Links to Files
Budget Form Template
Hiring Timeline
FAQ
What is Capacity Building?
Capacity building is a key factor in achieving large-scale, sustainable impact. Existing and future government funding does not account for the workforce needed to design, build, and implement holistic programs to fully meet the needs of tribal communities most impacted by climate change. The TSAF’s ability to facilitate cross-collaboration with tribal communities within a tribal-led framework will build the tribal ecosystem needed to leverage resources and strengthen best practices to be shared across Indian Country. Since the founding of the TSAF, the grantmaking approach is based in a reciprocal system aimed to support the unique sustainability needs of tribes who are all culturally, geographically, and economically diverse with deep rooted traditions, principles and lifeways, particularly around environmental stewardship. Over the years, we’ve built relationships across 65 tribal communities from small to large tribes and year after year we consistently hear about the lack of capacity tribes face when it comes to dedicated clean energy, climate and environmental sustainability staff.
Why Choose TSAF?
The TSAF is one of the few tribal-led programs in Indian Country that tribes depend on for more than just project funding, they also look to us for technical expertise, educational and workforce development training, policy and regulatory guidance, planning, design, and project development, and industry resources. GRID’s tribal staff (TSAF and tribal construction team) is just as limited in human capacity as our tribal partners which is why we are looking to philanthropy to support capacity building needs within the TSAF and across Indian Country.
Who is supported by the Capacity Building?
Tribal Capacity Building grants will be intended to support TSAF’s past, current, and new community of tribal partners to invest in building the human capacity needed to advance tribal clean energy programs and projects that build the tribal energy ecosystem of community leaders, experts, cultural knowledge keepers, and everyone in between. These grants will be significant, flexible, multi-year funding for general operating support, capacity building, and enhancing energy and sustainability expertise that reinforces tribal sovereignty.