In early 2023, Wells Fargo launched its $20 million Invest Native initiative to support the advancement of economic opportunities in Native American communities working with Native-led organizations. The initiative aims to address housing, small business, financial health, and sustainability in Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The program is designed as a grantmaking initiative to support a more equitable and prosperous future for Native Americans and, last year, it delivered nearly $11 million to more than 25 Native-led organizations.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center courtyard with snow on the ground

Invest Native begins a new round of funding, with the letter of interest (LOI) phase opening on Monday, April 1, 2024.

Watch Invest Native First-Year Reflections to learn more about this program’s impact in Tribal communities. 

Awards
Capacity building and planning grants are one-year awards of up to $100,000 that support activities intended to improve your organization’s ability to serve your community in one of the four designated pillar areas.

Implementation grants are one-year awards of up to $400,000 that support project and program costs aligned with one of the four designated pillar areas. 

Invest Native Pillars
Projects must align with a focus area that fits within one of Invest Native’s four pillars to be eligible. 

Small business growth: Focus is to primarily support initiatives that accelerate growth opportunities for established small businesses to help them scale. 

Sustainability and climate resiliency: Focus is to support sustainability initiatives that drive an equity-focused transition to a low-carbon economy, with a focus on mitigating climate impacts and facilitating transition opportunities in low- and moderate-income communities. 

Financial health: Focus is to invest in foundational structures and transformative solutions that address systemic inequities, build financial security, and advance wealth and legacy creation among historically marginalized communities. 

Housing affordability and access: Focus is to strive to foster interventions and innovative solutions that increase access to affordable, sustainable, and wealth-generating housing for vulnerable populations and communities. 

How to Apply

Step 1: Review the Notice of Funding Opportunity to assess your eligibility and interest in applying.

Step 2: Watch the series of four informational webinars, review the frequently asked questions, and read the program newsletters to learn more about the letter of interest process. 

Step 3: Attend our virtual drop-in letter of interest office hours. No need for registration. Tuesday, April 9 from 2 - 3:30 p.m. MT and Wednesday, April 24 from 2 - 3:30 p.m. MT

Step 4: Compile and complete your letter of interest, which opens on Monday, April 1, 2024. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. ET on April 24, 2024.

Step 5: After reviewing the LOIs, a select group of applicants will be invited by May 30 to complete a full application, which will be opened from June 3 to June 28.

Timeline and Next Steps

During the review of LOIs, Enterprise may reach out with clarifying questions. Receiving or not receiving outreach during this time is not an indication of success.

Questions?
General questions about the letter of interest may be submitted to investnative@wellsfargo.com. Enterprise highly recommends that LOIs be submitted well in advance of the deadline. 

Technical Assistance
Tribal Nations
Preservation and Production
Racial Equity
Upward Mobility