National Fund for Excellence in American Indian Education
The National Fund is the Congressionally chartered 501(c)(3) foundation supporting the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and its 183+ schools. Amid a rapidly shifting federal landscape, the National Fund is advancing a bold, Indigenous-centered vision for Native education - maintaining strategic alignment with BIE leadership, Tribal Nations, and federal and foundation partners while seizing key moments to drive sustainable, community-led impact. The National Fund was created by Congress to address a systemic challenge - difficulty in resourcing and innovating a federally operated school system. The National Fund plays an important role in:
- Supporting the BIE in applying for Federal funds (e.g., Dept. of Education and Dept. of Agriculture grants)
- Serving as a 501(c)3 vehicle for transferring funds to the 183 schools, enabling contribution to the government agency
- Gathering other public, private, and philanthropic resources to accelerate progress in supporting the students, families, and communities of BIE funded schools
- Advancing thought-leadership, advocacy, and public-private-partnerships