Small Farm Fund Finder
All opportunities
TribalRolling / continuousTechnical assistanceNationwide

InterTribal Buffalo Council — Herd Development Support

InterTribal Buffalo Council

Buffalo transfers, herd management training, infrastructure support, and pass-through federal funding for member tribes restoring buffalo to tribal lands and tribal food systems.

Typical award
Animal transfers plus infrastructure and technical support
Deadline
Rolling — annual member allocations
Type of support
Technical assistance · Tribal & Native-led capital
Who can apply
Tribal, Non-profit
Fits these operations
Mixed / diversified

Am I eligible?

  • Federally recognized tribe (member or prospective member of ITBC)
  • Land and water capacity for a buffalo herd
  • Tribal council support for the program

How to apply

  1. 1Contact ITBC staff about membership and herd goals
  2. 2Host a site assessment of pasture, fencing, and handling facilities
  3. 3Submit a tribal resolution requesting support
  4. 4Schedule transfer and staff training

What you'll need

  • Tribal resolution
  • Range/pasture assessment or acreage description
  • Handling and fencing plan

Timeline & contact

Several months from first contact to herd transfer
Get help: InterTribal Buffalo Council, Rapid City SD

Ready to apply?

Applications go through InterTribal Buffalo Council, not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

Open official page

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

Similar opportunities

TribalRolling / continuousLoan / credit

Oweesta Corporation — Native CDFI Lending & Capacity

First Nations Oweesta Corporation

Rolling — contact the nearest Native CDFI

National Native CDFI intermediary. Lends to and trains local Native CDFIs, which in turn make small farm, food, and business loans in Indian Country. Start here to find the Native lender closest to you.

  • Native-owned farm, food business, or tribal enterprise
  • Service area of a partner Native CDFI (most states with tribal lands)

Loans through partner Native CDFIs, commonly $2,500–$250,000

Tribal & Native-led capitalTribalNon-profitBeginning / underserved
Official pageFull detailsChecked August 2026
TribalRolling / continuousDirect grant

Notah Begay III Foundation — Native Food Sovereignty Grants

NB3 Foundation

Annual RFP — watch the site for the next cycle

Grants to Native-led organizations running community gardens, traditional foods programs, youth agriculture, and food access work rooted in Native culture.

  • Native-led and Native-serving organization or tribal program
  • Project centers Native youth, traditional foods, or food sovereignty

Commonly $25,000–$100,000 over one to three years

Tribal & Native-led capitalTribalNon-profit
Official pageFull detailsChecked August 2026
FederalRolling / continuousDirect grant

Tribal College Extension & Equity Grants (1994 Institutions)

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Annual RFA, typically posted winter/spring

Formula and competitive funding for the 1994 land-grant tribal colleges to run extension, teaching, and applied research — the practical route to on-reservation grower education and demonstration plots.

  • 1994 land-grant tribal college or university
  • Project serves tribal producers or tribal food systems

Extension awards commonly $50,000–$300,000 per project

Tribal & Native-led capitalTribalNon-profit
Official pageFull detailsChecked August 2026