Opportunity Overview
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation Native Youth Wellness Grant supports youth wellness and mental health in Indian Country, with a focus on Indigenous youth and families connected to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Nation, and White Earth Nation. Applications are open through September 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM. The controlling RFP does not publish a time zone, so applicants should confirm portal timing directly with the Foundation.
Funding
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation expects approximately $500,000 in total funding. The RFP states that average project funding is expected to be approximately $25,000 to $75,000, with proposal specific minimum and maximum requests reviewed individually.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, and tribal organizations located within the Northwest Minnesota Foundation service area, including the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Red Lake Nation, and White Earth Nation. Applicants must be able to demonstrate applicable tax exempt, nonprofit, or federal tribal status.
Eligible Activities and Cost Controls
Supported work may include cultural and language revitalization, cultural healing and wellness, mental health and suicide prevention awareness, behavioral health resource awareness, peer and family wellness, youth physical, cultural and spiritual wellness, youth leadership and life skills, staff training, program development, salaries, and partnerships among tribal programs, schools, nonprofits, health providers, and youth organizations. Administrative costs are capped at 10 percent.
The RFP identifies direct mental or behavioral health services and programming, one time stand alone events, capital investment projects, political or religious activity, debts and legal fees, fundraising planning, feasibility work, dues, computer license fees, financial audits, construction, and capital campaigns as ineligible. No matching or cost share requirement is stated in the controlling RFP.
Scoring and Submission
Applications are scored on Purpose Statement, Context, Activities and Partnerships, Purposeful Inclusion, and Outcomes and Impact, for a total of 100 points. Non tribal applicants are expected to demonstrate clear collaboration with local tribal programs. Applicants must register in the Northwest Minnesota Foundation grant portal, select Native Youth Wellness 2026, and submit by the published deadline. The Foundation also provides a downloadable application and scoring criteria.
Atlas Fit Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 89/100. This is a strong Minnesota youth wellness opportunity for eligible tribal governments, tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations serving the three named tribal communities.
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The opportunity is centered on cultural wellness, awareness, prevention, youth development, and community partnership rather than clinical care. The RFP expressly excludes direct mental or behavioral health services and programming, capital investment projects, and computer license fees. Atlas therefore does not identify a legitimate role for the Nonagon N9+ device and platform in this funding round. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. Dr. Miltie direct applicant fit is also 0/100 because Dr. Miltie is not an eligible tribal government, tribal organization, or qualifying local nonprofit applicant for this program.
Application Strategy
Confirm organizational eligibility and documentation of tax exempt, nonprofit, or federal tribal status; define a culturally grounded youth wellness project for ages 0 through 24; document local tribal collaboration where applicable; align activities and outcomes to the published scoring criteria; build a compliant budget including the 10 percent administrative cap; and submit through the Northwest Minnesota Foundation grant portal by September 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Program contact: Margret Treuer, Children and Families Senior Program Officer, margret@nwmf.org, 218-759-2057 ext. 5310.
Verified sources: Northwest Minnesota Foundation Grants; Native Youth Wellness Grant RFP; Native Youth Wellness Scoring Criteria.