Native Youth Initiative for Leadership, Empowerment, and Development (I-LEAD)

Eligible applicants are: Federally recognized Indian tribes, as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Incorporated non-federally recognized tribes; Incorporated state-recognized Indian tribes; Consortia of Indian tribes; Incorporated non-profit multi-purpose community-based Indian organizations; Urban Indian Centers; Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and/or non-profit village consortia; Non-profit native organizations in Alaska with village-specific projects; Incorporated non-profit Alaska Native multipurpose, community-based organizations; Non-profit Alaska Native Regional Corporations/Associations in Alaska with village-specific projects; Non-profit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies (Indian Reorganization Act or Traditional Councils) as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Public and non-profit private agencies serving Native Hawaiians; National or regional incorporated non-profit Native American organizations with Native American community-specific objectives; Public and non-profit private agencies serving native peoples from Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Tribal Colleges and Universities, and colleges and universities located in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that serve Native American Pacific Islanders.

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under the funding opportunity announcement. Faith-based organizations are encouraged to review the ACF Policy on Grants to Faith-Based Organizations.

Legal Status of Applicant Entity for documentation is required to support eligibility. Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to submit proof of their non-profit status.

Electronic applications submitted after 11:59 p.m. EST on the due date, as indicated by a dated and time-stamped email will be disqualified from competitive review and from funding under this announcement.

Applications submitted at any time during the open application period, and prior to the due date and time that fail the Grants.gov validation check, will not be received at, or acknowledged.

Paper applications received after 4:30 p.m. EST on the due date will be disqualified from competitive review and from funding under this announcement. Paper applications received from applicants that have not received approval of an exemption from required electronic submission will be disqualified from competitive review and from funding under this announcement.

Assurance of Community Representation on Board of Directors (not applicable to tribes or Native Alaska Villages): Organizations applying for funding must show that a majority of board members are representative of a Native American community to be served. Applicants must submit documentation that identifies each board member by name and indicates his/her affiliation or relationship to at least one of four categories of community representation, which include: (1) members of federally or state-recognized tribes; (2) persons eligible to be a participant in, or beneficiary of, the project to be funded; (3) persons who are recognized by members of the eligible Native American community to be served as having a cultural relationship with that community; or (4) persons considered to be Native American and Native American Pacific Islanders. Applicants that do not include this documentation will be considered non-responsive, and the application will not be considered for competition.