Creation is a multi-level funding program

that supports strengths-based, community-focused and youth-led projects taking place in communities across Canada.

Grassroot youth groups/collectives (comprised of Indigenous youth ages 15-29) are eligible to apply for funding to support community programs and projects while receiving innovative mentorship, training and capacity-building opportunities. Funding will be provided to projects/groups that seek to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth.

This program aims to support Indigenous youth to take ownership over the wellness of their peers and community.

Interested in applying?

Before applying, please read through the program description and eligibility requirements for the Funding Streams below. Creation runs multiple funding streams per year. Creation is led by an Advisory Circle of 21 Indigenous youth.

October intake ( October 1 – 31):

  • Multi-Year Project Funding Stream – $150,000

  • Land and Food Sovereignty Funding Stream – $20,000

  • Small Project Funding Stream – $15,000

  • Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Stream – $4,500

Enter Your Grantee Portal

For More Information

Sareema has shoulder length brown hair and is wearing a white sleeveless top.

Sareema Husain (she/her)

Impact & Granting, Grant Manager

Featured Funding Streams

  • Multi-Year Project Funding Stream Illustration by Micaela Gilbert @artworkbymicaela

    Open October 1 - 31st

    Multi-Year Funding Stream

    The Multi-Year Project Funding Stream will provide two years of funding of up to $150,000 ($75,000 in Year One and $75,000 in Year Two). Funding will go to Indigenous youth-led non-profits, organizations and charities that seek to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth.

  • Small Project Stream Illustration, created by @jenni.gemini

    Open October 1 - 31st

    Small Project Stream

    The Small Project Stream will provide funding of up to $15,000 to Indigenous youth-led projects and groups and non-profits that seek to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth. Projects must be led by 3+ Indigenous youth (ages 15-29) who are meaningfully involved in project guidance, planning, implementation and/or evaluation.

  • Land and Food Sovereignty Funding Stream Illustration by Marissa Indoe @marissaindoe

    Open October 1 - 31st

    Land and Food Sovereignty Stream

    $20,000 will be provided to projects/groups that seek to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth.

  • Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Stream Illustration by Raven Sutherland, Nehiyaw Creative (@nehiyaw.creative), Lake St. Martin First Nation

    Open October 1 - 31st

    Enterpreneurship and Social Enterprise Stream

    The Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Stream will provide small grants of $4,500 to youth-led business and social enterprise projects happening in urban, rural, on-reserve and remote communities across Canada. This stream is being offered in partnership with H&M, and focuses on empowering Indigenous youth entrepreneurs to build, scale and enhance their businesses.

  • Opening Spring 2026

    Scaling Grants Stream

    The Scaling Grant Stream is a multi-year funding stream that will support small and emerging groups to scale and build their projects over three phases. In Phase One (Sprout), grantees will receive an initial grant of $5,000 to begin exploring, testing or piloting an idea or initiative. In Phase Two (Blossom) grantees will receive $10,000 to grow their first initiative or run a different activity. In Phase Three (Grow), grantees will receive a final grant of $15,000. In total, funded groups will receive $30,000 over two years.  

  • Opening March 2025

    Youth and Community Wellness Grants, Supported by Manulife

    The Youth and Community Wellness Grants, supported by Manulife funding Stream will provide small grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 to Indigenous youth-led initiatives. The focus of this stream is to fund projects that center around engaging youth in programming that focuses on wellness, health and the land.

  • Youth Empowerment Stream

    The Youth Empowerment Stream will provide small grants from $2,500 – $5000 to youth-led projects happening in urban, rural, and remote communities across Canada. The focus of this stream is to fund new and emerging micro-projects that focus on increasing the resilience, engagement, and wellness of youth.

  • Medium Project Stream

    The Medium Funding Stream will provide funding of up to $30,000 to Indigenous youth-led projects and groups of non-profits that seek to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth. Projects must be led by 3+ Indigenous youth (ages 15-29) who are meaningfully involved in project guidance, planning, implementation and/or evaluation.

Applicant Resources

Our Impact

The Creation Community Grants Program started in March 2020 to respond to the need for community funding during COVID.

Have Questions?

What do we mean by “Youth-Led”? What do we mean by “Indigenous organization/group”?

“[IYR] allowed our group to have a safety net as we charted into the unknown with our big idea. It gave us the support we needed when we needed it and encouraged us to keep going.”

– Naomi Ratte, Indigenous Design and Planning Students Association

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