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Funding Round-Up: Apply for Fall Funding and Grants for First Nations

Laxgalts’ap, a Nisg̱a’a village in the Nass River valley, offers a scenic drive with its colourful forest, misty mountains, and serene waterfalls along the highway. (Photo: Ileah Mattice / Coast Funds)

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.

 

ARTS, LANGUAGE, & CULTURE

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.

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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

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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

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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

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Scholarships Canada: Finder Tool
Matches applicants to scholarships based on the information provided when applicants create an account.

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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.

    Learn More >

    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: November 15, 2024, and September 15, 2025

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    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

    Learn More >

    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.

    Learn More >

    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)

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    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

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    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)

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    Union of BC Municipalities: Regional Community to Community Program
    Provides funding to support the advancement of First Nation-local government reconciliation and relationship building.

    • Grant Range: $10,000 – $20,000
    • Location: British Columbia
    • Application Deadline: December 6, 2024

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    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)

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    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

      Learn More >

      Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR): Community Energy Plans Stream
      Funding to support remote communities’ progress through various stages of planning and implementation of their decarbonization projects, specifically in the development, maintenance, and management of a Community Energy Plan.

      • Grant Range: $40,000 to 95,000
      • Location: British Columbia (Eligible Communities)
      • Application Deadline: November 29, 2024

      Learn More >

      Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR): Demand Side Management Stream
      Funding to support remote communities to undertake capital improvements and retrofits that upgrade premises such as residential and community buildings that results in improved energy efficiency and load management.

      • Grant Range: Up to $500,00
      • Location: British Columbia (Eligible Communities)
      • Application Deadline: November 29, 2024

      Learn More >

      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

      Learn More >

      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.

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      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

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      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

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      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

      Learn More >

      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

      Learn More >

      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

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        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

        Learn More >

        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

        Learn More >

        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

        Learn More >

        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

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        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

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        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

        Learn More >

        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

        Learn More >

        Watershed Security Fund: Grants Program
        Supports projects and initiatives that advance the resilience of watersheds, while also prioritizing reconciliation and fostering collaborative relationships to responsibly manage and preserve healthy watersheds for future generations.

        • Grant Range: $50,000 – $500,000
        • Location: British Columbia
        • Application Deadline: December 11, 2024

        LEARN MORE >



        Know about a funding opportunity that isn’t on this list? Let us know at info@coastfunds.ca.