Grantmaking
ISN offers grants to Native-controlled and led organizations, tribes, and traditional cultural practitioners from Indigenous communities. ISN’s grant program supports capacity-building, restoration, training, research, and policy change to return and maintain traditional stewardship across traditional homelands. Creating sustainable funding sources and investing in Indigenous communities aligns with ISN’s commitment to progressing community health and wellbeing, Indigenous traditions, and cultural values. A long-term goal of ISN is to create and maintain endowments administered by and for the benefit of Indigenous communities.
Empowering Indigenous Futures
Rekindling FIre and Culture Program
Rekindling Fire and Culture Program
Grant Details
With generous support from the Department of Conservation’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity program, the Indigenous Stewardship Network is requesting applications for the Rekindling Fire and Culture Grant Program!! This funding opportunity is intended to support capacity-building for cultural fire or Indigenous-led fire in California. Applications can be submitted for an individual person, Tribe or organization or for a partnership. Applications are due on February 2, 2026.
Please access the full Request for Applications (RFA) at the following link.
Award Amount:
Tribal Governments and Organizations are eligible for awards up to $100,000. Indigenous Individuals are eligible for up to $25,000.
Key Deadlines:
Applications Due:
February 2, 2026
Award Announcements:
March 2026
Eligibility:
Priority will be given to Indigenous communities which includes but is not limited to Tribal governments, Tribally led non-profits, federally unrecognized Tribes, and Indigenous individuals.
Contact:
If you have questions please reach out to our Program Manager Deniss Martinez Cortez at deniss@indigenousstewardship.org
Application Process
Application Requirements
- Application Form and Narrative Statements
- Budget
- Tax-Status Documentation
- Leadership and Staff List
- A copy of your entities’ current NICRA, if using that as your overhead rate.
Selection
Process
Projects will be chosen using the following rubric. Please review the rubric as you put your application together. Reviewers will be ISN Staff and Board Members.
Register for Informational Webinar
We hosted an informational webinar with ISN staff to learn more about this grant opportunity. We shared information about the RFA and answered questions.
This webinar was held December 12, 2025 at 2pm PST.
To view recording you will need to have registered and have Microsoft Teams
Our Approach to Grantmaking
Empowerment through Self-Determination:
Providing grants to Native-controlled and led organizations enables Indigenous communities to conduct their development projects, ensuring that these initiatives align with their cultural values, priorities, and traditional knowledge.
Preservation of Indigenous Stewardship:
The focus on capacity-building, restoration, and training in traditional stewardship methods is crucial for preserving and revitalizing environmentally sustainable practices that have been refined over centuries.
Community Empowerment:
Educational programs designed by and for Indigenous communities foster self-determination and empower these communities to manage their resources and affairs, leading to more robust, more resilient communities.
Knowledge Exchange and Evolution:
Sharing traditional practices and modern insights enables communities to adapt and evolve their stewardship methods, blending ancient wisdom with contemporary understanding to better care for their landscapes.
Local Engagement and Ownership:
Supporting local initiatives to share stories, tools, and resources encourages community engagement and ownership, which is vital for successfully implementing conservation and stewardship practices.
Intergenerational Bonding and Learning:
This approach facilitates intergenerational bonding and learning, ensuring that the wisdom of elders is passed on to the youth, thus maintaining a continuous line of knowledge and stewardship.