Invest Native, a $20 million grantmaking initiative from Wells Fargo to support a more equitable and prosperous future for Native Americans, is accepting letters of interest through May 31. The initiative aims to support work in Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming that falls within Wells Fargo’s philanthropic pillars:

• Housing access and affordability, including counseling and education programs, housing and advocacy, new construction, rehabilitation and renovation, rental housing assistance, and assistance for homeless
• Small business growth, including technical assistance, grants, and debt and equity capital
• Financial health, including financial education and programs including individual development accounts and credit counseling
• Sustainability and climate resilience, including conservation, restoration, and protection work

Invest Native will support Native-led and Native-serving organizations including community development financial institutions (CDFIs), 501(c)(3) nonprofits, Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs), and Native collaboratives including two or more organizations working together to achieve common goals within the identified six-state territory. 

Invest Native is intended to be a two-year effort through the end of 2024, with the grants structured in the following ways:

• Organizations can submit only one grant per year.
• Each grant must focus on one Invest Native philanthropic pillar. If the project meets multiple pillars, choose the one that most closely fits the purpose of the request.
• Two types of one-year grants are offered: capacity, building and planning grants from $25,000-$100,000 and implementation grants of $100,000-$400,000.

Organizations that submit a grant interest form and are invited to submit a full funding application will be notified by June 30. Grant award notifications are planned for Sept. 8, and grant payments will be made in October. Not all organizations that submit a grant interest form will be invited to apply for a full application. Also, not all organizations invited to complete a full application will receive an award. Applicants can preview the grant interest form here.

Invest Native will hold Office Hours on Friday, May 19th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Mountain Time to answer questions in an open forum. 

For more details, watch the informational webinar and read the Invest Native FAQ. Direct additional questions to investnative@wellsfargo.com.

Enterprise’s Native-led and experienced Tribal Nations team is providing thought leadership and strategic guidance, technical assistance and training, peer convening, and program evaluation to support Invest Native’s multi-year effort and foster maximum impact. Enterprise will function as the day-to-day support contacts with Native partners and commit to providing real-time feedback on opportunities and challenges that arise among the Native communities in the six-state footprint.