Tribal Self-Governance Planning Cooperative Agreement Program
🏛 Indian Health Service
Can you apply?
This grant is for federally recognized Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal health authorities seeking to plan for self-governance in health care delivery and management. Activities supported include developing governance frameworks, strategic planning, capacity building related to self-governance transitions, and preparation for assuming greater control over Indian Health Service programs and services. This is typically a planning-stage grant, and applicants must demonstrate federal recognition and governance authority within their tribal nation. Geographic scope is limited to federally recognized tribes across the United States.
Key dates
- Jun 3, 2026 Applications open
- Jul 31, 2026 Award announced
- Aug 1, 2026 Project start
- Aug 3, 2026 Application deadline in 51 days
Program description
The TSGP allows Tribes to negotiate with the IHS to assume Programs, Services, Functions, and Activities (PSFAs), in whole or in part. This gives Tribes the authority to manage and tailor health care programs to best suit the needs of their communities.
Participation in the TSGP gives Tribes flexibility to tailor their health care needs by choosing one of three ways to get health care from the Federal Government for their citizens.
Tribes can choose to:
- Get health care services directly from the IHS.
- Contract with the IHS to administer individual programs and services the IHS would otherwise provide (referred to as Title I Self-Determination Contracting).
- Compact with the IHS to assume control over health care programs the IHS would otherwise provide (referred to as Title V Self-Governance Compacting or the TSGP).
These options are not exclusive. Tribes may choose to combine options based on their individual needs and circumstances.
This Planning Cooperative Agreement’s purpose is to provide resources to:
- Tribes interested in entering the TSGP.
- Existing Self-Governance Tribes interested in assuming new or expanded PSFAs
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supplement (Tribal Certifications)
- Project Narrative (work plan with specific planning objectives and deliverables)
- Budget and Budget Narrative (detailed cost breakdown with justification)
- Tribal Resolution or Board Authorization (approval from tribe's governing body)
- Organizational Capacity Documentation (governance structure, staffing, past grants management)
- Letters of Support (from tribal leadership and health board)
- Proof of Federal Recognition (IHS list documentation)
- Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Division of Grants Management
- 📧 DGM@ihs.gov
- 📞 301-443-5204
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.444 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$180,000
-
$180,000
-
$180,000
-
$180,000
-
$180,000
-
$180,000
-
$180,000
-
$178,355
-
$136,000
-
$103,740
Top States by Funding
- WA 3 awards $0.4M
- OK 4 awards $0.4M
- WY 2 awards $0.3M
- CA 2 awards $0.3M
- FL 1 awards $0.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.444). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2017 | $216,000 | |
| 2018 est. | $840,000 | |
| 2019 | $816,000 | |
| 2020 | $816,000 | |
| 2021 | $235,721 | |
| 2022 | $540,000 | |
| 2024 est. | $1,068,000 | |
| 2025 est. | $1,584,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for Tribal Self-Governance Planning grants?
Federally recognized Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal health authorities are eligible. Applicants must have federal recognition status and governance capacity to administer health programs.
What types of activities does this grant support?
The grant supports planning activities including developing self-governance frameworks, strategic health planning, capacity-building assessments, policy development, and preparation for assuming greater operational control of tribal health systems.
What is the typical funding range for this grant?
Funding amounts typically vary based on the scope of planning activities and tribal population size. Competition is moderately strong given the specialized nature of applicants.
How competitive is this grant?
This grant is moderately competitive. Success depends on clearly articulated planning goals, demonstrated tribal governance capacity, and realistic budgets tied to specific self-governance milestones.
When is the application deadline?
The application open date is August 14, 2025. Specific deadline information should be verified through Grants.gov and the Indian Health Service website.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate your tribe's vision for self-governance and how this planning grant will support transition from IHS-managed to tribally-managed health systems
- Build strong partnerships with tribal leadership, health boards, and staff to demonstrate organizational readiness and buy-in for self-governance planning
- Include concrete deliverables such as governance charters, policy manuals, financial management protocols, and implementation timelines in your proposed work plan
- Document current capacity gaps and explain how planning activities will build tribal infrastructure, workforce skills, and management systems needed for autonomous operation
- Align your self-governance planning with broader tribal strategic plans, economic development initiatives, and community health priorities to show integration with tribal goals
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they lack specific, measurable outcomes from the planning process or don't demonstrate sufficient tribal governance capacity to implement self-governance. Weak proposals underestimate the complexity of health system governance transitions or focus too narrowly on budgeting without addressing organizational, policy, and workforce development needs essential for successful self-governance.
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