Obtain the documentation from your tribal government to prove that you are a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe. While not every grant open to Native Americans has this requirement, most of them do. All federal grants for Native American students require this documentation.
Obtain documentation from your college or university to prove that you are enrolled full time. Most educational grants will require this as well. Get a copy of your most current available transcript, as most scholarships have a minimum GPA that recipients must maintain.
Obtain a copy of your financial aid assessment from the financial aid office of your college or university. Many grants are only for students that show financial need.
Speak to representatives from both your tribal government and your school's financial aid office about specific grants available to students from your tribe and to Native Americans at your school. There are many such grants available, and finding one directly through your school or tribe will speed up the process considerably. Representatives from your school and tribe may also be able to help you file the necessary paperwork to apply for federal grants.
Research Indian education grants available online. In addition to grants from various tribes and grants from the federal government, there are a number of specific grants available. For example, the Indian Health Services Health Professionals Program is available to Native students studying to work in the health care industry. The Native American Finance Officers Association grant is for Native students majoring in business, and the Native American Journalist Association grant is for Native journalism students.
Apply for your selected grant or grants by downloading the application form available from the program's website. In addition to the information gathered in Section 1, you may be asked to provide other information. Some applications require an essay, and you will need to provide proof of Native American ancestry in the case of federal grants.
Submit the grants via mail or email to the address provided by the program. Check to make sure that you are submitting them before the closure date or your work will be wasted. Wait for acceptance, and follow the instructions given on how to collect your funding from there.