1) You must be enrolled in a state or federally recognized tribal nation. Applicants should be prepared to submit documentation of enrollment with the application.

 2) You must create art work or multiple works with the grant funds. You may work within any style, medium or genre that you like, but completed and in-progress works must be shared with Running Strong on your reports. You may use part of the grant funds for artistic development or marketing, but you must also create at least 1 work of art.

3) You must meet the minimum age requirements.  Individuals applying must be at least 18 years old at the time of application. Applicants 15-18 years old must partner with a Non-Profit organization. You must be at least 15 years old at the time of application.

4) You must use grant funds appropriately. Grant funds are to be used to complete art and expand your work. You are required to submit two expense reports (one with the program update, one with the Final Report) as proof of funds spent. Have a questions about qualifying expenses? Email Dreamstarter@indianyouth.org)

• June 6, 2025: Online Applications CLOSE
• June 20, 2025: Successful Dreamstarter Creative Grantees are announced on Running Strong website and Social Media.
• June 27, 2025: Dreamstarter Creative Grant monies dispersed via check to Individuals or Non-Profit Partners.
•  December 15, 2025: Project Update Due with photos, and expense report.
• June 30, 2026: End of Grant year, all monies must be spent.
• July 15, 2026: Final Grant Report Due, with photos and expense report.

Please have the below documents available to attach to this application.

1) Grant Budget and Budget Narrative.  Please include a detailed budget of how you will spend grant funds. Budget Narrative is an explanation of why line items are purchased and their uses.

2) Timeline Please submit a timeline of your project goals and objectives. List what you will accomplish each month.

3) W9 Every applicant will submit a completed and signed W9 form to verify where grant funds will be dispersed. If you are applying as an INDIVIDUAL complete and sign your own W9 form with your own information. If you are applying in partnership with a NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION a verified representative will need to complete and sign the W9 form for you to submit.

4) Tribal Enrollment Documentation Be prepared to share documentation of your Tribal Enrollment.

5) Art Work Samples Please submit 3-4 photos samples of your previous work, in the medium or genre you work in.

6) Headshot Please submit a headshot of yourself that you are willing to share on the Running Strong website and social media. Headshots should NOT include other people, animals or have heavy filters or emojis. Headshots should be 3/4 body or shoulders up, with your face clearly visible.

 7) Video Please submit a video you are willing to share on the Running Strong website and Social Media. Videos should be about 1 min long, in a horizontal aspect. Submit via link on the application, and be sure your video can be downloaded. YouTube is not an accepted sharing source for application videos.

You can find Application Attachment Materials here: https://bit.ly/DSCapptemplates

You can request a Dreamstarter Creative grant for an amount up to $2,500.  You may use this grant to create a series of art works, attend workshops, purchase supplies and equipment, cover marketing costs, provide giveaways, and create marketing materials. 

If successful, Dreamstarter Creative grants will be disbursed in 2 ways:
(1) One disbursements of up to $2,500 made out to the INDIVIDUAL APPLICANT – If grants are made out to the individual creative, we need a W9 with personal information.
(2) One disbursement of up to $2,500 made out to a partnering NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION – If grants are made to a non-profit organization, we need a W9 from the organization.

Requirements: 
1) You must create at least one work of art with your Dreamstarter Creative Grant funds during your grant year.You must submit photos of work you create throughout your grant year with the grant funds.  
2) You must spend all of the grant monies within the grant period June 30th 2025-June 30th 2026.
3) You must submit two reports outlining your progress, which includes an expense report outlining how grant funds have been spent. Progress report due December 15 2025, Final Report Due July 15, 2026.