AI3 Action Institute - Artificial Intelligence for American Indians

Administration for Children and Families - ANA Nonprofit eligible

Here's an active community funding opportunity from Administration for Children and Families - ANA, open to nonprofits and other eligible applicants, with applications due Aug 27, 2026. It provides awards up to $2.5M–$3.5M.

View & apply on Grants.gov

Deadline

Aug 27, 2026

Award amount

Up to $2.5M–$3.5M

Expected awards

Posted

Jul 30, 2026

Opportunity number

HHS-2026-ACF-ANA-NAI-0035

CFDA

93.612

Opportunity description

The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) anticipates announcing the availability of funds and requesting applications for the AI3 Action Institute – Artificial Intelligence for American Indians. The successful applicant will establish the AI3 Action Institute, which will monitor the pace of AI change, identify responsible and practical opportunities to apply this technology to socioeconomic domains in Native communities, and support its thoughtful integration across Indian Country. Consistent with the Administration for Children and Families" (ACF) mission to strengthen families and promote work as the pathway to self-sufficiency, the Institute will leverage AI applications to accelerate economic development, workforce participation, community governance, and efficient service delivery. The primary goals are to (1) reduce the immense learning curve on behalf of hundreds of Native communities; (2) establish a bird"s-eye view to identify opportunities aligned with Tribal priorities and local leadership; (3) optimize deployment of this technology; (4) establish a knowledge manager to accumulate lessons learned and develop expertise and intuition; and (5) strengthen Tribal governance, while maximizing community capacity. Through this approach, the AI3 Action Institute will help ensure AI investments advance strong economies, strong families, and resilient Native communities.

Who can apply

Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)

These types of organizations may apply based on 42 U.S.C. 2991b:Federally recognized Indian tribes, as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).Incorporated non-federally recognized tribes.Incorporated state-recognized Indian tribes.Consortia of Indian tribes.Incorporated, nonprofit multipurpose, community-based Indian organizations (including Urban Indian Organizations as defined by 25 U.S.C. 1603(29)).Urban Indian Centers.Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs).Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and/or nonprofit village consortia.Nonprofit Native organizations in Alaska with village-specific projects.Incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multipurpose, community-based organizations.Nonprofit Alaska Native Regional Corporations/Associations in Alaska with village-specific projects.Nonprofit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies (Indian Reorganization Act or Traditional Councils) as recognized by the BIA.Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native Hawaiians.National or regional incorporated nonprofit Native American organizations with Native American community-specific objectives.Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native peoples from Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.Tribal Colleges and Universities, and colleges and universities located in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that serve Native American Pacific Islanders. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible for awards under this funding opportunity.

Funding

Award floor

$2.5M

Award ceiling

$3.5M

Agency contact

Administration for Children and Families - ANA

Carmelia Strickland carmelia.strickland@acf.hhs.gov

carmelia.strickland@acf.hhs.gov

Submitting your application

To apply, head to the official Grants.gov listing — that is where registration and submission happen. Always re-check the closing date there, as agencies can revise it.

Official Grants.gov listing

Grant details are pulled from the public-domain Grants.gov feed and are offered for general information. VolunteerBadge is independent of Grants.gov and all federal agencies; the official listing is always the authoritative source.