About Us

The National Native Scholarship Providers (NNSPs) group is a collaborative between four scholarship providers that works to provide financial, research, and programmatic assistance to the American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

The group is comprised of:

AISES

AISES was founded in 1977 by American Indian scientists, engineers, and educators. In view of the high dropout rates and low college enrollment and graduation rates of American Indians compared with all other ethnic groups in the United States, and the severe underrepresentation of American Indians in the science and engineering fields, Native professionals resolved to create an organization that would identify and remove the barriers to academic success for Native students. AISES is a national nonprofit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers with a vision for the next seven generations of Indigenous people to be successful, respected, influential, and contributing members of our vast and ever-changing global community.

Primarily funded by government and private contracts, as well as other donations, contributions, and revenue from individuals and membership dues, AISES offers financial, academic, professional, and cultural support to Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands from early education to professional career development through a variety of programs. It builds partnerships with tribes, schools, other nonprofit organizations, corporations, foundations and government agencies to realize its goals and helps Indigenous North Americans and Pacific Islander students prepare for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

For more information about AISES please visit aises.org.

The American Indian College Fund

The American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native higher education for 34 years. The College Fund believes “Education is the answer” and provided $17.4 million in scholarships and other direct student support to American Indian students in 2023-24. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $319 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support programs at the nation’s 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators and is one of the nation’s top 100 charities named to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance and is a Charity Navigator four-star charity.

For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit collegefund.org.

The Cobell Scholarship Program

In 1996, banker Elouise Cobell became the lead plaintiff in a class action suit, demanding back payment and better accounting on Individual Indian Money Accounts managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Thirteen years later, the federal government settled for $3.4 billion, the largest settlement in U.S. history. The Cobell Scholarship Program was created with funds from that settlement and is a legacy scholarship in the name of Elouise “Yellow Bird Woman” Cobell. Cobell Scholarship offers are merit-based following a lengthy application and referral process. Scholarship awards are disbursed according to U.S. Federal Student Aid standards and the policies of the individual colleges and universities which determine scholars’ need. The Cobell Scholarship is annual, non-renewable to any post-secondary (after high school) student who is an enrolled member of a U.S. federally recognized Tribe, enrolled in or plans to enroll in full-time study and is degree-seeking while attending any nationally, regionally, and industry accredited non-profit public or private institution.

For more information about The Cobell Scholarship program please visit cobellscholar.org.

Native Forward

Throughout its 50-year history, Native Forward has empowered over 22,000 students from over 500 Tribes in all 50 states by providing scholarship dollars and student support for services for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees to share their voices and strengthen their communities.

Native Forward provides holistic support services and resources to help Native students access and navigate the higher education of their choice; a strong network of engaged alumni that fosters community and mentorship beyond our organization; advocacy of greater representation and visibility of Native communities; trusted stewardship of donor support and scholarship funding to make meaningful differences.

For more information about Native Forward please visit nativeforward.org.