40 Under 40 Awards
2025 Winners Announced!
Recognizing Native American citizens for outstanding leadership and community contributions annually.
The 40 Under 40 is a prestigious award which recognizes 40 Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations young leaders who have demonstrated leadership, initiative, and dedication and made significant contributions in business and/or in their community. Now in its 16th year, the program boasts an impressive roster of alumni who are shaping the present and future of Indian Country.
2026 40 Under 40 Nominations Now Open
NCAIED is excited to announce that nominations for the 2026 40 Under 40 class are officially open! This program honors outstanding Native leaders under 40 who are driving innovation, creating impact in their communities, and shaping the future of Native enterprise.
We encourage you to nominate inspiring individuals who embody leadership, vision, and dedication. Don’t miss the opportunity to recognize the next generation of Native changemakers.
Eligibility:
- Nominees must be between 18 and 39 years of age as of January 1, 2026.
- Deadline for submitting nominations is October 8, 2025, at 4:30 PM MST.
- You may nominate more than one person.
- Self-nominations are welcome.
Required Materials for Consideration:
All items below must be submitted for the nomination to be considered.
- Fully completed nomination form – mandatory
- Three supporting documents – mandatory
- Examples: professional resume, reference letters, publications, etc.
- Nominee’s email address – mandatory
- One color headshot of the nominee (300 dpi, JPG format)
- Copy of Tribal enrollment document – mandatory
Important Notes:
- Processing nominations may take 2–3 business days.
- A nomination is considered incomplete until all required documents have been submitted.
