For far too long, Native nations have been forced to navigate systems that were never designed for them. Federal programs promised to right historical wrongs, but as those lifelines disappear, one man is stepping in to ensure tribal communities still have a shot at shaping their future on their terms.
That man is Jeremy Zahn—an enrolled member of the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe, descended from both the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Choctaw Nation. From his base in Dallas, Texas, Zahn is leading a quiet revolution in Indigenous funding access through his firm, Tribal Grant Writing.
To some, grant writing sounds like paperwork. To the Native communities Zahn serves, it’s survival. “When we talk about grants, we’re not just talking about money,” Zahn says. “We’re talking about whether a child grows up in their culture, whether an Elder has heat in the winter, whether our languages live or die.”
Since launching Tribal Grant Writing, Zahn has partnered with more than 50 tribal governments, urban Indian centers, and Native-led nonprofits nationwide. His projects range from bringing electricity to a California reservation for the first time, to building a homeless shelter rooted in Native cultural care.
The stakes are high. With billions in tribal-serving programs at risk, every successful application could mean the difference between survival and decline. Zahn has helped Native communities secure more than $130 million in competitive grants from agencies like SAMHSA, FEMA, IHS, DARPA, and the DOJ. His sliding-scale and subscription-based services remove cost as a barrier, opening the door for underserved tribes to compete in a funding landscape that is as complex as it is competitive.
Zahn’s mission is clear: translate the language of bureaucracy into a tool for nation-building. “We’re at a crossroads,” he says. “It’s not about chasing dollars—it’s about building systems that endure, that reflect who we are and keep our communities whole.”
For many tribes, those systems are the final thread holding possibility together. And with Jeremy Zahn’s help, that thread just might be strong enough to weave a future worthy of the generations to come.
Learn more at www.tribalgrantwriting.com
Managing Editor | OMGCulture.com
Retired U.S. Army Combat Veteran | NAHJ Member | Writer | Cultural Advocate
Daniel Crespo-Montero Sr., also known as El Indio Gordo, is the Managing Editor of OMGCulture.com, a retired United States Army combat veteran, NAHJ member, writer, and advocate for cultural preservation and community empowerment.
Drawing on more than three decades of military service, Daniel brings experience in military law enforcement, paralegal work, and human resources. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish and an Associate degree in Small Business Entrepreneurship, providing a diverse foundation for his work in journalism, cultural storytelling, and community engagement.
Deeply connected to his Indigenous Caribbean roots, Daniel currently holds a leadership position within the Higuayagua Taíno community, supporting cultural preservation, education, and Indigenous representation. His previous responsibilities have included serving as a Tribal Guide (Ehibu’no) and contributing to community relations initiatives.
Daniel has also been involved with the National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, where he was previously identified as a New York City Ambassador, reflecting his commitment to entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
A former Boy Scout and proud Scout dad to his now-grown sons, Daniel continues to follow the Scouting community and values its traditions of leadership, mentorship, and service.
As Managing Editor of OMGCulture.com, Daniel brings a culturally informed perspective to entertainment, lifestyle, food and beverage, travel, business, and community journalism. He believes storytelling should celebrate diverse experiences, preserve cultural heritage, and connect people across communities.
Beyond OMGCulture, Daniel shares his independent writing and personal perspectives through his Substack publication, El Indio Gordo.
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