Education and Training Stream

This stream will next open for applications in 2024

Project Summary:

Creation is a multi-level funding program that will support strengths-based, community-focused and youth-led projects taking place in communities across Canada. Grassroots and incorporated youth groups/collectives are eligible to apply for funding to support community programs and projects while receiving innovative mentorship, training and capacity-building opportunities.

The Education and Training stream will provide funding of up to $20,000 to Indigenous youth-led groups, non-profits and school groups that run programs and initiatives that focus on supporting Indigenous youth to enhance their skill-building and stay engaged in educational spaces. Projects must be led by 3+ Indigenous youth (ages 15-29) who are meaningfully involved in project guidance, planning, implementation and/or evaluation.

Funding Stream Priorities:

There is a priority in this stream to support:

• • Indigenous grassroots groups and collectives

• • Schools, Indigenous student centers and School Groups

• • Groups that have some experience running programming and projects, but are looking to scale to a new level or try something new

• • Projects that have an appropriate scale and scope for the funding provided (i.e. engagement numbers and frequency makes sense for the funding requested)

Project Focus Areas:

Successful projects will fall within the following areas. Please note that projects can fall within multiple focus areas (just select the one that best describes your project).

• • Building a Student Community (Post-Secondary) – Projects will focus on supporting Indigenous Student Centers and Indigenous Student Groups that work to keep Indigenous youth connected and supported, including running programming that works to build a stronger student community, connect students with resources and culture and provide engagement opportunities.

• • Building a Student Community (Elementary and Highschool) – Projects will focus on supporting Indigenous Student Centers and Indigenous Student Groups who work to keep Indigenous youth connected and supported, including running programming that works to build a stronger student community, and connect students with resources and culture and provide engagement opportunities.

• • Creating Mentorship Opportunities – Projects will engage youth in mentorship opportunities with community leaders, partners and peers. The intention of community mentorship opportunities is to connect youth with mentors who will empower them to stay engaged in school, return to school or pursue further education and career opportunities.

• • Education Resources and Supports – Projects will develop supportive resources to help keep students engaged and supported. Supportive resources can include educational supports (e.g. disability supports, specialized education resources, tutoring, study groups, homework clubs, etc), the development and purchase of hardcopy and digital supports (e.g. resource packages, library books, etc) or providing basic necessities for students (i.e. breakfast and lunch programs)

• • Strengthening Our Skills** – Projects will focus on providing training and development opportunities to Indigenous youth, whether that focus is on employment skills, trade skills, developing leadership skills, training opportunities, conferences (where the focus is on capacity building), etc.

    • • **Some important notes:

        • • All training/opportunities must take place in Canada;
        • • Projects must benefit a group of youth;
        • • Projects funded in this category must outline a plan to share knowledge or expertise with other Indigenous youth (e.g. 5 youths participate in leadership training and then run a community event where they share skills and learnings).

Eligibility:

Creation will prioritize funding grassroots youth groups consisting of a minimum of 3 Indigenous youth.

Please note: for the purpose of this program IYR defines Indigenous as status and non-status First Nation, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada, living both on and off reserve.

Eligible groups and projects include:

• • Unincorporated/grassroots youth groups and collectives

• • Small, incorporated youth groups (note: IYR defines a small organization as groups that have 1-8 full-time employees and an operating budget of less than $500,000)

• • Youth Councils

• • School groups/Student Groups

• • Indigenous Student Centres

Ineligible groups and projects:

• • Projects that are not focused on supporting Indigenous youth (ages 15-29)

• • Individuals

• • Projects that are not youth-led (or where the majority of the leadership is 30+)

• • Non-Indigenous groups and organizations

• • Projects taking place outside of Canada

• • For-profit corporations and businesses

Ineligible Expenses:

IYR will NOT fund projects that are political in nature (I.e. supporting someone running for office), or that involve distributing substances (i.e. alcohol, non-traditional tobacco, marijuana, illicit substances, etc).

Review Process:

Applications will be reviewed by a Community Grants Committee that includes Advisory Circle members, community members, Indigenous youth and other knowledge carriers. All members will have experience running programs and initiatives, overseeing projects and offering community support. 100% of the review committee will be Indigenous, and a minimum of 75% will be youth.

Capacity Building:

All funded groups will be required to participate in online training/skills development workshops on managing, facilitating, evaluating, and reporting on programs. There will be orientation sessions for all new grantees. All grantees will be assigned an IYR staff member and will have individual meetings with this staff member throughout the project.

Reporting and Evaluation:

Grantees will be asked to report twice on their projects.

1. 1. Midterm Check-In (6 months into the project): Grantees will complete a short report and meet digitally with a Creation staff to talk through challenges and successes. Grantees will share updates on budget spending, completed activities and youth reach.

1. 1. Final Report (2 months after project completion): Grantees will submit a final report (including narrative report, budget report, participant tracking sheet, program hour tracking sheet, etc) Grantees will receive a copy of the final report within the first month of their project start date.

Grantees will have to collect data as a part of their reporting.

Financial Oversight and Trusteeship:

Successful applicants over age 18 do not require an external funding administrator/trustee and, if successful, will receive the grant funds directly.

Successful applicants aged 15-17 will require a local non-profit or trusted community member over age 18 to serve as their grant trustee. This trustee may be someone the applicants are already familiar with or IYR can support in connecting them with a willing organization or community member as well as with creating a trustee agreement that ensures youth will be supported.

Release of Funds:

IYR does not issue cheques. Funding will be sent to grantees via a Plooto bank transfer/direct deposit. Grantees will receive funds within three weeks of submitting a signed funding agreement.

Timelines:

Stages	Fall Intake
Applications Open	August 1st, 2022
Application Deadline	August 31st, 2022
Decisions Released	October 31st, 2022
Project Start Date	November 1st, 2022
Midterm Report	April 14th, 2023
Project End Date	October 31st, 2023
Final Report Due	January 3rd, 2024