- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
The Return to the Heart Foundation has announced the launch of the Our Sisters Are Sacred Grant Fund, an initiative supporting efforts to combat the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit Peoples (MMIW/G2S).
This grant opportunity, open to Native women-led organizations and programs across the U.S., will offer one-year grants ranging from $20,000 to $30,000. The funding aims to directly support those addressing the health, safety, and wellbeing of Native communities most impacted by MMIW/G2S.
Applicants selected for the Our Sisters Are Sacred grant will have the opportunity to name a Native woman connected to their project as part of their funding recognition. This feature is meant to raise awareness by honoring the memory of an individual, putting a personal face to the struggle and calling attention to the stories behind the crisis.
To qualify, projects must be led by Native women or Two-Spirit individuals who are members of federally recognized tribes. Eligible programs must operate under a 501(c)(3) status or be fiscally sponsored, and applicants need to be over 18 years of age and reside in the United States.
Each project should specifically target Indigenous communities, focusing on both tribal and urban areas where Native populations reside.
In evaluating applications, Return to the Heart Foundation will prioritize initiatives that demonstrate a solid commitment to supporting the health and safety of Native women and girls, show a clear potential to make a meaningful impact in the community, and address urgent needs in areas with high rates of MMIW/G2S cases.
Each project will be assessed on its alignment with Native cultural values and the achievability of its goals within the grant's one-year funding term.
Applications for the Our Sisters Are Sacred grant are due by December 1, 2024, at 9 p.m. PST. Award announcements will follow in late December, with funds disbursed in January 2025.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Seattle Seahawks Tackle Preservation Projects at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center for Annual Day of Service
Native News Weekly (June 15, 2025): D.C. Briefs
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
