Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2026 ACF ANA NB 0116
The Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance - Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI) grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), focused on keeping Native languages strong through immersion-based education. The central goal is to support community-driven projects that actively use Native languages as the main language of instruction, so children and students learn in the language rather than only learning about it. This opportunity is tied to the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act and is designed to strengthen the long-term vitality of Native languages by increasing fluent speakers and normalizing daily language use in educational settings.
Projects funded through EMI must operate as one of two specific program models defined in federal law: a Native American Language Nest or a Native American Survival School. A Language Nest is a site-based early childhood program that combines instruction and child care delivered through a Native American language. To qualify, it must serve at least 5 children under age 7 and provide an average of at least 500 hours per year per child in the Native language environment. A Native American Survival School is a site-based program for school-age students where instruction happens through one or more Native American languages. To qualify, it must provide an average of at least 500 hours of instruction and serve at least 10 students for whom the survival school is their principal place of instruction. In other words, the immersion program needs to be a core educational setting for the students, not just an occasional after-school or supplemental activity.
Eligibility is broad across Native-serving and Native-led entities, but it is still clearly defined. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian tribes (as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs), incorporated non-federally recognized tribes, incorporated state-recognized tribes, and consortia of tribes. The opportunity also allows a wide range of incorporated nonprofit community-based Indian organizations, including Urban Indian Organizations and Urban Indian Centers, as well as Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs). In Alaska, eligible applicants include Alaska Native villages and/or nonprofit village consortia under ANCSA, nonprofit Alaska Native organizations proposing village-specific projects, incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multipurpose community-based organizations, and nonprofit Alaska Native regional corporations or associations with village-specific projects, along with other nonprofit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies recognized by BIA (including IRA or Traditional Councils). The program also includes public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native Hawaiians, and public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native peoples from Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Tribal Colleges and Universities are eligible, as are colleges and universities in Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa or CNMI that serve Native American Pacific Islanders. Faith-based and community organizations may apply as long as they meet the stated eligibility requirements.
There are also clear ineligibilities. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, cannot apply and will be disqualified from merit review. Foreign entities are also not eligible. The funding opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 93.587, and the activity category is described as Income Security and Social Services, which is consistent with ANA programs that support community well-being through culturally grounded strategies.
For this specific competition, the opportunity number is HHS 2026 ACF ANA NB 0116, and applications are due by 2026-08-07. The award ceiling is $900,000, and ANA expects to make about 6 awards. Overall, the EMI grant is intended for applicants who can run a true immersion setting at meaningful scale and intensity (at least 500 hours per student annually) and who are prepared to deliver a site-based program that builds language use into everyday learning for young children (Language Nests) or school-age students (Survival Schools).Apply for HHS 2026 ACF ANA NB 0116
- The Administration for Children and Families - ANA in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance-Esther Martinez Immersion" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.587.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance - Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI) grant?
The Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI) grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). It supports immersion-based education projects designed to keep Native languages strong by using a Native language as the primary language of instruction in a real educational setting.
What is the main goal of the EMI grant?
The central goal is to strengthen the long-term vitality of Native languages by increasing fluent speakers and normalizing daily Native language use in educational environments. The program is focused on learning in the language (immersion), not only learning about the language.
What type of approach does EMI fund: language classes or immersion?
EMI is designed for immersion-based education where a Native language is used as the main language of instruction. It is intended for programs that create meaningful, daily language use as part of instruction, rather than occasional lessons or limited supplemental instruction.
What program models are allowed under EMI?
EMI-funded projects must operate as one of two models defined in federal law: (1) a Native American Language Nest or (2) a Native American Survival School.
What is a Native American Language Nest?
A Native American Language Nest is a site-based early childhood program that combines instruction and child care delivered through a Native American language.
What are the minimum requirements for a Language Nest?
To qualify as a Language Nest, the program must (1) serve at least 5 children under age 7, and (2) provide an average of at least 500 hours per year per child in the Native language environment.
What is a Native American Survival School?
A Native American Survival School is a site-based program for school-age students where instruction happens through one or more Native American languages.
What are the minimum requirements for a Survival School?
To qualify as a Survival School, the program must (1) provide an average of at least 500 hours of instruction, and (2) serve at least 10 students for whom the survival school is their principal place of instruction.
Does the Survival School have to be the student’s main educational setting?
Yes. The information provided states that the immersion program needs to be a core educational setting for participating students, not an occasional after-school program or a supplemental activity.
Is there a minimum number of instructional hours required per student?
Yes. Both eligible models require at least 500 hours annually on average (per child in the Language Nest model, and as instruction in the Survival School model).
Are programs required to be site-based?
Yes. Both the Language Nest and Survival School models are described as site-based programs.
Who is eligible to apply for the EMI grant?
Eligibility includes a broad set of Native-serving and Native-led entities as described in the opportunity, including various tribal governments, tribal consortia, and incorporated nonprofit organizations serving Native communities, as well as certain public or nonprofit agencies serving Native Hawaiian and U.S. territory Native peoples.
Are federally recognized tribes eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Indian tribes (as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs) are listed as eligible applicants.
Are non-federally recognized or state-recognized tribes eligible?
Yes. Incorporated non-federally recognized tribes and incorporated state-recognized tribes are listed as eligible applicants.
Can a consortium of tribes apply?
Yes. Consortia of tribes are listed as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofit community-based Indian organizations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity allows a wide range of incorporated nonprofit community-based Indian organizations, including Urban Indian Organizations and Urban Indian Centers.
Are Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs) eligible?
Yes. Native CDFIs are explicitly included as eligible applicants.
Who is eligible in Alaska under this opportunity?
In Alaska, eligible applicants include Alaska Native villages and/or nonprofit village consortia under ANCSA; nonprofit Alaska Native organizations proposing village-specific projects; incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multipurpose community-based organizations; nonprofit Alaska Native regional corporations or associations with village-specific projects; and other nonprofit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies recognized by BIA (including IRA or Traditional Councils).
Are organizations serving Native Hawaiians eligible?
Yes. Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native Hawaiians are included as eligible applicants.
Are organizations serving Native peoples from Guam, American Samoa, or CNMI eligible?
Yes. Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native peoples from Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are included as eligible applicants.
Are Tribal Colleges and Universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Tribal Colleges and Universities are listed as eligible applicants.
Are colleges and universities in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, or CNMI eligible?
Yes. Colleges and universities in Hawaii, Guam, and American Samoa or CNMI that serve Native American Pacific Islanders are included as eligible.
Can faith-based organizations apply?
Yes. Faith-based organizations may apply as long as they meet the stated eligibility requirements.
Can individuals apply for the EMI grant?
No. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible and will be disqualified from merit review.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are not eligible.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this grant?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number provided is 93.587.
What is the opportunity number for this competition?
The opportunity number listed for this specific competition is HHS 2026 ACF ANA NB 0116.
What is the application due date?
Applications are due by 2026-08-07.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling for this competition is $900,000.
How many awards does ANA expect to make?
ANA expects to make about 6 awards for this competition.
What kind of projects is this grant intended to support in practice?
This opportunity is intended for applicants who can run a true immersion setting at meaningful scale and intensity, meeting the 500-hours-per-student annual threshold and operating a site-based program that builds Native language use into everyday learning for young children (Language Nests) or school-age students (Survival Schools).
What law is the EMI opportunity associated with?
The opportunity is tied to the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act.
What is the activity category associated with this funding opportunity?
The activity category is described as Income Security and Social Services, consistent with ANA programs that support community well-being through culturally grounded strategies.
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