The Cherokee Nation Education Corporation (CNEC) is a not-for-profit corporation chartered under tribal code of the Cherokee Nation (CN). Its mission is to offer educational assistance for tribal citizens and revitalize the language, culture, and history of Cherokee people. Examples of CNEC's grant making include the following.

•  CNEC provides higher education scholarships to Cherokee graduates living inside and outside the CN jurisdiction area. CNEC applications are available only between the months of January and March each year. Contact the CN Higher Education for information about their scholarships for tribal citizens.

•  The Cherokee National Youth Choir received recognition by two Native American Music Awards. The Choir is afforded opportunities to perform at many local, state and national events because of contributions made by CNEC.

•  CNEC supports revitalization of the language through special projects such as the development of a comprehensive Cherokee dictionary and a technology grant to purchase I-pods for children of the language immersion school. Other grant-making activities will be initiated to community projects that help revitalize the culture and history of Cherokee people.

•  CNEC supports collaboration between the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokees for sharing knowledge about traditional and contemporary art.

•  The Cherokee Warriors Memorial is a project that CNEC helped raise money so our people can appreciate the many freedoms that our service men and women safeguard for us all.

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recognizes CNEC as a 501c3 corporation making gifts tax-deductible for the year in which they are given. All donors receive written acknowledgement for documentation with the U.S. IRS. Contributions support the general operations or for specially designated projects. In addition to cash donations such as memorial gifts, CNEC also receives planned gifts from the proceeds of wills, trusts, life insurance, investments, and personal property.

CNEC's work exemplifies the Cherokee value of ga-du-gi ---working together to create a better quality of life for Cherokee people. Contact Cherokee Nation Education Corporation, PO Box 948 , Tahlequah , OK 74465 .

Call 918-453-5420 or email cnec@cherokee.org to discuss a gift that will enrich the lives of Cherokee people and their communities.