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Funding Round-Up: Apply for Fall Funding and Grants for First Nations
Have a project idea and need additional funding to make it happen? We’ve pulled together a list of grants and funding opportunities available to First Nations on the coast.
First Nations working to manage their territories and invest in their communities may be eligible to apply for funding from Crown governments, philanthropic foundations, and corporate community investment programs. And, through Coast Funds, participating First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii may have funding available for stewardship, conservation, and economic development projects in addition to fundraising support.
On this page, Coast Funds team members have compiled a list of additional funding opportunities for First Nations with upcoming deadlines.
Disclaimer: Coast Funds has made a reasonable effort to gather and check information. However, details and timelines for grant programs can change. When looking for funding, please check eligibility and program details on the funding organization’s webpage.
Prefer to view this list in a table? Skip to the bottom.
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CLEAN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
CLIMATE, STEWARDSHIP, AND CONSERVATION
Arts, Language, and Culture
Government of Canada: Finder Tool
Indigenous bursaries search tool. You can search for bursaries by keyword, location, program of study, or Indigenous group.
Government of Canada: Local Festivals – Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
Provides funding for festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans, or heritage performers, including the celebration of LGBTQ2S+ communities and Indigenous culture.
- Grant Range: Up to $200,000
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Indigenous Screen Office: Sector Development
Supports a wide array of initiatives and projects that aim to strengthen and grow the Indigenous screen sector. Workshops, labs, incubators, research projects, community-based programs, and funding for organizations whose mandate is to develop the Indigenous screen sector should consider applying to this program.
- Grant Range: Up to $100,000 (see guidelines)
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application Deadline: On a rolling basis or February 1, 2025
Na‐mi‐quai‐ni‐mak: I Remember Them Community Support Fund
To support Indigenous communities, Survivor Organizations, and regstered non‐profits in healing, memorials, and remembrance within their communities. Na-mi-quai-ni-mak funds projects related to the Indian Residential School System.
- Grant Range: Up to $25,000
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application Deadline: ongoing
Scholarships Canada: Finder Tool
Matches applicants to scholarships based on the information provided when applicants create an account.
Community and Economic Development
Government of Canada: Professional and Institutional Development Program
Funds projects that develop the capacity of First Nations and Inuit communities to perform core functions of government such as planning and risk management, leadership, basic administration, and financial management.
- Grant range: Not listed
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application deadline: Varies by region. Contact your regional office for info.
Government of Canada: Residential Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund
Provides funding for locating, documenting, maintaining, and commemorating of burial sites associated with former residential schools, and responding to family wishes to commemorate or memorialize their losses and the children’s final resting places.
- Grant Range: Up to $3,000,000
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application Deadlines: September 15, 2025
Indigenous Services Canada: Community Opportunity Readiness Program
Provides funding for First Nation and Inuit Communities for a range of activities to support communities’ pursuit of economic opportunities in addition to helping applicants to submit proposals to seek additional funding.
- Grant Range: Up to $250,000
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application Deadline: Open
Indigenous Services Canada: Professional and Institutional Development Program
Supports projects that develop the capacity of First Nations and Inuit communities for core functions of government like planning and risk management, leadership, administration, and financial management.
- Grant range: Not listed
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application deadline: Varies by region. Contact your regional office for info.
New Relationship Trust: BC Indigenous Cannabis Business Fund
Funds to support an upcoming Cannabis Business by facilitating community planning and engagement activities, as well as assisting with business planning, design, and implementation tasks associated with their cannabis project.
- Grant Range: Max $250,000
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: December 1, 2025 (rolling)
New Relationship Trust: Declaration Act Engagement Fund (DAEF)
Multi-year funding contributions to support First Nation’s capacity to engage with the province on the implementation of the Declaration Act Action Plan and alignment of Provincial laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Grant Range: $260,000 – $1,040,000
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: Between May and December each year
New Relationship Trust: Food Security and Sovereignty
Supports the development, expansion, or strengthening of Indigenous food systems and innovation with the aim of promoting sustainability and growth in Indigenous agriculture and food sovereignty.
- Grant Range: $150,000 – $250,000
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: Opens May 1, 2025, closes Dec 1, 2025 (or when funds are exhausted)
New Relationship Trust: Indigenous Labour Market Fund
Funding to address three specific gaps in advancing Indigenous labour market and employment initiatives, to increase Indigenous labour market participation and job creation in BC while demonstrating respect for Indigenous culture, values, and traditions.
- Grant Range: $75,000 – $250,000
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: May 1 – December 1, 2025
Province of British Columbia: Residential School Response Fund
Funding for First Nations-led strategies to identify, investigate, protect, and commemorate the sites of former residential schools and hospitals in BC and for the mental health, wellness, and cultural supports required to do this work.
- Grant Range: Up to $475,000
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: Not listed
Real Estate Foundation of BC: General Grants
Funds projects led by First Nations, non-profits, and other organizations working on projects relating to land use or real estate in BC.
- Grant Range: $5,000 – $250,000+
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: January 28, 2025
Union of BC Municipalities: Public Notification and Evacuation Route Planning
Provides funding to develop evacuation route plans and/or public notification plans that provide information for First Nations, other local governments, and community members in the event of an emergency.
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: April 25, 2025
Union of BC Municipalities: Urban Communities Partnering for Reconciliation
Provides funding to Indigenous organizations and local governments who want to create opportunities for in-person dialogue and relationship building which can help advance collaborative reconciliation plans, protocols, agreements, or future projects.
- Grant Range: Up to $15,000
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: August 31, 2025 (or until funding is exhausted)
Clean Energy and Sustainable Economy
BC Hydro: Indigenous Communities Conservation Program
Supports Indigenous communities by providing energy efficiency upgrades to homes, installation training, and free energy-saving products.
- Grant range: N/A (rebates)
- Location: British Columbia (See Details)
- Application deadline: Open
Environment and Climate Change Canada: Indigenous Leadership Fund
Supports Indigenous-owned and led renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low-carbon heating projects to reduce emissions.
- Grant range: Up to $6,000,000
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application deadline: Open
Government of Canada: Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program
Funds projects that contribute to Indigenous-led climate action through biomass heating, district heating, and combined heat and power systems, as well as research, development, and demonstration projects.
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application Deadline: Intakes are open until the funding is fully committed or the program closes in 2027.
Government of Canada: Lands and Economic Development Services Program (LEDSP)
To assist with enhancing the economic development, land and environmental capacity of communities and to support the establishment of the conditions for economic development to occur, increasing their participation in the economy.
- Grant range: Up to $50,000
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application deadline: Open
Government of Canada: Zero-Emission Vehicles Awareness
Provides funding for Indigenous-led awareness and education projects for cleaner transportation and clean fuels.
- Grant Range: Up to $4.5 million
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application Deadline: Ongoing basis, projects must be completed by no later than March 31, 2026
Project Zero: Circular Economy Accelerator
Supports hands-on operations for businesses who seek to adopt circular economy principles, reduce waste and emissions, increase revenue, and develop innovative practices.
- Grant range: N/A
- Location: Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast
- Application deadline: N/A
Province of British Columbia: CleanBC Plastics Action Fund (Indigenous Projects Stream)
Supports plastic waste reduction projects to promote a circular economy in British Columbia through recycling, remanufacturing, reuse, and repair projects.
- Grant Range: $75,000 to $150,000
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: Open
Climate, Stewardship, and Conservation
AddressBC: First Nations Grant Program
Provides funding to ICI Society First Nations Members looking to develop a GIS dataset of civic addresses or to improve their existing civic address dataset.
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Agricultural Clean Technology Program: Research and Innovation Stream
Supports the development and adoption of clean technology that will help drive the changes required to achieve a low-carbon economy and promote sustainable growth in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
- Grant Range: $100,000 to $1,000,000
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
First Nations Health Authority: Environmental Contaminants Program
Supports BC First Nation community-based research projects that explore the link between human health and environmental contaminants.
- Grant Range: N/A
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Fortis BC: Indigenous Communities Conservation Program
Supports Indigenous communities looking to improve the energy efficiency and comfort in their community’s homes.
- Grant Range: $100,000 to $1,000,000
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Low Carbon Economy Fund: Indigenous Leadership Fund
Provides funding for Indigenous-owned and led renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low-carbon heating projects, delivered through four funding streams: First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Designated.
- Grant Range: $100,000 to $1,000,000
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions: Community Climate Action Events
Provides funds to non-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations, and First Nations planning events that drive tangible climate action.
- Grant Range: $2,500 to $5,000
- Location: British Columbia
- Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
Pacific Salmon Foundation: Community Salmon Program
Funds volunteer and community–driven organizations that undertake salmon conservation and restoration projects.
- Grant Range: up to 50% of project costs
- Location: British Columbia and Yukon
- Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
Wah-ila-toos: Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities
Provides funding for renewable energy and capacity building projects to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels for heating and electricity in Indigenous, rural, and remote communities across Canada.
- Grant Range: $100,000 to $1,000,000
- Location: Canada-wide
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Know about a funding opportunity that isn’t on this list? Let us know at info@coastfunds.ca.
