TRIBAL NATIONS RESEARCH GROUP

What TRIBAL NATIONS RESEARCH GROUP does

Tribal Nations Research Group (TNRG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in March 2013 and headquartered in Belcourt, North Dakota, that conducts and manages tribal data, research, and planning services for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI). The organization operates under the TMBCI Research Protection Act adopted July 31, 2014, which mandates that all research and data collection on the reservation pass through TNRG's volunteer Research Review Board, effectively making TNRG the statutory gatekeeper for tribal research activity.

TNRG's core product surface centers on a protected Data Center repository (the only tribal data center of its type in Indian Country, currently under construction), a Research Review Board that vets research protocols, and a portfolio of professional services including community health assessments, feasibility studies, program evaluations, general surveys, data use policy development, and a research catalog database. Its underlying technology is research data management and community-based participatory research methodologies rather than a software platform. The organization runs an annual Data Matters Conference and is scheduled to host the 2026 NSF Tribal Colleges and Universities Symposium, and it maintains an Associate Membership program of 40+ enrolled TMBCI members providing expertise across health, education, law, and community development.

TNRG's business model is grant-funded nonprofit operations rather than commercial revenue. It has secured founding grants from Sanford Health through CRCAIH (2013) and Pathways to Prosperity (2014), and maintains active partnerships with the National Science Foundation, the Bush Foundation, the University of North Dakota, and Sanford Health. The team is small (1-10 employees) led by President Anita Frederick, with a board including Stanley Lafontaine (since 2013), Dr. Carol Davis, and Vincent Grant. No pricing is publicly disclosed; 990 financials are available for years 2014-2023 but figures were not visible in source material.

Name

TRIBAL NATIONS RESEARCH GROUP

Legal name

Tribal Nations Research Group

Website

https://tnrg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tribal Nations Research Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conducts and manages tribal data, research, and planning services for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, operating as the statutory Research Review Board gatekeeper and running the only tribal data center of its kind in Indian Country.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Belcourt

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TNRG conducts and manages tribal data, research, and planning services for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. Its core deliverables include operation of a protected Data Center for tribal data and ownership, a Research Review Board providing mandated oversight of all research on the reservation under the TMBCI Research Protection Act, and a suite of professional services such as community health assessments, surveys, program evaluation, data use policy development, and feasibility studies.

Product overview

Tribal Nations Research Group (TNRG) operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2013, serving as a tribal data center and research organization for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected products and services including a protected Data Center repository, a volunteer-based Research Review Board for research oversight, community health assessments and surveys, a research catalog database, and annual events such as the Data Matters Conference and NSF TCU Symposium. TNRG's core offering centers on providing custom-fit data and data sovereignty for tribal communities, complemented by planning and professional services including program evaluation, community assessments, and data use policy development. The organization also maintains an Associate Membership Program that engages enrolled tribal members in research and community initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Data Center A protected database repository providing custom-fit data, data ownership, and data access services for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) community. Users are required to create user accounts to access the database.
• Research Review Board (RRB) Oversight board composed of volunteer tribal members responsible for reviewing and approving all research proposals and data collection activities on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian Reservation to ensure community protection. Researchers submit protocols through the axiom mentor system.
• Community Health Assessment Provides systemic overviews of health status indicators for the TMBCI community through data-driven analysis and reporting to support evidence-based community health planning.
• Research Catalog Database A searchable repository documenting past research conducted within the TMBCI community and current approved research projects, enabling transparency and coordination of research activities on the reservation.
• General Survey Systemic overview of general needs within the TMBCI community, providing baseline data for community planning and development initiatives across health, economic, and social domains.
• Data Use Policy Development Development of data use policies including data return protocols, data format standards, data sharing agreements, and release of data information guidelines for TMBCI to support tribal data sovereignty.
• Program Evaluation Evaluation services for programs serving the TMBCI community, assessing effectiveness and impact of community initiatives to inform program design and funding decisions.
• Community Assessments Includes community health assessments, food sovereignty studies, and feasibility studies to support evidence-based planning for TMBCI across health, food systems, and economic development priorities.
• Associate Membership Program Enrolled TMBCI members can join as associate members to actively participate in research and initiatives that improve the standard of living for American Indians, contributing knowledge, expertise, and experiences toward the organization's mission.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMBCI is the primary tribal partner and beneficiary of TNRG. The reservation is located on a six by twelve-mile land base in north central North Dakota, ten miles south of the Canadian border. Belcourt is the hub city. TNRG provides research services, data sovereignty, and community engagement for the tribe.
• National Science FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSF partnership includes hosting the annual TCU (Tribal Colleges and Universities) Symposium. The NSF TCUP Program is designed to further education, research and professional career of STEM students and faculty at TCUs. TNRG's Dr. Paul Dauphinais serves as Principle Investigator on NSF Research Grant.
• University of North DakotasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership mentioned among key partners of TNRG, supporting research collaboration and academic partnerships for tribal research initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Indian Health Board: National advocacy organization representing tribal health priorities and supporting tribal data/research initiatives. Adjacent rather than directly competing, but a relevant ecosystem stakeholder for federal funding pipelines and policy alignment.

Direct peers

• First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC): Canadian nonprofit that manages First Nations-led data and research under OCAP (Ownership, Control, Access, Possession) principles. Closest analog to TNRG's data sovereignty mandate and Research Review Board function, just operating under First Nations rather than U.S. tribal jurisdiction.
• Urban Indian Health Institute: A tribal-serving research center that conducts community health assessments, data collection, and program evaluation for American Indian/Alaska Native populations. Comparable in service portfolio (community health assessments, research, data analysis) to TNRG.

Broad incumbents

• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium: Tribal health consortium providing research, data, and health services for Alaska Native communities. Comparable in operating under tribal authority and providing research oversight, though at substantially larger scale.
• Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health: Long-established academic research center conducting community-based participatory research with American Indian tribes nationwide. Comparable in mission (tribal health research, community engagement) but operates at much larger scale with academic backing.

Regional players

• Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board: Regional tribal organization serving tribes across the Great Plains with health research, data, and program evaluation services. Directly comparable operating geography and service model, though broader multi-tribe scope than TNRG's TMBCI focus.
• Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board: Regional tribal health organization serving Pacific Northwest tribes with epidemiology, research, and data services. Comparable operating model and grant-funded nonprofit structure, though geographically distinct from TNRG.

Emerging players

• Indigenous Wellness Research Institute: Research center focused on Indigenous health and wellness, conducting community-based participatory research with tribal communities. Shares TNRG's culturally-competent research methodology and community-driven data collection approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tribal-nations-research-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TRIBAL NATIONS RESEARCH GROUP