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 own organizational well-being.
About First People's Fund Rooted Pathways Program
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Opportunity Details
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 own organizational well-being. If selected, organizations will be required to submit an Interim and Final report. Learning Cohort participation is also a feature of this funding program.
By investing in organizational well-being, Rooted Pathways helps ensure that grantee partners have strong, healthy systems in place—ones that can sustain and uplift Native artists, culture bearers, and Indigenous arts, contributing to the growth of the Indigenous Arts Ecology.
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.
If selected, organizations will be required to submit an Interim and Final report. Learning Cohort participation is also a feature of this funding program.
The period for the Grant is August 1, 2025-July 31, 2026
Total Grants Awarded: 9 Native-led arts organizations, businesses, and/or artist collectives
Benefits of First People's Fund Rooted Pathways Program
Grant amount: $55,000
First People's Fund Rooted Pathways Program Requirements
- 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/business/collectives must have existed for a minimum of two years, though formal legal status of the organization may have developed/changed during this time. Two years of activities must be demonstrated
- Lead applicants of 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. jurisdictions
- Leadership of the organization must include an enrolled member of, or provide proof of lineal descendancy from, a U.S. federally-recognized or U.S. state-recognized tribe, or be able to provide proof of ancestry as an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian
- For more information about acceptable documents, please click HERE
Application Date and Process
- Program staff will conduct a technical review of applications for program requirements and eligibility.
- The final number of grants awarded is determined based on total available funding
- Final award decisions are based on review committee recommendations and any relevant funding restrictions
Apply Here
Note that a completed application includes an Application submission in Submittable. Applications sent over email will not be considered.
To see an overview of application guidelines please review the following PDF LINK
Application Deadline
20 June, 2025
Scholarship Application Portal
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First People's Fund Rooted Pathways Program
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