Federal grant programs / Department of Health and Human Services

Promote the Survival and Continuing Vitality of Native American Languages (93.587)

Also known as Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance (P&M) and the Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$62.6 million
• Grant awards285
• Typical award$82,609
• Awarded in FY 2025$0
• Size rank960 of 1824
• Type of assistanceProject grants

Key findings

• It is the 960th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 30% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 35 states and territories.

What the program funds

This program supports preservation and survival of Native American languages. The Preservation and Maintenance opportunity provides funding for projects designed to ensure continuing vitality of Native American languages. This opportunity allows for a broad array of Native language-related projects including establishing a language program, improving an existing program, and developing language instruction and activities. The Esther Martinez Immersion opportunity provides funding for community-based projects that ensure continuing vitality of Native languages through immersion-based instruction. EMI projects must meet the requirements for either a Native American language nest or a Native American language survival school, both of which are immersive, site-based educational programs for children in accordance with 42 USC 2991b-3(c)(7) ANA supports locally determined projects that achieve community goals through specific, measurable outcomes. In an effort to perpetuate language preservation efforts for Native communities, if appropriate, all ANA funded language projects should identify opportunities for the replication or modification of such project for use by other Native Americans; and include a plan for the preservation of the products of the Native American language project for the benefit of future generations of Native Americans and other interested persons. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) was established to create Emergency Grants for Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance and issue awards to entities eligible to receive assistance under subsection (a) (1) to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages during and after the public health emergency declared by the Secretary with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

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

Per 45 CFR 1336.33(a)(1): Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Incorporated non-federally recognized Tribes; Incorporated state-recognized Indian Tribes; Consortia of Indian Tribes; Incorporated nonprofit multi-purpose community-based Indian organizations; (including Urban Indian Organizations as defined by 25 USC 1603(29); Urban Indian Centers; 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 non-profit Alaska Native multi-purpose, community- based organizations; Non-profit Alaska Native Regional Corporations/Associations in Alaska with village-specific projects; Non-profit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies (Indian Reorganization Act or Traditional Councils) as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; 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 which serve Native American Pacific Islanders are eligible for...

Continue reading on SAM.gov

What the money can and cannot pay for

Funds may be used for activities related to the preservation of Native American languages including: collecting and organizing data to assess a community's Native American language status; planning and implementing an immersion, master/apprentice, or distance learning model; training and certifying teachers, interpreters, or translators in a Native American language; and developing, printing, and disseminating materials to be used for the teaching and enhancement of a Native American language. Funding cannot be used for the following purpose or activities: purchase of real property, reimbursement of pre-award costs, and activities that qualify as major renovations and alterations. Further details regarding ineligible applicants and activities can be found in the ANA regulations at 45 CFR 1336.33. ARP funding can be used for the purpose to protect and strengthen the vitality of Native Languages impacted by COVID-19.;

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. The 20% match is required by 42 USC 2991b-3(e) unless waived in accordance with criteria published in 45 CFR 1336.50(b). ARP recipients are not required to meet cost share. This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. In accordance with the applicable program statute(s) and regulation(s), the undersigned certifies that financial assistance provided by the Administration for Children and Families, for the specified activities to be performed under the Native Language Preservation and Maintenance or Native Language Preservation and Maintenance-Esther Martinez Immersion Program by (Organization Name) will be in addition to, and not in substitution for, comparable activities previously carried on without Federal assistance.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

For FY25, the range of assistance for P&M and EMI $300,000 - $900,000 for a 3 year period of performance. For FY26, the range of assistance for P&M and EMI $300,000-$900,000 for a 3 period of performance.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Tribal governments and organizations received 65% of the money, nonprofits 23% and colleges and universities 4.9%.

By state

16 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.