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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation is accepting applications from community members for grants to assist Cherokee Nation youth tribal members in accomplishing their goals in education, athletics, extracurricular, or cultural activities. The Cherokee Nation awards $100,000 each year to Cherokee Nation tribal members who participate in outstanding educational, extracurricular, cultural or athletic activities.

The Cherokee Nation Community Youth Grant Program is designed to work as a complement to fund-raising efforts and is administered as a matching grant project.

The grant awards will be made based on the following set of established criteria:

1. The activity must be consistent with the Cherokee Nation mission and guiding principles.
2. Cherokee Nation tribal youth must be in Kindergarten through 12th grade.
3. Documentation of Cherokee Nation tribal membership (Blue Card). If a group or team applies, at least three team members must be Cherokee Nation tribal members.
4. Documentation of 50/50 matching funds from other sources (ex. Fundraising efforts, paid receipts with applicants name listed).
5. Supporting documentation pertinent to the activity of which the request is being made (ex. Entry fee form, list of participants and itemized listing on how money the will be spent) must total $400.00 for individual and $1,000.00 for group. A coach, sponsor, teacher, or group secretary must sign the documentation.
6. Each request has a limit of $200.00 per individual activity or $500.00 per group or team activity. No one may benefit from this fund more than once a fiscal year.

To apply for the Cherokee Nation Community Youth Grant, you must first request an application through the Cherokee FIRST Information Center at the Cherokee Nation Tribal Complex in Tahlequah. The application should include documentation of Cherokee Nation tribal membership (Blue Card), documentation of matching funds, supporting documentation for the activity request (ex. Registration fees, est. cost from activity leader, letter from coach listing what is needed), and applicant must complete and sign a W-9 form.

The Cherokee Nation will screen the applications for compliance and then notify the applicant of their approval for the award.

For more information on the Cherokee Nation Community Youth Grant Program contact the Cherokee FIRST office located in the Cherokee Nation Tribal Complex, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2937) or (ext.2936).