Yéigo Action Grant
First Peoples Fund (Rapid City, SD)
The Yéigo Action Grant provides support for the growing landscape of Native artists and culture bearers who need financial assistance with a professional development opportunity or towards a hardship that is hindering their creative practice.
This program offers grants between $100 and $5,000 for individual Native artists and culture bearers. First Peoples Fund (FPF) finds it essential to support artists in their times of need, especially when their work is impacted by sudden hardship. This grant’s name incorporates the Diné word yéigo, often used as a phrase of encouragement that can mean “keep going” or “don’t give up.”
While some requests related to a current artistic project may be eligible, please note that Yéigo Action Grants are not intended to assist with funding new artist projects or to provide general support for an existing project.
KEY INFORMATION
Grant amount: $100-$5,000
Application deadline: 10th of every month
Funds May Be Used For:
- Assistance with signing up for an art opportunity (market entry fees, workshop fees, etc.)
- Support an artist attending a residency, seminar, or any other professional development opportunity (travel, lodging, meals, etc).
- Emergency disaster relief (fire, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc).
- Unanticipated transportation needs for artistic work or professional development travel (vehicle repair, car rental, bus pass, ridesharing – e.g. Uber/Lyft, etc.)
- Unanticipated medical expenses that impact an artist’s ability to work and create.
- Sudden, unexpected expenses for a current project (such as replacing damaged supplies, finding a new venue, etc.).
Ineligible Funding Requests:
- Reimbursement for funds already spent by the applicant.
- General operating support for organizations and nonprofits.
- Tuition and/or class supplies related to a degree program at a college or university.
- Credit payments or student loans.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
- Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
- Applicants must be enrolled members of, or provide proof of lineal descendancy from, a U.S. federally recognized or U.S. state-recognized tribe or be able to provide proof of ancestry as an Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian.
- Applicant must be a practicing artist.
- Must not have previously received a Yéigo Action Grant.