First Nations Development Institute
First Nations Development Institute is a public charity based in Longmont, Colorado. Its grantmaking program provides financial and technical assistance, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing opportunities to tribes, Native nonprofit organizations, and Native individuals. The organization says it works to uplift and sustain Native communities through advocacy, financial support, and knowledge sharing.
First Nations Development Institute at a glance
In short: First Nations Development Institute gave $14.6M across 279 grants in 2025 (avg $52K), top state New Mexico. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,635,648
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 279
- -7.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $52,458
- +6.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $116,192,648
- +33.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (62 of 201, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (20% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to First Nations Development Institute
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
First Nations does not accept unsolicited requests. Applications are accepted through its Requests for Proposals process. Applicants should consult the relevant RFP for open funding cycles, deadlines, guidelines, and opportunity-specific eligibility. The organization’s filing describes a process requiring documentation of exempt or tribal government status, a proposal budget and narrative, and other relevant information. Applications are reviewed for consistency with program objectives and other factors; grant agreements require programmatic and financial reports.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2432 Main Street 2Nd Fl, Longmont, CO 80501
Phone: (303) 774-7836
Website: https://firstnations.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from First Nations Development Institute
2026 Native Food Sovereignty Grant
First Nations Development Institute
Amount
US $10,000 - US $40,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Advancing Tribal Conservation Easements Grant
First Nations Development Institute
Amount
Up to US $50,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Growing Tribal Economies Through Forest Market Innovations Grant
First Nations Development Institute
Amount
US $200,000 - US $500,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who First Nations Development Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Keres Children's Learning Center ($750K). Together the top 10 received $3.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,771 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,437 grants of 1,771 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
First Nations reports supporting projects and organizations in 46 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and Guam through year-end 2025. In its 2025 grant filings, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New Mexico (20%), California (19%), Alaska (10%), South Dakota (7%), and Washington (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 279 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is First Nations Development Institute open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 62 of 201 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $61K; repeat grants $78K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $60K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.3M (2019) to $14.8M (2024). In 2025 it made 279 grants totaling $14.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Keres Children's Learning Center Cochiti Pueblo, NM | Economic Development | $750,000 |
| Tewa Women United Espanola, NM | Economic Development | $450,000 |
| Changing Woman Initiative Albuquerque, NM | Economic Development | $375,000 |
| Bishop Paiute Tribe Bishop, CA | Economic Development | $200,000 |
| Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Grand Ronde, OR | Economic Development | $200,000 |
| Ka IPU Makani Cultural Heritage Ce Kaunakakai, HI | Economic Development | $200,000 |
| Osage Nation Pawhuska, OK | Economic Development | $200,000 |
| Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe Tokeland, WA | Economic Development | $200,000 |
| Tule River Indian Tribe of the TUL Porterville, CA | Economic Development | $200,000 |
| Makah Cultural and Research Center Neah Bay, WA | Economic Development | $160,000 |
Ready to take the next step with First Nations Development Institute?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $116,192,648 | $56,357,235 | $30,218,527 | $14,635,648 | 279 | $4,045,077 |
| 2024 | $87,283,597 | $36,918,534 | $27,871,276 | $14,790,913 | 300 | $3,429,326 |
| 2023 | $73,818,011 | $23,683,824 | $21,880,286 | $10,784,052 | 350 | $2,306,938 |
| 2022 | $70,635,759 | $42,441,504 | $17,541,975 | $8,681,725 | 406 | $2,027,736 |
| 2021 | $51,116,124 | $31,792,775 | $11,843,779 | $6,604,810 | 436 | $1,433,784 |
| 2020 | $30,207,585 | $15,867,191 | $10,367,454 | $5,129,800 | 202 | $578,532 |
| 2019 | $24,858,044 | $19,625,647 | $7,578,397 | $3,253,664 | 89 | $819,990 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
First Nations’ mission is to uplift and sustain the lifeways and economies of Native communities through advocacy, financial support, and knowledge sharing. Its website describes grant opportunities in six areas: achieving Native financial empowerment; investing in Native youth; strengthening tribal and community institutions; advancing household and community asset-building strategies; nourishing Native foods and health; and stewarding Native lands.
Eligible applicants include federally or state-recognized tribal governments, Native-controlled 501(c)(3) organizations, Native 7871 organizations, and fiscally sponsored Native community organizations. Eligibility can vary by opportunity; applicants generally must serve a rural- or reservation-based community unless an RFP specifies otherwise.
The 2025 grantees illustrate a range of community work. Keres Children’s Learning Center describes its work as cultural and Montessori education with Keres-language immersion and intergenerational support. Changing Woman Initiative says it supports Indigenous communities’ cultural birth and reproductive health, dignity, and justice. Ka Ipu Makani Cultural Heritage Center describes work to encourage cultural and natural resource stewardship and heritage preservation on Molokai. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not descriptions of First Nations’ own programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, First Nations reported 279 grants totaling $14,635,648. Individual awards ranged from $6,000 to $750,000, with a median award of $50,000. The funder reports cumulative grantmaking of more than $110.6 million through year-end 2025.
Among the largest reported 2025 awards were $750,000 to Keres Children’s Learning Center and $450,000 to Tewa Women United, both for economic development. Other reported awards included $375,000 to Changing Woman Initiative and $200,000 each to Bishop Paiute Tribe, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Ka Ipu Makani Cultural Heritage Center, Osage Nation, Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe, and Tule River Indian Tribe; each was listed for economic development.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Benny Shendo Jr. as chair, Marguerite Smith as vice chair, Susan Jenkins as treasurer, and Shyla Sheppard as secretary. It also lists Chandra Hampson, Gelvin Stevenson, Val Seqrest, Jay Calhoun, and Elizabeth Rees as directors, and Michael Roberts as president.
First Nations Development Institute is led by Michael E Roberts, President on every filing since 2019; 7 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael E Roberts
President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$184K (2019) → $301K (2025)
Benny Shendo Jr.
Chair
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Adelzadeh
Snl Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$119K (2025)
Chandra Hampson
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gelvin Stevenson
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Calhoun
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Val Seqrest
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Rees
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thalia Mack
Finance Officer
Finance Officer From Dec' → Finance Officer, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$10K (2021) → $115K (2025)
Catherine Bryan
Communications
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$119K (2023) → $149K (2025)
Jacqueline Francke
COO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$149K (2023) → $180K (2025)
Rebecca Tortes
Ca Tribal Di
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$106K (2023) → $116K (2025)
Vena Briones
Policy Resea
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$106K (2023) → $140K (2025)
Marguerite Smith
Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shyla Grace Sheppard
Secretary
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Jenkins
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Monica Nuvamsa (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Thomas Reed (2021) — Finance Officer
- Former: Tom Reed (2019–2020) — Finance Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $301K, to Michael Roberts (President). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about First Nations Development Institute
How much does First Nations Development Institute give each year?
First Nations Development Institute gave $14.6M across 279 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $14.8M across 300 grants.
What is First Nations Development Institute's typical grant size?
First Nations Development Institute's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $52,458, across 279 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from First Nations Development Institute that year got $61K on average.
Where does First Nations Development Institute give grants?
First Nations Development Institute's top state is New Mexico, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (19%) and Alaska (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Anchorage, AK (9 grants), Albuquerque, NM (8 grants), Zuni, NM (7 grants) and Browning, MT (6 grants).
Does First Nations Development Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 279 grants with a stated purpose on First Nations Development Institute's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Economic Development" (278 grants).
Who are First Nations Development Institute's largest grantees?
First Nations Development Institute's largest 2025 grantees include Keres Children's Learning Center ($750,000), Tewa Women United ($600,000 across 4 grants) and Changing Woman Initiative ($429,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is First Nations Development Institute?
First Nations Development Institute reported $116.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $56.4M.
What does First Nations Development Institute fund?
First Nations’ mission is to uplift and sustain the lifeways and economies of Native communities through advocacy, financial support, and knowledge sharing. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from First Nations Development Institute?
First Nations does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is First Nations Development Institute's EIN?
First Nations Development Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1254491. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does First Nations Development Institute accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in First Nations Development Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). First Nations Development Institute funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/first-nations-development-institute-morg_83691c8a61704563b33dac4fa36ff200
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_541254491_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{First Nations Development Institute funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/first-nations-development-institute-morg_83691c8a61704563b33dac4fa36ff200},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from First Nations Development Institute's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
First Nations Development Institute down — hundreds of funders to go?