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 20 Indigenous youth.

March intake (March 1-31, 2025):

  • Youth and Community Wellness Stream – $4,500 (deadline extended to April 13)

  • Youth Empowerment Stream – $2,500 – $5,000

  • Medium Project Stream – $30,000

  • Growing Strong Roots: Seed Grants for Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurs – $2,000

Enter Your Grantee Portal

For More Information

Meagan Ladouceur head shot

Meagan Ladouceur (she/her)

Impact & Granting, Administrative Coordinator

Featured Funding Streams

  • Open March 1-31

    Seed Grants for Youth Entrepreneurs, Supported by Moneris

    Your Content Goes Here Upcoming Funding Dates This stream will next open for applications in March 2025. Please check back here for more information, and review previous funding [...]

  • Cartoon youth outside standing on grass around a fire. Buildings at the back and a sun in the background with a small pond to the right.

    Open March 1 - April 13

    Youth and Community Wellness Grants, Supported by Manulife

    The Youth and Community Wellness Grants, supported by Manulife funding Stream will provide small grants of $4500 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.

  • Cartoon hands cupping a fire

    Open March 1-31

    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.

  • Paint brush with colours coming out of it

    Open March 1-31

    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.

  • Illustration of three orange-yellowish flowers

    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.  

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

    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

    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

    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

    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.

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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