Native American Initiatives

The Native American Affairs Program supports education, open communication, community / social projects and other initiatives in collaboration with Tribal Nations located near Freeport-McMoRan’s active or discontinued operations. Here are some of the opportunities available for our Partnership Tribes, or those with which we have a direct relationship.

Community Contacts
Hualapai Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation and Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe 
Waylon Honga | whonga@fmi.com

San Carlos Apache Tribe and White Mountain Apache Tribe
Tanayia White | twhite5@fmi.com

Tohono O’odham Nation and Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Ondrea Barber | obarber@fmi.com

Native American Partnership Fund 
This Fund supports programs and projects that benefit the community as a whole, rather than individuals or small groups, in the areas of education and training, health and wellness, cultural preservation, economic development, and/or environmental protection/management. Applications must demonstrate program and project sustainability beyond the grant period, and supplemental matching funds are highly encouraged. Applications also require demonstrated tribal support of the proposal, for example, with a Tribal Resolution, MOU/A with the tribe, Letter of Support signed by the appropriate tribal official(s) or leader(s), or other measure(s) identified by the tribe.  

Average Award Amount: $20,000 to $60,000 per grant
Eligibility: Hualapai Tribe, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation, White Mountain Apache Tribe, and nonprofit organizations working with these tribes.
Application Period March 6 -  July 7, 2023 *application closes at 5pm PST*
Awards Announced August 28, 2023

*Note: Requests to provide 100% of a project cost or budget should not be submitted, unless the project is part of a larger overall budget of which the requested project funding is just one part. The maximum indirect cost allowed by the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation is 6% of direct project costs.

Sample Application
This can be used as reference when completing the online application.

Priority Social Impacts
Be sure to reference this list of Priority Social Impacts when completing the Impact Statement question in your application as your program must be delivering on one of these. Within this document you will find each social impact, the definition of the impact, successful examples of how to demonstrate that programming achieves the impact and how that will be measured.

Project Budget Template 
Organizations can access this template within the application once logged into our online system. The template was established by the Foundation and is required. No other budgets will be considered.

Resources, Evidence and Tools
These resources can help you tell the story of your program's anticipated impact. Each link contains evidence, research, or tools that can strengthen your measurement practices or help connect the dots between your program's activities and evidence of impact. 

RECORDING: Freeport-McMoRan Application Training Video
We require all organizations submitting an application to watch this video for support and insight on how to submit a competitive application. 
 

  
 
Native American Community Activities and Contributions Grant
The grant supports local tribal community events, activities and programs that promote education and training, health and wellness, cultural preservation, economic development, and/or environmental protection/management.

Amount: Up to $5,000 per grant
Eligibility: Hualapai Tribe, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe, and nonprofit organizations working with these tribes.
Application Period:  January 1 to October 31, 2023
Awards Announced: 30 days after receipt of a completed application.
          
Click here to download the Native American Community Activities Guidelines and Application. We accept written and typed applications.

Navajo Nation Chapter / Community Contributions Grant
The grant supports local tribal community events, activities and programs that promote education and training, health and wellness, cultural preservation, economic development, and/or environmental protection / management.

Community Contact
Navajo Nation 
Peter Denetclaw | 
pdenetcl@fmi.com

Amount: Up to $5,000 per grant
Eligibility: The following Navajo Nation Chapters – Beclabito, Chilchinbito, Cove, Dennehotso, Kayenta, Mexican Water, Oljato, Red Valley, Shiprock, Smith Lake, Sweet Water, and Teec Nos Pos.
Application PeriodMarch 1 to August 15, 2023
Awards Announced: 30 days after receipt of a completed application

Click here to download the Navajo Nation Chapter/Community Contributions Guidelines and Application. We accept written and typed applications. 


Project DreamCatcher 
  
                   
This one-week, intensive business training program for Native American women entrepreneurs is fully funded by Freeport-McMoRan and administered by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Eligibility: Enrolled female member of one of the following Native American communities:

  • Hualapai  
  • Navajo Nation
  • San Carlos Apache Tribe
  • Tohono O'odham Nation
  • White Mountain Apache Tribe
  • Ak-Chin Indian Community
  • Gila River Indian Community
  • Hopi Tribe
  • Pasacua Yaqui Tribe
  • Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
  • Tonto Apache Tribe
  • Yavapai-Apache Tribe
  • Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe
  • Zuni Pueblo

Application Period: Varies - for more information, visit Project DreamCatcher

DreamBuilder
Sponsored by Freeport-McMoRan, this unique online business training program helps individuals build their dream of starting or growing their own business. For more information, visit DreamBuilder.
Eligibility: Open to all

College Scholarships
Freeport-McMoRan, in partnership with Education Forward Arizona, supports four competitive scholarship programs. An applicant meeting the eligibility requirements only needs to turn in one application for all four scholarships listed below.
Application Period: 
Opens: February 1, 2023
Closes:
June 1, 2023
Apply Here

Native American Scholarship (100)
This scholarship is funded by the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation and administered by Education Forward Arizona. The value of this scholarship is $3,000/per semester for students enrolled in a four-year program at a university or tribal college and $1,500/per semester for students enrolled at a two-year program at a community college or tribal college. For students enrolled at a trade or technical school, the value of this scholarship will be determained by program length, not to exceed $15,000.

Navajo Code Talkers Scholarship (50)
This scholarship is funded by the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation and administered by Education Forward Arizona. The value of this scholarship is $3,000/per semester for students enrolled in a four-year program at a university or tribal college and $1,500/per semester for students enrolled at a two-year program at a community college or tribal college. For students enrolled at a trade or technical school, the value of this scholarship will be determined by program length, not to exceed $15,000.

Cyprus Tohono Corporation Four Year Scholarship (2)
This scholarship is funded by the Cyprus Tohono Corporation, a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan, and administered by Education Forward Arizona. This scholarship will cover tuition, fees, books and room and board at the rate of an in-state Arizona resident for up to four years. Two scholarships will be awarded to two students who are enrolled Tohono O’odham Nation Members residing in Arizona and attending an accredited Arizona based university.

Cyprus Tohono Josiah Moore Memorial Scholarship (1)
This scholarship is funded by the Cyprus Tohono Corporation, a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan, and administered by Education Forward Arizona. The value of this scholarship is $3,000/per semester for students enrolled in a four-year program at a university or tribal college and $1,500/per semester for students enrolled in a two-year program at a community college or tribal college. This scholarship is awarded to one student who is an enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Selection Criteria
Enrolled member of one of the following Native American communities:

  • Hualapai Tribe
  • Navajo Nation
  • San Carlos Apache Tribe
  • Tohono O'odham Nation
  • White Mountain Apache Tribe

Members from the following Tribes are also eligible, with priority given to students from the Tribes listed above.

  • Ak-Chin Indian Community
  • Gila River Indian Community
  • Hopi Tribe
  • Pascua Yaqui Tribe
  • Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
  • Tonto Apache Tribe
  • Yavapai-Apache Tribe
  • Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe
  • Zuni Pueblo

Additional Criteria

• Be attending an accredited community college, tribal college, four-year university, or trade school.
 Be a full-time student (minimum of 12 credit hours or full time as deemed by the institution).
Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and be in good current academic standing.
• Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. Scholarship renewal is contingent upon maintaining good academic standing, maintaining full-time enrollment and a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA.
• Prior receipt of a scholarship does not guarantee a future academic year scholarship.

For questions, contact mentoring@educationforwardarizona.org