Rural Tribal Health – Funding & Opportunities

IHS Rick Smith Injury Prevention Award
Award that recognizes contributions in the field of injury prevention that have led to improved public health for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Feb 7, 2025
Sponsor: Indian Health Service

Udall Undergraduate Scholarship
Scholarships for Native American and Alaska Native undergraduate students pursuing careers related to tribal public policy, native healthcare, and the environment.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 5, 2025
Sponsor: Morris K Udall and Stewart L Udall Foundation

Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program
Grants for projects designed to prevent suicidal behavior and substance misuse, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native young people up to the age of 24.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Mar 6, 2025
Sponsors: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

American Indian Medical Scholarship (AIMS)
Scholarships for students of American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian descent that are pursuing careers in nursing, healthcare, and health education. The scholarship is designed to assist students who plan to work on reservations or in hospitals that serve Native populations with the goal of improving healthcare within those communities.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jun 1, 2025
Sponsor: National Society of the Colonial Dames of America

Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06)
Offers grants for new or continued Native American Research Centers for Health, which support research and research training to meet the health needs of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Optional): Jun 8, 2025
Application Deadline: Jul 8, 2025
Sponsors: Indian Health Service, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
Loan repayment for undergraduate and graduate health professional educational loans in return for full-time clinical service in Indian Health Service programs.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Aug 15, 2025
Sponsors: Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) Planning Grants (R34 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Funding to support federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes, tribal colleges and universities, tribal health programs, or tribal organizations to plan and conduct preparatory work for developing competitive NARCH applications.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jul 9, 2026
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health

Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R01, R21, and R34 Clinical Trials Optional)
Funding to support research designed to improve health in Native American populations. Proposed research may address health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, recovery, or services research to inform intervention implementation and dissemination, and it must engage tribal partners and communities.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Jan 7, 2027
Sponsors: National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health

Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program (UE5 and T32/T34)
Funding for tribal entities to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation's biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide and U.S. Territories
Application Deadline: Jan 25, 2027
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health

American Indian Public Health Resource Center Technical Assistance
Technical assistance for tribes to improve health systems, access to services, and health outcomes in rural, impoverished communities.

Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Sponsor: American Indian Public Health Resource Center