The American Indian College Fund (College Fund) and other National Native Scholarship Providers (NNSPs), including AISES, Cobell Scholarship Fund, and Native Forward Scholars Fund, are raising awareness of Orange Shirt Day in solidarity with Native people in Canada, where it is observed on September 30 as a federal holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
A free guide to help Native students seeking a higher education is available from the American Indian College Fund. “Native Pathways: A College-Going Guidebook,” available for download on the College Fund website, offers everything from considerations for choosing a college, an in-depth breakdown of financial aid, how to identify and create a support system, a glossary of terms, and encouragement from elders, faculty, and American Indian College Fund President and CEO, Cheryl Crazy Bull.
Three American Indian College Fund (College Fund) staff, along with partners from tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), were chosen in a competitive process to present two sessions at the upcoming World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) in November 2025. The College Fund’s partnerships with TCUs are a testament to our shared commitment to equity, inclusivity, and impact of tribally led education.
Emily White Hat, J.D. (Sicangu Lakota), Vice President of Programs at the American Indian College Fund, was one of 76 participants in the Leading Tribal Nations Program at Harvard Business School in June.
The American Indian College Fund, with generous funding from the Henry Luce Foundation, published volume 8 of the Tribal College and University Research Journal. This one-of-a-kind publication was first launched in 2016 and supports tribal college and university (TCU) faculty in disseminating their academic work to Indigenous communities and the wider research community.
A “storm” of activity is coming from Washington in the form of funding cuts and executive orders, upending the lives of Native American communities and students; jeopardizing access to the funding, education and opportunity that helped create progress for decades to ensure the success of tribal nations, communities, and people.
The 2024 winning Tribal College Blanket Design, Infinite Prayer, designed by Jenabah Yazzie (Diné), is now available for purchase. Chosen from over 40 submissions, the blanket is the latest addition to Pendleton Woolen Mills’ American Indian College Fund collection. The heritage brand has created wool blankets in partnership with the College Fund for more than 20 years.
It’s never too late to pursue a higher education and it’s never too late for potential Native scholars to apply for funding to make their academic dreams come true through the American Indian College Fund (College Fund). Our application season runs until the funding runs out; however, students who apply by May 31 receive priority.
The American Indian College Fund and Association on American Indian Affairs are partnering to offer $76,000 in scholarships for Native students in 2025–26, including support for Indigenous science and knowledge pathways.
