Welcome to the Cowlitz Indian Tribal Foundation's application portal. Here you will be able to view and submit requests for partnership and funding that pertains to your organization's work throughout our shared communities.

2026 Grant Cycle

Please be advised that the Clark County Fund and Statewide Fund resource opportunities are now split into two separate applications:

-- Clark County Fund

Eligible applicants include 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations or community-serving organizations with fiscal sponsorship that provide services in Clark County, Washington. 

Open Date: February 18, 2026

Close Date: May 1, 2026

Award Notification: July 31, 2026

Focus Areas: Priority will be directed to culturally responsive, culturally specific, and community-based organizations whose projects or programs:

• Support low-income individuals, communities of color, and rural communities;
• Provide basic human needs and care; and/or
• Increase access to education for marginalized communities.

-- Statewide Fund

Eligible applicants include 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations or community-serving organizations with fiscal sponsorship that provide services in regions of Washington State outside of Clark County.

Open Date: March 16, 2026

Close Date: June 1, 2026

Award Notification: August 31, 2026

Focus Areas: Determined by alignment with the Statewide Fund Board's initiatives.

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Because Cowlitz Cares

Created to support communities on the land of which the Cowlitz Indian Tribe has nurtured since time immemorial, the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation is the philanthropic extension of goodwill toward neighboring organizations working to support our most vulnerable populations. With trust-based philanthropic principles guiding the Foundation's efforts since 2018, the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation has provided over 270 nonprofit and community-focused organizations with more than $30M in grants to support charitable efforts throughout the State of Washington. The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation is comprised of two separate grantmaking funds, the Clark County Fund and the Statewide Fund.

Values

• Raise one another up. Guided by the values of the Forever People, the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation exemplifies the honor of raising one another up; supporting individuals, visions, and actions that catalyze positive change and prosperity for future generations.
• Seek to understand. With commitment to equity, the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation recognizes that historic and ongoing racial and structural inequities have marginalized certain voices; actions and systems sustained overtime to deny opportunities to communities based on traits such as race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, economic class, age, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.
• Foster authentic connections. Partnering with community champions, locally and regionally, provides the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation with a platform for advocacy and opportunity to lead with empathy, integrity, and transparency. 
• Challenge the cycles. The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation seeks to disrupt intergenerational poverty by engaging communities and mobilizing resources to support ongoing efforts that support positive changes for generations to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What organizations are eligible for funding? Organizations seeking partnership with the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation must be 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations or organization with fiscal sponsorship. -- Clark County Fund: Priority is directed to culturally responsive, culturally specific, or community-based organizations with projects or programs that support low-income people, communities of color, and rural communities; projects or programs that provide basic human needs and care; and projects or programs that support access to education.
2. Does the Foundation support Native-focused or Native-led programs? Yes. The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation serves as a philanthropic resource for nonprofit organizations with a multitude of focus areas.
3. Does the Foundation sponsor events? No. As a department of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation does not sponsor events. Under approval from the Foundation, partnering organizations have listed the Foundation as a 'sponsor' for an event or program as a means to recognize the ongoing relationship with the Foundation. You may also see the Foundation's logo alongside the Cowlitz Indian Tribe or ilani logo for organizations hosting their event on the Cowlitz Reservation.
4. How often can organizations apply for a grant? Qualified organizations can apply annually. -- Clark County Fund: If an organization is funded for three (3) consecutive years, a one (1) year pause is required prior to applying for funding again.
5. How is the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation governed? The Department is led by a small team, whose efforts are supported by two separate Boards per the Foundation's funding requirements: the Clark County Board and the Statewide Board. These Boards act as the decision-makers once applications are processed and reviewed by the Foundation team.
6. Where does the funding come from? The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation is funded from percentages of gaming revenue through the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s enterprise, ilani. For more details and specifications, please review the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Tribal Council Ordinance (No. 07-02, Page 6) for reference to the Clark County Fund, and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Washington State Gaming Compact (Appendix X2, Page 42) for reference to the Statewide Fund. Adhering to the Ordinance and Compact, no funds from the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation shall be used to fund Cowlitz Tribal Members, Cowlitz Indian Tribe Departments, or other self-supporting efforts.
7. Why was my application denied? Deliberation from the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation Boards (and the Cowlitz Tribal Council for Statewide Fund applications) will ultimately declare whether your application is approved or denied. Once a decision has been made, the Foundation Team will strive to provide each organization with critical feedback about their applications, however this is dependent on the volume of requests submitted each cycle. For more information about why your grant application was denied, you can refer to the notes on priority organizations listed above or connect with a Foundation Team member for clarity.

UPDATED: March 16, 2026