Scholarship Program
Purpose. Scholarships are available to help offset some of the travel costs associated with attending training for eligible tribal housing professionals, tribal leaders, and housing board/committee members.
Programs Covered. Scholarships are available for: NAIHC Leadership Institute Courses; NAIHC Tuition Free classes and workshops; NAIHC Annual Convention; NAIHC Legal Symposium; other NAIHC sponsored training activities; and HUD sponsored NAHASDA-related training sessions.
Eligibility. If your tribe, IHA, or TDHE is the recipient of Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funds, then your Housing Staff; members of your Board of Commissioners; members of your Housing Committee, and members of your Tribal Council (when the Tribe is the IHBG recipient) are eligible to apply.
Limits on Scholarship Awards. Tribes, IHAs, and TDHEs are limited to a maximum of ten (10) scholarships per class or event. Individuals are limited to a maximum of four (4) scholarships per calendar year. Additional limitations have also been established for tribes, IHAs (to include umbrella IHAs), and TDHEs based on need. The determining “need” factor used is the organization’s IHBG amount for the current year.
Note 1: NAIHC will consider waivers to the above noted limits on a case-by-case basis.
Note 2: NAIHC does not hold funds in reserve for use by an individual tribe, IHA, or TDHE. The limitations listed below are just that—limits, not reserved funds.
Current limits are:
| IHBG Amounts | Maximum Eligible Amount of Scholarship Funds Per Year |
|---|---|
| $ 50,000 – $199,000 | $20,000 |
| $200,000 – $399,000 | $18,000 |
| $400,000 – $599,000 | $16,000 |
| $600,000 – $899,000 | $14,000 |
| $900,000 + | $12,000 |
What Expenses are Covered by a Scholarship? Allowable expenses are limited to TRAVEL (standard commercial airfare – coach or equivalent class tickets, lodging, mileage, parking, local transportation, and per diem (meals and incidentals per GSA rates)). All expenses must be allowable under the program guidelines and verified by ORIGINAL receipts. NAIHC reserves the right to determine if a cost is allowable.
How to Apply. Individuals interested in participating in NAIHC’s Scholarship Program shall use the standard NAIHC “Scholarship Application” form when applying for a Scholarship.
NAIHC Scholarship Application Form
To be considered for a scholarship, the submitted application must be received by NAIHC no later than thirty (30) days prior to the start date of the course, workshop, or event, unless otherwise stated on our website or in published marketing materials. Each class, workshop, or event has a limited number of scholarships available. Early application submission is strongly encouraged.
Feedback. Scholarship Awardees are asked to briefly describe how the award of the Scholarship benefited them and/or their tribe/IHA/TDHE and any positive impact that it has had on the way they and/or their tribe/IHA/TDHE now does business. Specific examples of how the knowledge/practices/techniques learned at the training/event have been adopted/implemented by them and/or their tribe/IHA/TDHE are encouraged.
Cancellations. In the event a Scholarship has been awarded, and the Scholarship Awardee later decides not to attend the course/class/workshop/event (for whatever reason), then it is his/her responsibility to notify NAIHC (or the training/event sponsor, if other than NAIHC) immediately of their intent to cancel. Additionally, NAIHC is not responsible for pre-paid travel costs or other fees owed due to the individual’s decision to cancel his/her participation in a course/event.
NAIHC Attendee Cancellation Form
Travel/Lodging. It is the individual’s responsibility to make all necessary travel/lodging arrangements.
Advance Class/Workshop/Event Registration.In addition to applying for the Scholarship, individuals are responsible for registering for the course/class/workshop/event they plan to attend.
Note: The award of a scholarship for a class/workshop/event DOES NOT constitute registration for that course/class/workshop/event. Please refer to NAIHC’s website (http://www.naihc.net) to register for NAIHC sponsored courses/classes/workshops/events on-line.
On-Site Registration. While NAIHC shall make every effort to accommodate students, NAIHC can not guarantee a seat or training materials to those students who attempt to register on-site vs. pre-registering on-line. This includes those who have been awarded a Scholarship but failed to register in advance for the class.
Scholarship Monetary Limits.Each Scholarship Award will cover up to a maximum of one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200), or actual costs, whichever is less.
Reimbursements. Expenses incurred by the Scholarship Awardee shall be considered for payment on a reimbursement basis. In other words, the Scholarship Awardee or his/her tribe, IHA, or TDHE must pay a Scholarship Awardees’ travel expenses first. Following attendance at the course/class/workshop/event, the Scholarship Awardee must submit his/her scholarship “Travel Voucher” to NAIHC. NAIHC will provide reimbursement for "allowable" and “verifiable” expenses incurred. Reimbursements for Scholarship Program expenses shall be made via check and payable to the Scholarship Awardees’ Tribe/IHA/TDHE--NOT the individual awarded the Scholarship.
Attendance. Scholarship Awardees are required to attend all course/class/workshop/event sessions, as evidenced by the daily on-site sign-in sheets. This is a mandatory requirement and is necessary to ensure prompt reimbursement for expenses. Note: Failure to sign-in each day can jeopardize “full” reimbursement of eligible expenses.
Complete Travel Voucher. Scholarship Awardees are required to complete, sign, and submit a scholarship “Travel Voucher” to NAIHC to be eligible to receive reimbursement for travel expenses associated with a Scholarship. Vouchers must be filed within twenty-one (21) calendar days of completing the course/class/workshop/event and returning home.
Note 1: Failure to provide a signed travel voucher and all required supporting documentation can result in delayed reimbursement of claimed expenses.
Note 2: If the Travel Voucher has not been received by day 21, NAIHC will notify the scholarship awardee one time and remind them to submit.
Note 3: If 30 days have elapsed since a course/class/workshop/event ended, and NAIHC has still not received the scholarship awardees’ Travel Voucher, NAIHC will return the obligated funds to the scholarship budget pool for reallocation.
NAIHC Scholarship Travel Voucher
Supporting Receipts. Original receipts are required for all expenses being claimed for reimbursement and must accompany the scholarship “Travel Voucher.” If for some reason an original is not available, please provide a written explanation as to why they are not available and forward that to NAIHC along with your travel voucher.
Revisions to Program Guidelines. NAIHC reserves the right to modify its Scholarship Program guidelines as necessary based on the availability of funds and other applicable requirements.
HUD Acknowledgement. Funding for this activity has been provided through a cooperative agreement administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
For more information contact:
National American Indian Housing Council
900 2nd Street, NE, Suite 107
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202.789.1754 or Toll Free 800.284.9165