First Nations Development Institute

First Nations Development Institute is a national 43-year-old Native American-led nonprofit organization headquartered in Longmont, Colorado

Over its history, First Nations has educated and supported hundreds of Native communities by providing the training tools, program models and financial resources required for creating, strengthening and retaining community-based Native nonprofit and tribal organizations.

Our core belief is that only solutions provided by Native peoples, for Native people, and defined within their own development strategies and cultural values, will succeed. In harmony with this philosophy, we work with Native communities where we are welcomed and invited - ensuring that our assistance will help projects move forward and be implemented in accordance with Native community values and priorities.

First Nations began its national grantmaking program in 1993. Through mid-year 2023, we have successfully managed 3,052 grants totaling $64.7 million to Native American projects and organizations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territory American Samoa.