History and Objectives
 
The Native American Preparatory Scholars (NAPS) Fund was formally established as an endowed Field of Interest Fund in 2012 with the intention to increase the number of New Mexico Native American students who shall be prepared for, and graduate from college or university. The endowed fund was created from the remaining assets of the former Native American Preparatory School located in Rowe, NM, which served as a private boarding school for Native students from 1995-2002.
 
The NAPS Fund was established in response to the need to increase the graduation rates of Native students in New Mexico as the persistence rate was, and continues to be unacceptably low. The NAPS Fund focuses on Native student support programs at the secondary, pre-collegiate, and college level so that students will be far more likely to enroll in, and graduate from college/university.
 
To accomplish this mission, the NAPS Fund supports programs and initiatives directly related to preparing Native American students to enroll in college and to support them while in college to increase the likelihood that they will persist and graduate from college. Grants may support resources and programs necessary for Native students to prepare them for college, and also for mentorship and support services while they are in college.
  
Past NAPS Grantmaking
 
Since 2014, NMF has awarded grants to Native American serving organizations and institutions in order to to support programs and initiatives that directly prepare and mentor Native American students while in college, with the goal of increasing the likelihood they will graduate from college or university.
The following organizations have been awarded grants:
 
College Horizons (Statewide)
Leadership Institute at Santa Fe Indian School (Santa Fe)
Laguna Community Foundation (Laguna Pueblo & Cibola County)
Native American Community Academy Foundation in partnership with Central New  Mexico Community College (Bernalillo County & surrounding tribes)
Pueblo of Zuni
Navajo Technical University (Crownpoint)
NMSU American Indian Center (Las Cruces)
Northern NM College (Española) in partnership with Santa Fe Indian School
UNM Community Engagement Center Tribal Service Corp (Albuquerque)