Financial Benefits and Resources for Native American Communities

The U.S. government provides various financial assistance programs tailored to support Native American communities. These benefits include essential services like job training, education grants, housing assistance and health care support.

Some of the federal assistance includes Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which aids low-income families, and financial assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which offers secondary resources such as general assistance, child support, nonmedical care and disaster relief. Understanding and utilizing these benefits can help Native Americans meet their essential needs and financially thrive within their communities.

Once you've verified your tribal membership, you may be eligible for federal assistance programs that support Native American communities. The primary program is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which provides financial aid to families living on low incomes for essential needs like food, housing and utilities. This program can be especially helpful for Native Americans in low-income households. To access these benefits, apply for TANF through your state or tribal government.

Tribal governments also offer their own versions of TANF, tailored to community needs. For instance, the Navajo Nation provides additional water, energy and school clothing support. At the same time, the Osage Nation assists with utility payments and job training.

Another important program is the 477 Program, which receives federal funding to enhance job opportunities and economic development in Native communities. These funds are used for services such as child care, job training and business loans, all of which aim to foster economic independence.

In addition to federal assistance, the BIA offers a Financial Assistance and Social Services (FASS) program to support Native Americans who may not qualify for TANF or have exceeded the TANF lifetime limit. The program provides direct financial assistance in several areas to enhance welfare. Since these benefits serve as secondary support, you may be required to prove that you have exhausted other forms of assistance.

Below are the five main categories that the BIA’s social services funds cover:

In addition to direct financial aid, Native Americans have access to other benefits and services. These include housing assistance, food programs, health care services, scholarships, utility assistance and business grants.

1. Housing Assistance
2. Food Programs
3. Health Care Services
4. Scholarships
5. Utility Assistance
6. Business Grants

Native American families can access several housing assistance programs designed to provide safe and affordable living conditions.

Several programs provide financial aid to help Native American families access nutritious meals and maintain a healthy diet.

As a Native American, you can access health care assistance provided by the Indian Health Service (IHS). IHS is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that offers various services, including medical care, dental care, mental health services and preventive health programs. These services are delivered through a network of IHS hospitals, clinics and health stations operated by tribes and urban Indian organizations. You can visit an IHS facility or a partner clinic to access these benefits. Enrollment generally requires proof of tribal affiliation and identity, ensuring these essential services are available to those who qualify.

Native Americans are eligible for various financial aid opportunities to pursue higher education, including grants and scholarships. The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) offers grants that cover tuition, fees and other educational expenses, ensuring that Native American students have access to quality higher education. Additionally, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) provide culturally relevant educational opportunities and often offer scholarships, grants and reduced tuition rates to support Native American students.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal program that helps low-income households manage energy costs by providing financial support for utility bills and home energy efficiency improvements. If eligible, Native Americans can access these benefits by applying through your tribal or state energy assistance office. The application process typically requires proof of income and documentation of your energy expenses to determine eligibility.

The Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) offers grants and technical assistance to tribes focused on business development. NABDI funding supports activities like feasibility studies, business planning and market analysis to foster sustainable economic projects. Tribes interested in developing business ventures can apply for these grants through the BIA website by outlining their proposed projects and demonstrating the potential economic impact. You can also explore small business grants available through other sources, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Access to wealth opportunities — such as education, jobs, housing and social status — has been systematically challenging for Native and Indigenous communities in particular. However, there are many ways for Native American communities to create and sustain wealth while building a strong sense of community and pride in Native identity.

Here are some strategies for seizing wealth opportunities, managing finances, protecting assets from scams or fraud and supporting economic growth while preserving cultural traditions in your community.

Families and educators can help the next generation build wealth over time by introducing financial concepts like budgeting, saving and investing early on. Tribal leaders and educators play a key role in this process by incorporating culturally relevant examples and practices into financial education, making these lessons more engaging and relevant to the everyday lives of Native youth.

Restoring and strengthening Native communities often begins with building and preserving assets that can be passed down through generations. Asset-building strategies include increasing homeownership, developing local businesses and preserving land and natural resources.

Small business development creates jobs, stimulates local economies and fosters a sense of pride and ownership within the community. Preserving land and natural resources is equally important in asset-building efforts. Land is a critical financial asset and a vital part of cultural heritage. So are your relationships and your own marketable and life-sustaining skills.

For some tribes, reconnecting with traditional values like honoring natural resources can pave the way to security and wealth. Values such as community support, resource sharing and respect for the land can guide financial decisions, making them more sustainable and reflective of Native identity.

Many tribal governments incorporate their culture and values into their businesses and programs. For example, the Oneida Nation uses specific investment strategies to “bring about corporate awareness and positive change” to its community. The Nation uses modern-day tools and resources to manage its finances and assets while maintaining its belief in sharing wealth within the community. Investing helps the Oneida Nation put its tribal funds to work.

Consider responsible investing (RI), which aligns with traditional values by focusing on social and financial returns. RI, or socially responsible investing, helps create wealth within the community while promoting positive social outcomes.

For those who need to borrow money, be aware of predatory lenders such as payday and title lenders with very high interest rates. Using such sources for borrowing money can set you up for larger debt that you might not be able to repay. You can educate yourself about predatory lenders, such as mortgage scams or unfair student loan practices.

You can also search for resources through the Cooperative Research and Extension Services offices to help you understand finances and manage debt. It is a national extension from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. You can find a cooperative extension at universities. Reach out to your nearest office if you know and trust any educators.

Various advocacy organizations and community groups help connect Native Americans with available resources and share knowledge within their communities to strengthen finances. Below are additional programs and organizations that support Native communities:

• American Indian College Fund: This organization provides scholarships and support to Native American students, helping them achieve their educational goals. The College Fund also supports tribal colleges and universities, promoting higher education and cultural preservation within Native communities.
• First Nations Development Institute: This organization helps Native American communities regain confidence in their cultural heritage and strengthen their financial and community assets. It offers programs focused on building household and community wealth, financial empowerment and managing Native lands.
• Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN): This network focuses on environmental justice and the protection of sacred sites. It promotes sustainable development and climate change awareness in Native American communities and provides educational resources, advocacy and support for Indigenous-led environmental initiatives.
• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI): The oldest and largest national organization representing Native American tribes, the NCAI advocates for policies that promote Native sovereignty and self-determination. The organization also provides resources and support for tribal governance, economic development and cultural preservation.
• NDN Collective: This nonprofit organization supports Native advocacy through activism, grant-making, community organizing and other campaigns to build Native Nations and promote self-determination. Its efforts focus on defending Indigenous rights, developing sustainable solutions and decolonizing philanthropy to support Indigenous-led initiatives.
• Red Willow Center: The Red Willow Center provides a community support group where Indigenous people can share their knowledge, talents and stories through webinars and workshops. It also offers a “Food Systems Matchmaker” program to help with contactless food exchange and a “Living Library” program where interns share what they learn and are ready to pass on to the following interns or the community.

Many Native American communities are successfully building wealth by leveraging their natural resources, cultural heritage and innovative approaches to economic development. These communities are establishing financial independence and resilience by focusing on sustainable practices and creating opportunities that align with their values:

• Cherokee Nation's Cultural Tourism: The Cherokee Nation has leveraged its rich cultural heritage by promoting cultural tourism. By developing museums, cultural centers and events, the Nation attracts visitors, generates revenue and creates employment opportunities while preserving and sharing its cultural legacy.
• Ho-Chunk, Inc., and Ho-Chunk Village: The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska created Ho-Chunk, Inc., to boost economic development on the Reservation. It maintains a solid separation between business and tribal government. The concept of starting small and building talent from within tribal boundaries assures members of working toward financial success.
• Lummi Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank: As Native nations find more success in the stewardship of natural resources, the Lummi Nation advances its work to manage reservation lands. The Lummi created the wetland and habitat mitigation bank to address land issues and generate income while retaining treaty rights to hunt, fish, gather and perform ceremonies in the protected areas.
• Navajo Nation's Renewable Energy Projects: The Navajo Nation focuses on renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind farms, to generate income and create jobs while respecting environmental values. These projects aim to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote sustainable energy solutions on tribal lands.
• Owe’neh Bupingeh: Restoring housing to “contain the breath and sweat of our people,” Ohkay Owingeh re-united the people who had been scattered through governmental housing projects. Through the urging of tribal leaders, the people engaged financial institutions and New Mexico Cultural Affairs Heritage Preservation to restore housing that better reflected traditional living structures.
• Quil Ceda Village: The Tulalip Tribe created Quil Ceda Village to function as a municipality by focusing on the community infrastructure that ensures good roads, adequate water supply and an efficient sewage process. The infrastructure’s success lies in the tribe’s ability to tax economic development to advance tribal environmental and cultural values.
• Tohono O'odham Nation's Desert Diamond Casinos: The Tohono O'odham Nation has developed Desert Diamond Casinos as a key component of its economic strategy. The revenues generated from gaming are reinvested into the community to fund essential services like education, health care and housing, providing a sustainable financial base for future generations.
• Tsigo Bugeh Village: The Ohkay Owingeh citizens shed themselves of the federal government’s restrictive housing policies that did not meet the people's cultural ways. Tsigo Bugeh Village allows the people, once again, to live close to family and friends in homes built with cultural wisdom into modern units. This restoration of traditional ways included decision-making about village resources that meet the needs of the whole village.