2025 Rooted Pathways Grant
Ends on
ROOTED PATHWAYS GRANT GUIDELINES
Rooted Pathways Overview
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 them to define and advance their own organizational well-being.
The Rooted Pathways offers a one-year $55,000 grant to nine Native-led arts organizations, businesses, and/or artist collectives.
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 general operating grant 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.
This funding program is a part of the Wallace Foundation’s two-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.
- 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 be 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.
- 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.
SELECTION 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.
SELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT: Applicants will be notified in July 2025
TO APPLY
Deadline to Apply: June 20, 2025, 6pm MST
A Rooted Pathways complete application includes:
Organization Information
- Legal Name of Organization
- Director/Lead Artist Legal Name
- Phone Number
- Address
- Website
- Social media handles
Budget and History:
Organization Overview (300 words): Provide a brief overview of the organization’s mission and history.
Operating Budget: What is your annual budget (total revenue and expense)? Organizations must have budgets $500,000 and under.
Financial Statements: Upload the applicable financial document for your organization. For example:
- Estimated budget for 2025
- Budget for 2024
- Budgets for last three years (2025, 2024, 2023)
- Only if the average of three years is needed to demonstrate a budget under $500,000
Founding Year: Year the organization formed
Narrative Questions:
- Describe your work and how it serves your community. (150 words)
- Describe your community, and how your organization and leadership reflects your community.(150 words)
- How has your work sought to advance well-being in your community? (150 words)
- What values drive your work and how will these funds advance your work? (150 words)
- Highlight how your organization’s activities will contribute to the broader cultural significance it will have within the field. (150 Words)
TIMELINE
- Application Opens: June 2, 2025, 8am MST
- Application Closes: June 20, 2025, 6pm MST
SELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT: Applicants will be notified in July 2025
QUESTIONS?
Contact Bridget Skenadore, Indigenous Arts Ecology Program Manager, with any questions by calling (720) 263-0728, or via email at: bridget@firstpeoplesfund.org.