wealth-building goal(s) and aligns with the Indigenous wealth definition.
- How it will lead to transformative change in your family’s quality of life and mindset.
- How it is sustainable and leads to generational transfer (has lasting impact that extends beyond the present and immediate needs).
- How it aligns with regenerative principles (renews, restores, revives, and is not harmful to people or Mother Earth).
Wealth-building activities must:
- Be ready to implement (reflect preparedness and thoughtful planning).
- Demonstrate viability (realistic and do-able within a 12 month period).
- Reflect the spirit of reciprocity and being a good relative. Applicants are expected to create safe spaces and protocols of engagement that consider the health and wellbeing of others, including the prevention/protection of participants from the harms of physical/sexual abuse or exploitation, adhere to COVID19 safety protocols and ensure their wealth building activities support community harmony and safety.
- Costs must be allowable and reasonable.
Resource planning must describe:
- How the resources will support building resilience and power for the family.
- A commitment to wellness, healing, and the “good life”.
- A timeline and estimated costs through the completion of a Spending Plan.
- Leveraged personal (skills, labor) and community resources (mortgage or business loan partners, education acceptance letter, tribal land lease).
- Any partners or collaborators.
- Strategies for success and how challenges will be addressed (“back-up plan”).
Additional areas considered during review of grant applications.
- Household income, family size, and current family conditions.
- Letters of Support must reflect the applicant's reputation, connection to community, belief in their wealth building plan, and commitment to wellness.
Note: Reputation reflects the integrity of our actions and our responsibility for our family and community relationships. As part of its review process, NDN Collective reserves the right to collect additional background information about applicants who may be invited as a grantee. This may include a check of public records and a formal or informal check of references within your community.
The Collective Abundance Fund will NOT support the following:
- Activities that are extractive in nature or that may cause harm to people or mother earth will not be supported.
- Activities in response to emergencies or crises.
- Activities supporting luxury, recreational, or ongoing expenses (rent, utilities).
- Applicants and activities outside of the tri-state area of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.
Note: For educational goals and attending school/training outside of the tri-state area, you must provide current written documentation that reflects your primary residence of MN, ND, or SD.
- Applicants who are not awarded a grant may reapply in subsequent years. Awarded grantees may not reapply in following years.
Helpful Hints
- Use a computer or laptop to complete registration, log-in, and/or complete your Application.
- Chrome browser works best with the grant application online system.
- Plan to Register and complete log-in credentials well before the Registration deadline of Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 3 p.m. US Central Standard Time/2 p.m. US Mountain Time.
- This is a two-step process – Registration and Application.
- After you register it can take up to 3-5 business days to receive your username and password; please make sure to check your spam folder if you do not see the email in your inbox.
- Once you’ve registered or logged in, you will receive information via email on how to access your portal and complete the application forms.
- The grant deadline is Wednesday April 24, 2024, 5 p.m. Central Standard Time/4 p.m. US Mountain Time.
- NDN cannot make any exceptions to the Registration or Grant Application Deadlines. This includes incomplete applications, application mistakes due to user error, or faxed/emailed or mailed applications.
Checklist (application steps)
- Registration
- Completed Application including REQUIRED attachments:
- Income Verification
- 3 Letters of Support
- Spending Plan
- Navigator signed agreement (if applicable)
Videos (Instructions)
Navigator Hubs and Navigators
Individual support and technical assistance with the application process will be available through Navigator Hubs across the tri-state region.
Additionally, applicants may seek support from an individual Navigator – a relative or other trusted community advisor to assist in navigating the application process, including logging into the application portal on behalf of the applicant. Applicants should select trusted navigators due to confidentiality and personal information shared in the application. If utilizing an Individual Navigator, applicants must complete, sign and upload a signed Navigator Agreement Form.
For more information on the role of a Navigator, see the Webinar – Part 3: Navigator Support.
For More Information
Questions and technical support: grantsinfo@ndncollective.org
Sharon Pazi Zea, Minnesota Program Officer: sharon@ndncollective.org
Note: This position is currently open and accepting applications. Sharon will continue to work with 2023 grantees as their program officer until the end of the grant period.
Star Means, South Dakota Program Officer: star@ndncollective.org
Frances McKay, North Dakota Program Officer: frances@ndncollective.org
Sharon Pazi Zea, Program Manager: sharon@ndncollective.org
NDN Office: (605) 791-3999
2024 COLLECTIVE ABUNDANCE FUND SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT
The purpose of the Social Media Toolkit is to provide a step-by-step guide on how to promote awareness of the Collective Abundance Fund on social media for your organization, business, or person use.
By sharing on social media, you are spreading awareness to your relatives and community on how they can apply to build their wealth and a better future.
REBUILDING INDIGENOUS WEALTH
Changing the Narrative
The Collective Abundance Fund is designed by and for the people, including the very definition of Indigenous wealth. To learn more about this unprecedented approach to Indigenous wealth building, including the community engagement and subsequent planning and design of the Collective Abundance Fund, read the Community Voices on the Collective Abundance Fund report here.
GRANTEE PARTNERS YEAR ONE
- 1,935 Registrations & 864 Fully Submitted Applications
- 200 Inaugural Grantees
- 116 awarded at $50,000 & 84 at $25,000
- 53 grantees in Minnesota, 19 North Dakota, & 128 South Dakota