Rooted Pathways Program Grant

The Rooted Pathways Program, initiated by First Peoples Fund, offers essential support to Native-led arts organizations, fostering their growth and stability. This funding empowers these organizations to thrive in their missions, providing unrestricted operating support and participation in a Learning Cohort. Eligible applicants include Native nonprofits and collectives with budgets under $500,000, and the program aims to uplift artists from U.S. federally recognized tribes. This initiative is part of the Wallace Foundation's broader commitment to enhancing well-being in the arts.

About NAEB
The Native Arts Ecology Building is a powerful tool that enables us to extend our impact beyond individual artists by supporting Native nonprofit organizations, artist collectives, and Native Community Development Financial Institutions (NCDFIs) in their efforts to uplift Native artists within their communities. Our cohort-based grant programs provide nonprofits with resources to identify opportunities for Native artists to thrive and to highlight their value to the broader Native community.
In 2018, we published a report detailing the results of our work with Native Arts Ecology Building Grant grantees, Investing in the Indigenous Arts Ecology.
Rooted Pathways is a program that aims to provide resources and stability to an ecosystem of Native arts and cultural organizations through unrestricted general operating support, empowering organizations to define and advance their organizational well-being. If selected, organizations will be required to submit an Interim and Final report. Participation in the Learning Cohort is also a feature of this funding program.The program is designed to help organizations deepen their alignment with their mission and vision, strengthening their roots, fostering growth, and supporting their journey toward becoming thriving, resilient organizations.
This funding program is a part of the Wallace Foundation’s two- to three-year $36 Million Dollar Advancing Well-Being in the Arts Program.

Eligibility

Native-led arts organizations/ businesses/collectives (Non-profit, For Profit, LLCs, etc.) with budgets under $500,000
Serves US-based artists and culture bearers who are members of a U.S. federally-recognized or U.S. state-recognized tribe, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian
Applicants may not have received Wallace Foundation awards from other participating organizations of Advancing Well-Being in the Arts Initiative. While applying to multiple participating organizations is permitted, recipients may only be awarded one grant through this joint funding initiative
Organizations/businesses/collectives must have existed for a minimum of two years, though the formal legal status of the organization may have developed/changed during this time. Two years of activities must be demonstratedApplicants for a collective must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
Must reside and be based within the 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, and/or U.S. territories and other U.S. jurisdictionsLeadership of the organization must include an enrolled member of, or provide proof of lineal descent from, a U.S. federally-recognized or U.S. state-recognized tribe, or be able to provide proof of ancestry as an Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or First Nations (must be a U.S. Citizen)Applicants may not be enrolled in any academic, degree-conferring program
If you are a previous grantee with First Peoples Fund (FPF), you must have submitted a final report for any previously awarded FPF Grants

Ineligibility

Current grantees are not eligible to apply for this program.