Good Relatives Collaborative Grant

The Good Relatives Collaborative Grant is an unrestricted funding opportunity designed to support Native-led nonprofit organizations serving Native communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native Nations that share the same geography.

Grants will be awarded based on qualification and community review of the work outlined in the Letter of Application. The application process includes two parts: sharing documentation demonstrating your qualification for this grant and a letter of application. Applications will be reviewed and selected by an all–Native American community review panel comprised of individuals from Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

The Good Relatives Collaborative Grant application period opens Monday, March 2, 2026, at 7 AM MST / 8 AM CST and closes Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 5 PM MST / 6 PM CST.

What’s New in 2026

Previous Good Relatives Grant recipients are eligible to apply.

Honoree Amount

Eight honorees will receive a grant of $50,000 and eight additional honorees will receive grants of $100,000. All Good Relative Collaborative Grants are unrestricted.

All grantees (at least one person from each organization) will be required to attend an annual 2-day convening for collaboration and learning.

• Instead of a written final report, all grantees will give a verbal share out of learnings and dreams at the convening.
• More details about the convening date and travel logistics will be shared in the award letter.

• Grant opens Monday, March 2nd at 7 am MT / 8 am CT
• Grant closes on Tuesday, March 31st  at 5 pm PM / 6 pm CT
• Awards will be announced by the summer

This document is for review and preparation purposes only.

Join us for an informational webinar on the 2026 Good Relatives Collaborative Grant on Wednesday March 4 at 11 am MT, 12 pm CT.

You will hear from partners of the Good Relative Collaboratives: Cheryl Kary (Sacred Pipe Resource Center), Alissa Benoist (Four Bands Community Fund), and John Williams (Native American Community Development Institute). They will discuss what it means to embody the spirit of being a “Good Relative”— centering Indigenous values of relationship, reciprocity, responsibility, and community impact in your work. We will also be discussing eligibility requirements, the application process, important deadlines, and more.