Indigenous Language Technology Grant Application

Preserve and Revitalize Indigenous Languages with Technology

Indigenous languages around the world face the urgent threat of extinction, with many having fewer than 1,000 speakers remaining. Technology offers powerful tools to document, preserve, and revitalize these languages for future generations. Our Indigenous Language Technology Grant supports projects that leverage speech recognition, translation software, digital dictionaries, and mobile learning applications to keep Indigenous languages alive and thriving.

Why Apply for This Grant?

This grant program funds innovative technology projects that serve Indigenous communities in their language preservation and revitalization efforts. Whether you're developing speech-to-text systems for endangered languages, creating mobile apps for youth learners, building comprehensive digital dictionaries, or designing translation tools to bridge generational gaps, this funding can turn your vision into reality.

We support projects at every stage—from early research and development to scaling proven solutions. Our grant recipients include tribal organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit language programs, technology developers working in partnership with Indigenous communities, and Indigenous-led startups building language technology solutions.

Streamlined Application Process with Paperform

This Indigenous Language Technology Grant application is built on Paperform, making it easy to submit a comprehensive proposal without wrestling with complicated PDF forms or multiple email attachments. The intuitive form guides you through each section, from project overview to budget details, ensuring you provide all the information our review committee needs to evaluate your proposal.

With Paperform's conditional logic, you'll only see questions relevant to your specific project type and organizational structure. Upload supporting documents directly within the form, add multiple team members, and save your progress to complete the application over several sessions. The clean, accessible design ensures that community elders, language keepers, educators, and technology developers can all participate in the application process.

Technology Solutions That Make a Difference

Successful grant applications typically focus on one or more technology categories:

Speech Recognition & Voice Technology: Develop automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems trained on Indigenous language audio data, voice-activated learning tools, or speech synthesis systems that can speak Indigenous languages with proper pronunciation and intonation.

Translation Tools: Create bidirectional translation applications between Indigenous languages and dominant languages, contextual translation systems that preserve cultural meaning, or real-time interpretation tools for community meetings and educational settings.

Digital Dictionaries: Build comprehensive searchable dictionaries with audio pronunciations, etymological information, usage examples from elders, multimedia content showing cultural context, and crowdsourcing features for community contributions.

Mobile Learning Applications: Design engaging language learning apps for children and adults, gamified learning experiences, augmented reality tools that connect language to place, or social platforms where speakers can practice with each other.

What Sets This Application Apart

The application form is specifically designed for Indigenous language technology projects, with questions that address the unique considerations of this work. You'll describe your community partnerships, explain how elders and fluent speakers are involved in development, outline your data sovereignty and intellectual property protections, and demonstrate cultural sensitivity in your approach.

We understand that Indigenous language technology projects require more than just technical expertise—they demand deep community collaboration, respect for traditional knowledge, and commitment to Indigenous data sovereignty. The application allows you to showcase these essential elements alongside your technical capabilities.

After You Submit

Once submitted through Paperform, your application automatically routes to our review committee while you receive an instant confirmation. The form integrates seamlessly with our grant management systems through Stepper workflow automation, ensuring your proposal moves efficiently through initial review, community consultation, technical assessment, and funding decision stages.

If you need to provide additional documentation or revisions, we can easily request updates through the same system. Approved applications can even flow directly into Papersign for digital signature on grant agreements, keeping the entire process fast, transparent, and paperless.

Supporting Indigenous Communities, Languages, and Culture

This grant application template represents more than just a funding form—it's a commitment to supporting Indigenous communities in their self-determined language revitalization efforts. By making the application process accessible, respectful, and efficient, we remove barriers that might prevent vital projects from receiving the support they deserve.

Paperform's flexible platform allows us to honor the diversity of Indigenous communities worldwide, supporting applications in multiple languages, accommodating different organizational structures from formal nonprofits to community-led initiatives, and respecting various approaches to technology development.

Ready to Apply?

If you're developing technology that serves Indigenous language communities—whether you're a tribal education program, university research team, nonprofit language organization, or Indigenous-led tech company—this grant could provide the funding you need. The application takes approximately 45-60 minutes to complete and includes sections on project description, community partnerships, technical approach, team qualifications, budget, timeline, and expected outcomes.

Start your application today and join the growing movement of Indigenous language technology innovators who are ensuring these precious languages thrive for generations to come. Together, we can harness the power of modern technology to honor, preserve, and celebrate the linguistic heritage of Indigenous peoples worldwide.