The Tribal Funding Registry (TFR), a Native-led platform built for Tribes, Alaska Native organizations, and Indigenous nonprofits, announced rapid early traction and a bold five-year vision to channel at least $1 billion in critical dollars into Indigenous communities across the US.
Since launching in March 2025, TFR has grown to 1275 active users across 262 Tribes and organizations, with over 1,400 live opportunities totaling over $22 billion currently tracked in the platform. A recent user survey found that TFR users submitted 72 grant applications discovered through the Tribal Funding Registry, totaling nearly $9 million. One in four respondents applied to at least one grant they found on the platform.
“Native communities don’t lack innovation — we lack access,” said Onawa L. Haynes, Esq. (Diné/Mescalero Apache), President of the Hozhonigo Institute, theNative-led nonprofit behind TFR. “We built the Registry to replace last-minute, word-of-mouth grant hunting with a modern, Indigenous-centered system. Our long term vision is to create dual visibility so philanthropy understands our needs as clearly as our communities understand how to navigate philanthropy.”
More than a database
To meet rising demand — especially as many communities diversify beyond federal grants — TFR delivers three integrated supports:
- The TFR database with Indigenous-specific curation across government, foundation, and corporate funders.
- Resources & learning, including templates, toolkits, and webinars on foundation and corporate giving.
- Live technical support, with open office hours five times a week for demos, search help, and proposal guidance.
Momentum and what’s next
- Shift to philanthropy: Many users are targeting private and philanthropic funders, helped by TFR’s “updated in the last 30–90 days” view and filtering between private and federal opportunities.
- Upcoming appearance: Onawa will be moderating the “Money on a Mission: Philanthropy’s Evolving Impact on Indian Country” panel at the NAFOA Fall Conference in Portland on September 22 from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. PT; TFR will also host a booth.
- Roadmap: Enhancements to facilitate personalized grant matching and expanded funder profiles powered by 990 insights are underway so users can see typical award sizes, past grantees, and Indigenous-giving history — making alignment and outreach faster and more strategic.
Want access to over $22 billion in grant funding? Signing up is free —Tribal governments, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native Corporations and organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Indigenous nonprofits, small businesses, and individuals across the United States can create an account, explore curated opportunities, and access resources and office hours. It might just be the connection that fuels your next big idea. Sign up for the Tribal Funding Registry here.
About Hozhonigo Institute
Hozhonigo Institute is a Native-led nonprofit advancing Indigenous self-determination by connecting communities to capital, capacity, and culturally competent support. The Institute operates the Tribal Funding Registry to help Tribes and Indigenous organizations unlock sustainable funding.