What's New
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities can participate in Cooperative Arrangement grants with eligible NASNTI institutions.
- FY 2023 Applications for new grant awards includes Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants.
- FY 2023 Grants.Gov Listing
Program Office: Institutional Service
ALN Number: 84.031X; 84.382C
Program Type: Discretionary/Competitive Grants
Also Known As: NASNTI Program
Program Description
This program provides grants and related assistance to Native American-serving, nontribal institutions to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals.
This Web site provides information on the Native American-serving Nontribal Institutions Program authorized by the Higher Education Opportunity Act, 2008 (HEA, Title III, Part A, Section 319; ALN# 84.031X) as well as the Native American-serving Nontribal Institutions Program Program originally authorized by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (HEA, Title III, Part F, Section 371; ALN# 84.382C).
Types of Projects
Grants awarded under this section shall be used by Native American nontribal-serving institutions to assist such institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand such institutions' capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals.
Under ALN 84.031X
Types of projects may include:
- The purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
- Renovation and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities;
- Support of faculty exchanges, and faculty development and faculty fellowships to assist faculty in attaining advanced degrees in the faculty's field of instruction;
- Curriculum development and academic instruction;
- The purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials;
- Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
- The joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries;
- Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services; and
- Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students or the students' families.
Under ALN 84.382C
To plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand such institutions' capacity to serve Native Americans, which may include-
- The purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
- Renovation and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities;
- Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist faculty in attaining advanced degrees in the faculty's field of instruction;
- Curriculum development and academic instruction;
- The purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials;
- Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
- The joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries; and
- Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services.
Who May Apply: An institution of higher education is eligible to receive funds from the amounts available under this program if such institution is a Native American-serving nontribal institution as defined in the authorizing program statute and certifies, at the time of submission, that it has an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent Native American.
NOTE: Applicants must first apply for and receive designation as an eligible institution. Refer to the Tips and Assistance section on the Eligibility page to find more information, the latest webinar schedule, and/or presentations regarding eligibility.
Lists of Eligible Institutions by Fiscal Year
There are two application processes for this program -- one for eligibility and one for grant funding.
Application for Eligibility
You must be designated an eligible institution before applying for funding under this program. The latest application to request designation as an eligible institution and to request a waiver of the non-federal cost share requirement is available. Please note the closing date(s) and refer to the Federal Register Notice.
Information for Grant Funding
Timeline
Last competition: FY 2023
Application available: April 12, 2023
Application deadline: June 12, 2023
Federal Register Notice
Current Application
All applicants are required to submit an application online through Grants.gov. Grants.gov is a single access point for over 1,000 grant programs offered by federal and other grant-making agencies.
Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number 84.031X. If you experience problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. For program-specific questions, contact the program officer(s) below.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to one of the program contact persons listed below.
Tips and Assistance
- FY 2023 NASNTI, Part A, Grant Competition Webinar May 12, 2023 | Email Don.Crews@ed.gov for the webinar link
Application Contact
Don Crews, (202) 280-8775
U.S. Department of Education, OPE
Institutional Service
Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202
Institutional Service Home | Discretionary Grant Applications
FY 2023
FY 2022
FY 2021
FY 2020
FY 2019
- No new awards
FY 2018
- No new awards
FY 2017
- No new awards
FY 2016
FY 2015
FY 2014
- No new awards
FY 2013
- No new awards
| Legislation | Regulations | Performance |
Legislation
- Title III, Part A, Sec 319 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended
- Title III, Part F, Sec 371 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended
Regulations
- There are no program-specific regulations for this program.
- Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99
Annual Performance Report
Grantees are required to submit an Annual Performance Report (APR) annually; the collection number is OMB 1840-0766. The APR is available to grantees October 1 of each calendar year, and closes 90 days thereafter. To review the reporting requirement for Title III and Title V Programs request access to an interactive training site under the training tab located on the Information Management Performance System Portal at https://apr.ed.gov. Once here you may select the requirements for each Title III and Title V program based on the institutional type (two-year or four-year). This site is also available to grantees for training purposes and includes an APR user's manual.
To gain access to the APR at https://apr.ed.gov, project directors need the institution's Unit ID, PR Award ID, and a unique password provided by the Institutional Service. Passwords are e-mailed to all grantee project directors designated on the grant award notification document 30 days before the collection period begins. Project directors of Title III and Title V grants are responsible for completing and managing the content of their respective annual report. During the data collection, assistance is available via a Help Desk to answer questions related to system operations, error messages, technical problems, report content, and program policy.
Note: If you are a project director and have responsibility for completing the annual report for your institution, please be sure you are designated on the official grant award notification and your e-mail and telephone number are listed correctly in the GAPS database.
Final Performance Report
The online system will generate a final report from grantees' individual annual reports for each grant ending September 30 of the collection period. The online system generates the final performance so that reported data is consistent throughout the life cycle of grants and eliminates each grantee's burden of having to compile a final report.
Related Sites
Other Resources
- Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) - Applicant and Grantee Resources
Key Staff
Don Crews
Telephone: (202) 453-7920
E-mail: don.crews@ed.gov
Mailing Address:
U.S. Department of Education, OPE
Institutional Service
Native American-serving Nontribal Institutions Program
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202
Frequently Asked Questions
| Select a link below to jump to the relevant page section. |
- What is the purpose of the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program (NASNTI)?
- Who may apply for NASNTI grants?
- Who fits the description of a Native American?
- What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds?
- Is construction allowed?
- How often are competitions held for the NASNTI program?
- What is the average annual grant amount?
- Is there a wait-out period to apply for the NASNTI programs once the grant period ends?
- Can you have a NASNTI Part A grant and a NASNTI Part F grant simultaneously?
- Is there a cost-matching requirement?
- Can you establish an endowment fund with the NASNTI Program?
- What are the reporting requirements for grantees?
- What are the requirements for auditing funded projects?
1. What is the purpose of the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program (NASNTI)?
NASNTI Title III, Part A and Part F provides grants and related assistance to Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions to enable these institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals by increasing institutions' self-sufficiency in improving academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability.
TOP
2. Who may apply for NASNTI grants?
Institutions of higher education (IHEs) that have, at the time of application, an enrollment of undergraduate students that is not less than 10 percent Native American students; and are not a tribal college or university (as defined in Section 316 of the Higher Education Act).
TOP
3. Who fits the description of a Native American?
The term "Native American" means an individual who is of a tribe, people or culture that is indigenous to the United States.
TOP
4. What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds?
Grants awarded under this section shall be used for one or more of the following activities:
- The purchase, rental or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
- Renovation and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities;
- Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist faculty in attaining advanced degrees in the field of instruction;
- Curriculum development and academic instruction;
- The purchase of library books, periodicals, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program material;
- Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
- The joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries;
- Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student services; and
- For Part A only, education of counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students or the students' families.
TOP
5. Is construction allowed?
Construction and maintenance is not an allowable activity under the NASNTI program.
TOP
6. How often are competitions held for the NASNTI program?
Competitions for both Part A and Part F are held annually. The closing dates of the applications are announced in the Federal Register, and the deadline to submit an application is usually 30 days after the program competition is announced.
TOP
7. What is the average annual grant amount?
The average annual amount is $383,000 for individual development grants.
TOP
8. Is there a wait-out period to apply for the NASNTI programs once the grant period ends?
There is no wait-out period to apply for either of the NASNTI programs once your grant period ends. Under Section 313(d) it states that institutions receiving grants under this part are exempted from the two-year wait-out requirement. Therefore, those applicants are eligible to apply for a new grant after their five-year grant period expires.
TOP
9. Can you have a NASNTI Part A grant and a NASNTI Part F grant simultaneously?
Yes. You can apply for and be awarded both a NASNTI Part A and a NASNTI Part F grant simultaneously. Moreover, this applies for all Title III Part A and Part F programs for which your institution qualifies. For example, you can apply for and receive a Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) Title III, Part A grant, and apply for and receive a NASNTI Title III, Part F grant simultaneously; provided you have applied for and was approved for Designation of Eligibility, and meet the qualifications for the Title III, Part A and Part F programs for which you are applying.
However, you cannot have more than one Title III, Part A grant although you can apply for all Title III, Part A Programs for which you qualify, but if you are selected for more than one, you will have to chose the Part A program that you desire.
The same goes for Title III, Part F. You can apply for all Title III, Part F Programs for which you qualify, but if you are selected for more than one, you will have to chose the Part F program that you desire.
TOP
10. Is there a cost-matching requirement?
NASNTI does not require cost sharing.
TOP
11. Can you establish an endowment fund with the NASNTI Program?
NASNTI does not have an endowment component.
TOP
12. What are the reporting requirements for grantees?
NASNTI grantees are required to submit an interim performance report after the first six months of the grant. An annual performance report is due 90 days after each budget period ends.
TOP
13. What are the requirements for auditing funded projects?
Grantees that spend $500,000 or more in combined federal funds (regardless of agency) during fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003, or $300,000 or more in federal funds during fiscal years ended on December 31, 2003 or earlier, are required to have an annual institutional audit. Generally, these audits, referred to as "A-133 audits" or "single audits," review expenditures of federal funds across an entire organization instead of specific costs of individual grants. These audits must be conducted in accordance with "Standards for the Audit of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities and Functions," published by the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Independent non-federal auditors selected by the grantee may perform these audits. Grantees that fail to meet the A-133 audit requirement may be designated as high-risk, which may affect future funding.
What's New
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities can participate in Cooperative Arrangement grants with eligible NASNTI institutions.
- FY 2023 Applications for new grant awards includes Individual Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants.
- FY 2023 Grants.Gov Listing
Program Office: Institutional Service
ALN Number: 84.031X; 84.382C
Program Type: Discretionary/Competitive Grants
Also Known As: NASNTI Program
Program Description
This program provides grants and related assistance to Native American-serving, nontribal institutions to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals.
This Web site provides information on the Native American-serving Nontribal Institutions Program authorized by the Higher Education Opportunity Act, 2008 (HEA, Title III, Part A, Section 319; ALN# 84.031X) as well as the Native American-serving Nontribal Institutions Program Program originally authorized by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (HEA, Title III, Part F, Section 371; ALN# 84.382C).
Types of Projects
Grants awarded under this section shall be used by Native American nontribal-serving institutions to assist such institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand such institutions' capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals.
Under ALN 84.031X
Types of projects may include:
- The purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
- Renovation and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities;
- Support of faculty exchanges, and faculty development and faculty fellowships to assist faculty in attaining advanced degrees in the faculty's field of instruction;
- Curriculum development and academic instruction;
- The purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials;
- Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
- The joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries;
- Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services; and
- Education or counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students or the students' families.
Under ALN 84.382C
To plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand such institutions' capacity to serve Native Americans, which may include-
- The purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
- Renovation and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities;
- Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist faculty in attaining advanced degrees in the faculty's field of instruction;
- Curriculum development and academic instruction;
- The purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials;
- Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
- The joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries; and
- Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services.
Who May Apply: An institution of higher education is eligible to receive funds from the amounts available under this program if such institution is a Native American-serving nontribal institution as defined in the authorizing program statute and certifies, at the time of submission, that it has an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent Native American.
NOTE: Applicants must first apply for and receive designation as an eligible institution. Refer to the Tips and Assistance section on the Eligibility page to find more information, the latest webinar schedule, and/or presentations regarding eligibility.
Lists of Eligible Institutions by Fiscal Year
There are two application processes for this program -- one for eligibility and one for grant funding.
Application for Eligibility
You must be designated an eligible institution before applying for funding under this program. The latest application to request designation as an eligible institution and to request a waiver of the non-federal cost share requirement is available. Please note the closing date(s) and refer to the Federal Register Notice.
Information for Grant Funding
Timeline
Last competition: FY 2023
Application available: April 12, 2023
Application deadline: June 12, 2023
Federal Register Notice
Current Application
All applicants are required to submit an application online through Grants.gov. Grants.gov is a single access point for over 1,000 grant programs offered by federal and other grant-making agencies.
Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number 84.031X. If you experience problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. For program-specific questions, contact the program officer(s) below.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339. Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to one of the program contact persons listed below.
Tips and Assistance
- FY 2023 NASNTI, Part A, Grant Competition Webinar May 12, 2023 | Email Don.Crews@ed.gov for the webinar link
Application Contact
Don Crews, (202) 280-8775
U.S. Department of Education, OPE
Institutional Service
Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202
Institutional Service Home | Discretionary Grant Applications
FY 2023
FY 2022
FY 2021
FY 2020
FY 2019
- No new awards
FY 2018
- No new awards
FY 2017
- No new awards
FY 2016
FY 2015
FY 2014
- No new awards
FY 2013
- No new awards
| Legislation | Regulations | Performance |
Legislation
- Title III, Part A, Sec 319 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended
- Title III, Part F, Sec 371 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended
Regulations
- There are no program-specific regulations for this program.
- Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99
Annual Performance Report
Grantees are required to submit an Annual Performance Report (APR) annually; the collection number is OMB 1840-0766. The APR is available to grantees October 1 of each calendar year, and closes 90 days thereafter. To review the reporting requirement for Title III and Title V Programs request access to an interactive training site under the training tab located on the Information Management Performance System Portal at https://apr.ed.gov. Once here you may select the requirements for each Title III and Title V program based on the institutional type (two-year or four-year). This site is also available to grantees for training purposes and includes an APR user's manual.
To gain access to the APR at https://apr.ed.gov, project directors need the institution's Unit ID, PR Award ID, and a unique password provided by the Institutional Service. Passwords are e-mailed to all grantee project directors designated on the grant award notification document 30 days before the collection period begins. Project directors of Title III and Title V grants are responsible for completing and managing the content of their respective annual report. During the data collection, assistance is available via a Help Desk to answer questions related to system operations, error messages, technical problems, report content, and program policy.
Note: If you are a project director and have responsibility for completing the annual report for your institution, please be sure you are designated on the official grant award notification and your e-mail and telephone number are listed correctly in the GAPS database.
Final Performance Report
The online system will generate a final report from grantees' individual annual reports for each grant ending September 30 of the collection period. The online system generates the final performance so that reported data is consistent throughout the life cycle of grants and eliminates each grantee's burden of having to compile a final report.
Related Sites
Other Resources
- Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) - Applicant and Grantee Resources
Key Staff
Don Crews
Telephone: (202) 453-7920
E-mail: don.crews@ed.gov
Mailing Address:
U.S. Department of Education, OPE
Institutional Service
Native American-serving Nontribal Institutions Program
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202
Frequently Asked Questions
| Select a link below to jump to the relevant page section. |
- What is the purpose of the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program (NASNTI)?
- Who may apply for NASNTI grants?
- Who fits the description of a Native American?
- What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds?
- Is construction allowed?
- How often are competitions held for the NASNTI program?
- What is the average annual grant amount?
- Is there a wait-out period to apply for the NASNTI programs once the grant period ends?
- Can you have a NASNTI Part A grant and a NASNTI Part F grant simultaneously?
- Is there a cost-matching requirement?
- Can you establish an endowment fund with the NASNTI Program?
- What are the reporting requirements for grantees?
- What are the requirements for auditing funded projects?
1. What is the purpose of the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program (NASNTI)?
NASNTI Title III, Part A and Part F provides grants and related assistance to Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions to enable these institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals by increasing institutions' self-sufficiency in improving academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal stability.
TOP
2. Who may apply for NASNTI grants?
Institutions of higher education (IHEs) that have, at the time of application, an enrollment of undergraduate students that is not less than 10 percent Native American students; and are not a tribal college or university (as defined in Section 316 of the Higher Education Act).
TOP
3. Who fits the description of a Native American?
The term "Native American" means an individual who is of a tribe, people or culture that is indigenous to the United States.
TOP
4. What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds?
Grants awarded under this section shall be used for one or more of the following activities:
- The purchase, rental or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
- Renovation and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities;
- Support of faculty exchanges, faculty development, and faculty fellowships to assist faculty in attaining advanced degrees in the field of instruction;
- Curriculum development and academic instruction;
- The purchase of library books, periodicals, and other educational materials, including telecommunications program material;
- Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
- The joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries;
- Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student services; and
- For Part A only, education of counseling services designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students or the students' families.
TOP
5. Is construction allowed?
Construction and maintenance is not an allowable activity under the NASNTI program.
TOP
6. How often are competitions held for the NASNTI program?
Competitions for both Part A and Part F are held annually. The closing dates of the applications are announced in the Federal Register, and the deadline to submit an application is usually 30 days after the program competition is announced.
TOP
7. What is the average annual grant amount?
The average annual amount is $383,000 for individual development grants.
TOP
8. Is there a wait-out period to apply for the NASNTI programs once the grant period ends?
There is no wait-out period to apply for either of the NASNTI programs once your grant period ends. Under Section 313(d) it states that institutions receiving grants under this part are exempted from the two-year wait-out requirement. Therefore, those applicants are eligible to apply for a new grant after their five-year grant period expires.
TOP
9. Can you have a NASNTI Part A grant and a NASNTI Part F grant simultaneously?
Yes. You can apply for and be awarded both a NASNTI Part A and a NASNTI Part F grant simultaneously. Moreover, this applies for all Title III Part A and Part F programs for which your institution qualifies. For example, you can apply for and receive a Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) Title III, Part A grant, and apply for and receive a NASNTI Title III, Part F grant simultaneously; provided you have applied for and was approved for Designation of Eligibility, and meet the qualifications for the Title III, Part A and Part F programs for which you are applying.
However, you cannot have more than one Title III, Part A grant although you can apply for all Title III, Part A Programs for which you qualify, but if you are selected for more than one, you will have to chose the Part A program that you desire.
The same goes for Title III, Part F. You can apply for all Title III, Part F Programs for which you qualify, but if you are selected for more than one, you will have to chose the Part F program that you desire.
TOP
10. Is there a cost-matching requirement?
NASNTI does not require cost sharing.
TOP
11. Can you establish an endowment fund with the NASNTI Program?
NASNTI does not have an endowment component.
TOP
12. What are the reporting requirements for grantees?
NASNTI grantees are required to submit an interim performance report after the first six months of the grant. An annual performance report is due 90 days after each budget period ends.
TOP
13. What are the requirements for auditing funded projects?
Grantees that spend $500,000 or more in combined federal funds (regardless of agency) during fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003, or $300,000 or more in federal funds during fiscal years ended on December 31, 2003 or earlier, are required to have an annual institutional audit. Generally, these audits, referred to as "A-133 audits" or "single audits," review expenditures of federal funds across an entire organization instead of specific costs of individual grants. These audits must be conducted in accordance with "Standards for the Audit of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities and Functions," published by the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Independent non-federal auditors selected by the grantee may perform these audits. Grantees that fail to meet the A-133 audit requirement may be designated as high-risk, which may affect future funding.