BIE Professional Development Funding for STEM Educators and Students Grant

BIE Professional Development Funding for STEM Educators and Students Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Native Forward Scholars Fund
Last Updated: December 18, 2025

Summary

The BIE Professional Development Funding for STEM Educators and Students, offered by the Native Forward Scholars Fund, supports training opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) for TCU faculty, staff, and students. This funding assists with costs related to professional development including continuing education, conferences, and certifications. Eligible applicants include educators at BIE-funded or controlled schools, as well as those at institutions with significant Native American populations, fostering increased representation and support for Native scholars.

Overview

Our Story Throughout our 50-year history, Native Forward has empowered over 22,000 students from over 500 Tribes in all 50 states by providing scholarship dollars and support for services for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. Our collective story is woven together from a diverse fabric of cultures, customs, and histories. The exchange of ideas and knowledge enriches our shared experiences from one generation to the next. We are all part of contributing to that story and with each Native perspective and journey, the next chapter will evolve and grow. We believe higher education deepens our transformative impact on every part of society. Knowledge and experience are powerful tools that can advance and preserve our way of life. By learning from the past, we are creating our own brilliant future. For more than 50 years, we have empowered Native leaders through national scholarship funding and student services to share their voices and strengthen their communities. To inspire excellence with impact, we provide: Holistic support services and resources to help Native students access and navigate the higher education of their choice. A strong network of engaged alumni that fosters community and mentorship beyond our organization. Advocacy of greater representation and visibility of Native communities. Trusted stewardship of donor support and scholarship funding to make meaningful differences. Empowering Native scholars and increasing visibility through higher education. BIE Professional Development Funding for STEM Educators and Students Native Forward Scholars Fund, in partnership with the BIE, provides funding specifically for training opportunities in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This is a great opportunity for TCU faculty, staff, and students who are focused in STEM fields to take advantage of this funding. Individuals who are seeking professional development such as continuing education, conferences, training, and certifications can apply for funding to assist with registration, travel, and other related costs. Educators (K-12) at a BIE funded school, a BIE controlled school, a school on a reservation, or a school with a 20% or more Native American population are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be considered for the BIE Professional Development Funding, the applicant must meet the following requirements:Be an enrolled member of a US federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native group OR provide documentation of ancestry to possession of 1/2 degree Indian blood of a federally recognized Tribe.Provide proof of Tribal eligibility through submission of a Tribal Eligibility Certificate OR provide proof of Tribal enrollment via a copy of your Certificate Degree of Indian Blood, Tribal membership card, OR a letter of enrollment/descendancy from your Tribal enrollment office.Be employed at a Bureau funded school, a Bureau controlled school, a school on a reservation, a school with at least 20% Native population, attending a TCU, or attending an accredited-post secondary institution.Exclusive consideration will be given to applicants using training in STEM in an education field.