Revitalizing Native Intergenerational Girl Societies for MMIWG2S Prevention, Safety & Wellbeing

The Indigenous Justice Circle (IJC) invites proposals to rekindle Intergenerational Girl Societies for supporting Native American girls, 2SLGBTQ+ youth and women. Our mission is to address the unique challenges at the intersection of race, culture, gender, age and socio-economic status. In an effort to prevent MMIWG2S, improve safety, connectedness and health of Native American girls and women, we are offering a unique opportunity to participate in a funded organizational cohort training program that supports local in-person Native Intergenerational Girl Societies.

Successful applicants will receive funding and access to an integrated suite of IMAGEN tools (monthly virtual inter-tribal gatherings, implementation guide, curriculum, resilience cards, and a mobile phone based app). IJC will support planning, implementation and skill building to initiate and run in-person IMAGEN Girl Societies in Native communities. This opportunity is open to Native-controlled organizations (nonprofits & LLCs), Tribal colleges and universities, Tribal governments, Native CDFIs and/or groups of individuals (with a fiscal sponsor) within Native communities or urban Indian neighborhoods.

There will be an informational webinar on Tuesday, June 3rd at 1pm ET - Register Here! The recording will be made available to anyone who has registered but can not attend.

Funding Opportunity

IJC will award up to $120,000 in the form of 6-8 awards of $5,000-$25,000 each to create and sustain local Intergenerational Girl Societies over a 20-month period (approximately October 2025-June 2027).

Application Information and Instructions

Applications will open on May 15th 2025 and close on July 14th at 11:59 pm ET. Notifications will go out on September 15, 2025.

The award period will run from approximately October 2025-June 2027.

Please fill out the application form below. If you have questions reach out to info@indigenousjc.org

Eligibility Criteria

  • Proven experience in programs serving Native adolescent girls, women and/or youth

  • Demonstrated ability to implement programming within your community

  • Eligible organizations include but are not limited to:

    • Federally or state recognized tribal governments and programs

    • Tribal 7871 entities

    • Native-controlled nonprofits, LLCs, or community organizations

    • Tribal colleges and universities 

    • Native CDFIs

    • Groups of local Native women with a fiscal sponsor

    • Applicants that are not part of an organization can apply if they have a fiscal sponsor

Allowable Costs

Examples of allowable costs under this funding opportunity include, but are not limited to:

  • Indirect costs/overhead (up to 15 percent)

  • Mentor stipends/staff time coverage/guest speaker honorariums and travel

  • Curriculum adaptation/enrichment

  • Production, printing for flyers, radio ads or other media to inform families and recruit girls

  • Gas, local transportation expenses within your community to plan, set up and implement the program

  • Food, beverages, and craft supplies for use during Girl Society groups

  • Printing and stationary

  • Field trip costs

A complete application will include

  • Completed IJC 2025 Girl Society Application form

  • Detailed budget

  • Key staff bios

  • Tax-status documentation (if using a fiscal sponsor submit the sponsor’s documentation)

Award Requirements

  • Establish and operate a local in-person IMAGEN Intergenerational Girl Society, including recruitment of mentors and girls, that offers weekly (or bi-weekly) sessions for girls in your community. Cycles should run approximately Jan-May and Aug-Dec each year with the option of holding 3-4 summer sessions.

  • Active involvement in at least 8 of 10 IMAGEN Circle Virtual Inter-Tribal Gatherings each calendar year (Jan-July and Sep-Nov).

  • Work with the IJC team in an initial storytelling exercise to create participatory project priorities and indicators.

  • Utilize our IMAGEN Girl Society Implementation Guide to establish and run your program.

  • During each school term, flexibly use at least 6 of the 12 core sessions from the IMAGEN Girl Society Curriculum (1. Welcome/Getting to Know You, 2. Tribal Origin Stories, 3. Self-Worth/Confidence, 4. Trust Building/Role Models, 5. Leadership: Connecting to Matrilineal Traditions, 6. Cultural Gardening/Traditional Foods, 7. Social Media Awareness/Mental Health, 8. Self-Defense/Personal Safety, 9. Safety/MMIP Crisis, 10. The Ribbon Skirt, 11. Healthy Relationships, 12. Civic Participation). You are free to supplement these with additional sessions from our 36-session curriculum guide and/or other curricula.

  • Utilize IJC’s mobile phone based Intergenerational Girl Society enrollment and attendance app.

  • At mid-term and endline, work with the IJC team to share a story about your journey as a mentor and/or a girl or several girls as mentees of your Girl Society (pseudonyms can be used to protect privacy/identities).

  • Use the IJC logo on materials and communications about the program.

  • Present at one public webinar during the award period.

  • Host a possible site visit by IJC personnel (IJC will cover costs of our visit).

Implementation Timeline

  • Fall/Winter 2025: Project planning, mentor and girl recruitment

  • Spring 2026: 6-12 sessions during school term

  • Summer 2026: 3-4 sessions (optional)

  • Fall 2026: 6-12 sessions during school term

  • Spring 2027: 6-12 sessions during school term

Evaluation and Reporting

  • Progress Report: A mid-term report/story we will work on with you, and four high resolution photos depicting your work - due at the 9 month mark.

  • Final Report: Endline report/story we will work on with you, and four high resolution photos depicting your work - due within 60 days after the award ends.

Submission Deadline: July 14, 2025

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IJC 2025 Girl Society Application