Application Information:

Going Home Fund Action Grants will range from $500 to $25,000 depending on the proposed activities, project needs, and available funding.

Applicants may request support for a specific activity or a series of preliminary steps that will help advance an opportunity for the return, reconnection, or culturally appropriate stewardship of Indigenous cultural belongings and collections.

The grant supports the return of cultural items to Native communities, including:

•  Ceremonial objects
•  Sacred items
•  Regalia
•  Cultural patrimony
•  Other community-identified cultural materials held in museums, private collections, or institutions

The grant does not provide support for the repatriation of:

•  Ancestral human remains, or
•  Items subject to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)

Requests involving NAGPRA-eligible items should be directed to the National NAGPRA Program, administered by the National Park Service

We encourage applicants to reach out with any questions about whether their request falls within the scope of the Going Home Fund by emailing goinghomefund@atalm.org. 

Grant Award Amounts: 

$500–$25,000

Application Period: 

November 6 - December 7, 2026

Project Period: 

December 17, 2026 - May 15, 2027

Expenses Covered by the Going Home Fund Grant

The Fund supports direct costs associated with the return of cultural items (not including ancestral remains or NAGPRA-covered items). Expenses must be documented, reasonable, and necessary. Allowable expenses include:

Eligible Costs

• Packing and Crating
• Archival or culturally appropriate materials
• Custom mounts or containers
• Shipping and transportation
• Insurance during transportation
• Domestic or international courier services (when standard shipping is not feasible)
• Customs or brokerage fees
• Object documentation, photography, or digitization
• Research to confirm origin or identify items for return
• Light conservation or stabilization to allow safe transport
• Testing for toxic substances
• Travel to inspect, consult on, or accompany items home
• Modest honoraria for traditional knowledge holders involved in return protocols
• Items needed to properly return or rehouse objects (e.g., cloth, herbs, bundles)
• Other expenses will be considered on a case-by-case basis

 Expenses Not Covered

• Repatriation of ancestral remains
• Items covered by NAGPRA
• Indirect or overhead expenses
• Storage cabinets, database systems, long-term conservation
• Staff salaries or general operating costs
• Events, signage, or displays not directly tied to item return

Application Criteria

• Be a USA-based federally or state recognized Tribe, Native Hawaiian Organization, or Alaska Native Village. 
• Have a secure community plan or cultural facility for the safe reception, stewardship, or ceremonial care of the item(s).
• Demonstrate a clear cultural, genealogical, or historic affiliation to the item. 
• Have a written commitment from the lending or donor institution.
• Return must be in active negotiation or a ready-to-transfer return.

Selection Criteria

1. Cultural Significance: The cultural, ceremonial, historical, or community significance of the item(s) and the importance of their return to the Native community.
2. Community Connection and Affiliation: The applicant's demonstrated cultural, historical, or genealogical connection to the item(s) and the community's interest in bringing them home.
3. Readiness and Feasibility: The status of return negotiations, confirmation of the lending or donor institution's commitment, and the applicant's ability to complete the proposed activities within the project period.
4. Community Care and Stewardship: The applicant's plan and capacity to receive, care for, and appropriately steward the item(s), including consideration of cultural protocols and community needs.
5. Reasonableness of Budget: Whether the proposed expenses are reasonable, necessary, clearly documented, and directly related to facilitating the return.
6. Impact of Funding: The extent to which the requested support will help move the return forward, address barriers, or make the return possible.

Application and Award Process

1. Submit this form with the appropriate documentation by Monday, December 7, 2026.
2. Applicants will be notified by Friday, December 11, 2026 as to the status of their request. 
3. If selected, applicants will need to sign and submit award agreement paperwork by Thursday, December 17, 2026. Award payments will be made by December 31, 2026. 

Using the Submittable Platform

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2. Save a draft of your work if you would like to complete it later. More information on saving your work may be found here. 
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The Going Home Fund is made possible through generous major support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and dedicated individual contributors committed to Indigenous cultural sovereignty. 

The Call for Session Proposals for ATALM2027 is now open! Join us September 28 – 30, 2027, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, to share your knowledge and experience with colleagues from across Indian Country and beyond.

Every year, the ATALM conference brings together practitioners dedicated to safeguarding Indigenous cultural heritage, advancing tribal sovereignty, and implementing community-driven solutions. For 2027, we are seeking sessions that showcase replicable toolkits, tackle emerging ethical and technological shifts, and center Indigenous voices and self-determination.

Please submit a separate proposal for each session. 

For details on session types, focus areas, FAQs, and submission guidance, visit the ATALM Call for Proposals webpage. Examples from past conferences are available in Past Programs.

Presenter support and conference scholarships are available on a limited basis to help offset registration and lodging costs. Priority consideration is given to presenters serving Native communities and/or contributing more than one session. Support must be approved in advance and does not waive registration requirements unless explicitly stated. 

 PRESENTER KEY DATES:

• January 29, 2027 – Proposal submission deadline 
• March 9, 2027 – Program accept/decline notifications distributed
• March 19, 2027 – Deadline to accept or withdraw
• April 14, 2027 – Preliminary Program Book published online
• June 15, 2027 – Presenter registration deadline 
• July 22, 2027 – Final edits for program book due
• September 28–30, 2027 – ATALM2027 Conference (Grand Sierra Resort - Reno, NV) 

 BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

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Established in 2007, the Guardian Awards honor and recognize individuals who contribute to the vitality and cultural sovereignty of Native Nations.  

2027 Guardian Awardees will be recognized on Wednesday, September 29 during ATALM’s International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums in Reno, Nevada on September 28 - 30.

You may nominate as many individuals as you wish. Please use a separate form for each nomination. 

To nominate an organization or initiative, please use the Community Impact Nomination form.

More information about the ATALM Guardian Awards Program, including list of past award recipients and nomination categories, is available on the ATALM website. 

The deadline to submit nominations for the 2027 Guardians Award Program is May 19, 2027.

KEY DATES:

• May 19, 2027 - Deadline for submitting nominations
• June 22, 2027 - Guardian Awards announced
• September 28 - 30, 2027 - ATALM Conference, Reno, Nevada

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

1. The Submittable platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, current versions of Microsoft Edge, and Safari.
2. Save a draft of your work if you would like to complete it later. More information on saving your work may be found here. 
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The Community Impact Awards acknowledge and celebrate initiatives that exemplify community engagement, innovation, and overall excellence. Initiatives that are replicable in other communities receive priority consideration.

USA-based and international organizations may submit multiple projects/services for consideration, but a new form must be submitted for each initiative. 

2027 Awardees will be recognized on Wednesday, September 29 during ATALM’s International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums in Reno, Nevada on September 28 - 30.

You may nominate as many individuals as you wish. Please use a separate form for each nomination. 

To nominate an individual for recognition, please use the Guardians of Culture and Lifeways form.

The deadline for nominations is May 19, 2027

KEY DATES:

• May 19, 2027 - Deadline for submitting nominations
• June 22, 2027 - Community Impact Awards announced
• September 28 - 30, 2027 – ATALM Conference, Reno, Nevada

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

1. The Submittable platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, current versions of Microsoft Edge, and Safari.
2. Save a draft of your work if you would like to complete it later. More information on saving your work may be found here. 
3. If you need to make changes to an application you have already submitted before June 11th, you may request authorization to edit the submission. More information on requesting changes may be found here.
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ATALM is committed to ensuring that the ATALM Conference features diverse voices, honors Indigenous knowledge, and remains accessible to presenters from a wide range of communities, institutions, and circumstances. To support this goal, ATALM offers limited Presenter Support to help offset the cost of conference attendance for qualifying presenters.

Read the full ATALM Presenter Support Policy

Presenter Support is prioritized for:

• Native presenters
• Presenters leading multiple sessions
• Presenters whose participation is essential to the program and whose organizations cannot provide financial assistance

What Presenter Support Covers:  Support may include full or partial assistance with conference registration, depending on available resources. Travel support is not typically provided unless otherwise specified.

How Support Requests Are Considered:  Session proposals are evaluated primarily on their quality, relevance, and contribution to a balanced and meaningful program. Because Presenter Support funds are limited, support requests may be taken into account during final program planning, but they will not be the sole determining factor in session selection.

Presenter Responsibility: Those requesting Presenter Support are asked to do so only if needed. Presenters receiving support are expected to attend the full conference, prepare high-quality sessions, and actively contribute to the exchange of knowledge that defines the ATALM experience.

Commitment to Accessibility:  ATALM strives to reduce financial barriers to participation and encourages presenters from all backgrounds, especially Native communities, to submit proposals.

PRESENTER KEY DATES:

• March 9, 2027 - Deadline for submitting presenter support requests
• June 15, 2027 – All Presenters must be registered to attend the Conference
• September 28 – 30, 2027 – ATALM2027 Conference (Grand Sierra Resort - Reno, NV) 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN: 

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Scholarship funds are made available through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and contributions from other generous donors. 

ATALM2026 SCHOLAR KEY DATES: 

• March 8, 2027 - Deadline to submit application
• April 14, 2027 - ATALM2026 Scholars announced
• April 28, 2027 - Deadline to accept scholarship
• June 15, 2027 - Scholars must be registered to attend the Conference
• September 3, 2027 - Travel must be confirmed
• September 28 - 30, 2027 - ATALM Conference, Reno, Nevada

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

1. The Submittable platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, current versions of Microsoft Edge, and Safari.
2. Save a draft of your work if you would like to complete it later. More information on saving your work may be found here. 
3. If you need to make changes to an application you have already submitted before the deadline, you may withdraw your submission, edit it, and resubmit. More information on editing submitted applications may be found here.
4. If the information you submitted changes after the deadline, you may request authorization to edit the submission. More information on requesting changes may be found here.
5. Once you submit your application, you will receive automated emails from Submittable confirming your submission. Please be sure to safelist emails from notifications@email.submittable.com. More information may be found here.

The Going Home Fund facilitates the return or long-term loan of culturally significant materials to Indigenous cultural entities worldwide. This form is for use by Indigenous communities seeking support. Eligible expenses include insurance, packaging, shipping, and other costs associated with the return. 

You may request funding for the return of multiple items from the same institution. However, if you are seeking the return of items from multiple institutions, a new form must be submitted for each institution.

Please send questions and additional documentation to president@atalm.org.

The Going Home Fund is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and hundreds of individual donors.