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.
Giving
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.
This giving opportunity is a significant step forward in providing structure for our collective multicultural learning and development.
Donate to the 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.