American Indian College Fund

The American Indian College Fund is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to investing in Native students and tribal college education to transform lives and communities. Established in 1989, its core mission is to provide American Indian and Alaska Native students with access to and success in higher education. The organization's headquarters are located in Denver, Colorado.

The College Fund's primary services include providing scholarships and comprehensive programming for American Indian and Alaska Native students pursuing certificate, undergraduate, or graduate degrees. It is recognized as the nation's largest private provider of scholarships for American Indian students, having awarded over 100,000 scholarships since its inception, with an average of 4,000 to 6,000 scholarships annually. Beyond direct student support, the organization also provides financial and programmatic assistance to the 34 accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), including capital grants, cultural and language preservation initiatives, early childhood education programs, faculty development fellowships, and college readiness and career development programs.

Led by President and CEO Cheryl Crazy Bull, the American Indian College Fund maintains a strong market position as the largest charity supporting Native student access to higher education. The organization consistently receives high ratings from independent charity evaluators such as Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, and GuideStar, reflecting its commitment to transparency and accountability. Recent activities include advocating for consistent and robust federal funding for TCUs amidst proposed budget changes, and staff contributions to research supporting Indigenous women's leadership. The 2026-2027 scholarship application cycle is currently open, continuing its efforts to empower Native scholars.