GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES
Cook Native American Ministries Foundation CNAMF provides seed grants and sponsorships to continue the vision of CNAMF founder, Reverend Charles H. Cook. Cook’s passion was to equip Native Americans to serve as leaders in church and society, and his legacy remains today.
GRANT PROGRAM
Cook Native American Ministries Foundation (CNAMF) creates HOPE and OPPORTUNITIES for the next generation of Native American leaders through our grant program.
CNAMF offers funding opportunities nationwide to congregations and non-profit organizations who actively work in Native communities to provide programs and services. The intent is to jumpstart a project, get an idea off the ground or grow a program. CNAMF grants provide seed money for projects that:
-
Cultivate leadership in churches and tribal communities
-
Create sustainable models that lead to positive change
-
Promote effective programs and leaders within church and community
CNAMF considers grants to organizations that present projects and programs in the following priority funding areas:
-
Education
-
Leadership
-
Healthcare
-
Faith-Based Programs
-
Religious Activities
What We Do Not Fund:
-
Capital Campaigns or Capital Items such as buildings, equipment, vehicles
-
Deficit Financing
-
General Operations
-
Grants to Individuals
-
Scholarship Funds
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) that describes your project in 500 words or less. You may write a narrative, tell a story or use outline form. We are interested in your passion for this program/project. Please include the following:
-
Describe your project/program and how it aligns with one of the priority funding areas
-
The amount of funds you are requesting
-
What you anticipate the outcome or impact of the project to be
-
Key project staff, partners, volunteer
-
Project timeline
CNAMF prefers the letters be submitted electronically. We will accept letters sent via US Mail as well. Please do not send photos, brochures, use paper clips, staple or use binding or plastic covers.
Letters of Intent are due: July 31, 2025, 12 midnight AZ MST. Submit electronic LOI to Dina Lopez dlopez@cooknam.org.
Letters of Intent are reviewed by the CNAMF Grant Committee. The committee will select LOIs that best reflect CNAMF’s mission and demonstrate the greatest potential to create opportunities for tribal communities and the next generation of Native American leaders. Those organizations that meet the criteria described above will be invited to submit a full grant proposal.
CNAMF is a faith-based 501©3 that strongly encourages other faith-based and religious organizations to apply to our grant program. CNAMF encourages grant applicants to consider matching gifts and other resource development incentives as part of their activity.
For staff assistance please email dlopez@cooknam.org.
Step by step
GRANTEES - 2025
Girl Scouts AZ Cactus Pine Council
Phoenix, Arizona
Summer STEM camp for girls K-12 on the Navajo Nation.
Friends of the Children-He Sapa
Rapid City, South Dakota
Lakota based mentoring program for children and families.
Friends of the Children
Western Montana
Youth mentoring program for youth on Flathead Reservation.
He Sapa Community Alliance
Rapid City, South Dakota
Akisni Project, community services for houseless relatives
Healing Ribbons
Omaha, Nebraska
Healing through stories, stitches and the sacred. Multi-generational program for woman.
Indian Youth Camp
Hungry Horse, Montana
Faith based youth camp
Kateri Northwest Ministry Institute
Spokane, Washington
Kateri Program leadership and lay minister training and retreat
Keres Children’s Learning Center
Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico
Keres language program for primary and elementary students.
Kingdom Workers
Whiteriver, Arizona
DIY home repair workshops and Empowering Survivors Program
Native American Fatherhood & Families Association
Mesa, Arizona
Transforming Tomorrow's Youth Program
Native American Urban Ministries
Phoenix, Arizona
Living our values everyday, young adult and elder's program.
Native Strength Revolution
Bessemer, Alabama
Yoga training to serve as spiritual wellness leaders in their communities.
Phoenix Indian Center
Phoenix, Arizona
Native youth civic engagement program
St Michael's Indian School
St Michael, Arizona
Leadership program for students and parents
Three Precious Miracles
Sacaton, Arizona
Cultural Connections for youth in treatment centers
United National Indian Tribal Youth-UNITY
Mesa, AZ
Youth advocacy training project.
