Tribal Courts (15.029)
Tribal Courts (Assistance Listing 15.029) is run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $20.6 million in 54 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $381,582 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $140,054. Half of the 54 awards fell between $63,526 and $334,060, and they ranged from $5,000 to $4.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$20.6 million
- Grant awards54
- Typical award$140,054
- Awarded in FY 2025$3.2 million
- Size rank1297 of 1824
- Type of assistanceDirect payments for specified use
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $3.0 million in fiscal 2021 to $3.2 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1297th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 93% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 17 states and territories.
What the program funds
To provide funds to Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments to operate a judicial branch of government.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments exercising law enforcement jurisdiction on their reservation.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds may be used for salaries and related expenses of tribal court judges, prosecutors, defenders, clerks of court, probation officers, juvenile officers, and other court personnel.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Deadlines do not apply
Award range and average, in the agency's words
The range is $15,000 to $800,000; average $50,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Program funds can be used by a Tribe to administer court services directly to their community.Fiscal Year2026: Program funds can be used by a Tribe to administer court services directly to their community.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Tribal Courts (15.029) awarded$20.6 million across 54 grant awards, an average of $381,582 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native Justice Center, Inc | Alaska | 1 | $4.0 million |
| Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians | North Carolina | 1 | $4.0 million |
| Penobscot Indian Nation | Maine | 3 | $2.5 million |
| Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians | Mississippi | 1 | $1.6 million |
| Indian Township Tribal Government | Maine | 2 | $879,338 |
| Pascua Yaqui Tribe | Arizona | 3 | $839,130 |
| County of Navajo | Arizona | 1 | $753,474 |
| Bay Mills Indian Community | Michigan | 2 | $682,547 |
| Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma | Oklahoma | 2 | $621,951 |
| County of Lyon | Nevada | 1 | $534,255 |
| Kasigluk Traditional Elders Council | Alaska | 1 | $399,476 |
| Passamaquoddy Tribe | Maine | 1 | $355,031 |
| Navajo Nation Tribal Government | Arizona | 3 | $326,305 |
| Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana | Louisiana | 3 | $284,547 |
| Dry Creek Rancheria | California | 2 | $256,154 |
| Colorado River Indian Tribes | Arizona | 1 | $255,314 |
| Alaska Native Women's Resource Center | Alaska | 1 | $250,000 |
| Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians | California | 1 | $248,439 |
| Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak | Alaska | 1 | $227,412 |
| Yurok Tribe | California | 1 | $199,900 |
Who usually wins
Tribal governments and organizations received 71% of the money, nonprofits 21% and state and local governments 7.2%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribal governments and organizations | 44 | $14.7 million | 71% |
| Nonprofits | 4 | $4.4 million | 21% |
| State and local governments | 6 | $1.5 million | 7.2% |
By state
5 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Alaska, North Carolina, Maine, Arizona and Mississippi.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 5 | $4.9 million |
| North Carolina | 1 | $4.0 million |
| Maine | 8 | $3.8 million |
| Arizona | 10 | $2.2 million |
| Mississippi | 1 | $1.6 million |
| California | 5 | $827,740 |
| Michigan | 4 | $815,851 |
| Nevada | 4 | $663,305 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | $587,094 |
| Louisiana | 3 | $284,547 |
| New York | 2 | $270,978 |
| Colorado | 2 | $243,420 |
| Oregon | 1 | $141,925 |
| New Mexico | 2 | $132,639 |
| Washington | 1 | $77,926 |
| Virginia | 1 | $44,890 |
| Connecticut | 1 | $5,000 |