American Indian College Fund facts for kids
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| Founded | 1989 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Focus | Education |
| Headquarters | Denver |
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Region served
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United States |
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President and CEO
|
Cheryl Crazy Bull |
The American Indian College Fund is a special group that helps Native American students. They provide money, called scholarships, to help students go to college. They also support tribal colleges with funding for things like buildings and keeping Native cultures alive. This organization gives out about 6,000 scholarships every year.
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What is the American Indian College Fund?
The American Indian College Fund, often called the College Fund, started in 1989. It's a non-profit group, which means it doesn't make money for itself. Its main goal is to give scholarships to Native American students.
How Does the College Fund Help Students?
The College Fund does more than just give scholarships. It also supports tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). These colleges are often located on or near Native American reservations. The College Fund helps them with:
- Money for buildings and improvements.
- Programs to save Native languages and cultures.
- Early childhood education for children of students.
- Training for college teachers.
- Programs to help students get ready for college and find jobs.
Why is This Help Important?
Not as many Native American students go to college compared to other groups. Only about 1% of all college students are Native American. Also, fewer Native Americans over 25 have a college degree. One big reason for this is poverty. The College Fund works to change this by making college more possible for Native American students.
History and Mission of the College Fund
The idea for tribal colleges came about in the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, Native American leaders wanted better education for their communities. They felt that past education policies had not worked well. This led to the creation of tribal colleges and universities.
When Did Tribal Colleges Begin?
In 1968, the Navajo Nation started the first tribal college. It was controlled by the tribe and located on the Navajo reservation. This college aimed to provide a good higher education to the local community.
How the College Fund Started
Leaders from these new tribal colleges created the College Fund in 1989. They wanted to raise money from private groups for scholarships. They also wanted to support the tribal colleges themselves. Another goal was to make more people aware of these important colleges.
How Many Students Has the College Fund Helped?
Since it began, the College Fund has given out over 100,000 scholarships. They give about 6,000 scholarships each year. Students are chosen based on their grades, financial need, and how much they help their communities. The College Fund also helps tribal colleges with research, leadership grants, and programs to preserve culture.
Awards and Recognition
The American Indian College Fund has received high ratings from groups that check charities. They have earned seals of excellence and good ratings from organizations like Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. This shows they are a trusted organization.
The College Fund first started in New York City. In 2002, they moved their main office to Denver, Colorado.
Understanding Tribal Colleges
Supporters believe that tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) are very important for Native Americans. They also benefit the entire country. TCUs help Native communities get a valuable education. They also work to save Native languages, cultures, and traditions. They do this through special language classes and American Indian studies programs.
How Many Tribal Colleges Are There?
Since the first tribal college opened in 1968, the number has grown a lot. As of 2016, there were 37 tribal colleges and universities in the United States.
What Makes TCUs Special?
TCUs are created by their own tribal governments. They have more than 75 campuses across 16 states. They serve students from over 230 different Native American tribes. TCUs can be different in size, what they focus on (like arts or job training), and where they are located. But they all share a main goal: to help their tribes be self-sufficient and serve their communities.
Partnerships and Programs
TCUs work with many organizations, including U.S. government departments. They partner with groups like the National Science Foundation and NASA. These partnerships support research and education programs. They focus on important topics like climate change, farming, water quality, and preventing diseases. Many TCUs also offer online learning.
See also
- Jan Crull Jr.
