Giving Opportunities
Support Tribal Nations Student Services and its mission to retain and empower Native American students at the University of Idaho. Your contributions help create lasting change by funding initiatives that inspire growth, leadership and cultural pride.
Your generosity directly impacts students by providing scholarships that help them achieve academic success, leadership programs that cultivate future leaders and mentorship and ambassador opportunities that guide and connect students. Additionally, your support contributes to cultural events and activities, including the Tuximinmepu Powwow and Native American Heritage Month, which celebrate and preserve Native traditions.
Join us in fostering community, building resilience and empowering the next generation of Native American leaders. Your support makes a difference.
At University of Idaho, Tribal Nations Student Services is dedicated to retaining Native American students and empowering them to thrive. Your donations fuel a wide range of impactful initiatives, including:
- Scholarships to support academic achievement.
- Leadership opportunities to cultivate future leaders.
- Mentor and ambassador programs to guide and inspire students.
- Cultural programming and activities, such as the Tuximinmepu Powwow and Native American Heritage Month, to celebrate and preserve Native identity.
Your generosity helps students feel connected to campus and builds a foundation for their success. Supporting Tribal Nations Student Services means contributing to the ongoing empowerment of Native American students and ensuring the center’s enduring impact.
By giving to Tribal Nations Student Servicesr, you help us carry out our mission of fostering growth, leadership and community while inspiring the cultural values that are vital to our Native identity.
By contributing to this fund, donors will honor Dr. Taylor’s memory and his dedication to fostering learning and building meaningful community connections. Alongside Anthony S. Davis and Jeremiah R. Pinto, Dr. Taylor co-taught the Native Hawaiian Culture and Ecology course. This program was designed for U of I Native American students, offering them the opportunity to engage in ecological restoration service-learning projects in Hawaii while exploring the culture, ecology and climate of the islands. Donations to this fund will directly support the sustainability of this impactful program.
Donate to the Dr. Art Taylor Indigenous Culture & Ecology Memorial Fund.
Tribal Nations Student Services is eligible for matching funds as part of the American Indian Education Foundation Challenge Grant program.
Money donated goes to work immediately, allowing bright and talented students to focus on their studies instead of financial concerns.
Many colleges, even those with relatively large Native American populations, do not have sufficient resources to help these students. The need for financial assistance, coupled with a sense of isolation and lack of support, discourages many minority students from pursuing higher education.
The American Indian Education Foundation offers a Challenge Grant service to act as a catalyst for the creation of new Native American scholarships by encouraging public and tribal colleges to seek funds specifically for this purpose. The AIEF program offers up to $20,000 annually for three years to match new gifts at University of Idaho.
Donate to the American Indian Education Foundation Challenge Grant.
The Hardy Foundation is deeply committed to helping Native American students succeed. Through their generous donations, the foundation established an emergency fund at University of Idaho to support Native American students facing unexpected financial hardships.
About the Hardys
Barbara Hardy graduated from University of Idaho in 1967 with a degree in Education. Born and raised in Spokane, she devoted 28 years to teaching elementary education before retiring in 2007. Today, she co-owns a house staging business in Twin Falls and continues to champion education and the University of Idaho.
Ron Hardy has been a passionate advocate for Native American education for decades. His involvement began in 1980 with the Makah Tribe through Dr. Ernie Brannon, collaborating on projects that expanded to partnerships with other tribes. In 2000, Ron helped establish a formal program with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, conducting groundbreaking research on salmon and steelhead genetics.
Ron earned degrees from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science and doctorate) and Washington State University. A native of western Washington, he served on the University of Washington faculty for 27 years and joined University of Idaho in 1996, eventually becoming Director of the Aquaculture Research Institute in 2002.
A Focus on Retention
The Hardys recognized that recruitment alone was not enough to ensure Native American students’ success — retention was just as critical. Their scholarship fund was established to address this need, providing financial relief during emergencies so students can stay in school and navigate personal or family challenges without interruption.
The Hardys personally contribute to the fund annually, as do their friends and colleagues, underscoring their unwavering commitment to supporting Native American students.
The Mari Watters Scholarship Endowment is a powerful testament to Mari Watters' legacy, blending her lifelong dedication to education, cultural preservation and advocacy for Native American communities. Contributing to this fund supports her mission and honors her remarkable contributions, such as:
- Promoting Education: Mari's own journey through higher education at University of Idaho, where she earned a degree in social anthropology, underpinned her commitment to learning. The scholarship now enables Native American students to follow in her footsteps, pursuing academic opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
- Cultural Preservation: Mari's work as a storyteller and educator of Nez Perce traditions exemplified her dedication to keeping her heritage alive. She taught Nez Perce language and culture, ensuring these important traditions were passed to future generations.
- Advocacy and Leadership: As the first woman chair of the Nez Perce Tribe General Council, Mari broke barriers and inspired others to take on leadership roles. Her work with organizations like the Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians also highlights her broader impact on Native communities.
- Empowering Future Leaders: Through her involvement with Upward Bound and other programs, Mariinvested in young people, helping them realize their potential and aspire to leadership.
Your support for the Mari Watters Scholarship Endowment amplifies her lifelong mission of fostering education, cultural awareness and advocacy for Native American students. By contributing, you help sustain her vision and ensure that her legacy continues to inspire and empower future generations.
The Dr. Georgia Johnson Memorial Scholarship Endowment honors the legacy of Dr. Georgia Johnson, a dedicated professor in education and a passionate advocate for the Native American community. This scholarship is awarded to degree-seeking students at University of Idaho who are enrolled members of a federally recognized Native American tribe.
Preference is given to students pursuing studies in Elementary or Secondary Education, reflecting Dr. Johnson’s commitment to fostering quality education. Secondary preference is given to students studying Native American Law, emphasizing her dedication to advancing justice and opportunities for Native American communities.
Dr. Johnson’s enduring contributions as an educator and her steadfast support for Native American students and communities inspire the mission of this endowment: to support academic success and empower future leaders.
Donate to Dr. Georgia Johnson Memorial Scholarship Endowment