Open October 1 - 31st

Upcoming Funding Dates

This stream will next open for applications in Fall 2027. Please check back here for more information, and review previous funding guides (at the bottom of the page!).

Description

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. Funded groups must demonstrate Indigenous leadership and youth leadership at all levels (Board of Directors, Leadership, Staffing, Advisory, etc). Successful applicants must be either an incorporated organization or have a trustee in place to hold grant funds.

There is a priority in this stream to support:

  • Indigenous youth-led non-profits and registered charities
  • Indigenous youth-led grassroots groups that have strong experience running programming and projects (and a trustee to hold funds)
  • Projects that are large in scale and scope (i.e. high impact over a long period of time)
  • Projects that are multi-dimensional (i.e. are doing more than just one thing, and are looking to improve wellness overall)

Focus Areas

We’re looking to fund projects that focus on one or more of the following areas:

Projects that increase access to arts, art-based workshops, cultural knowledge, traditions and ceremony

Projects will support youth groups in accessing capacity-building, knowledge mobilization and funding resources. Projects will focus on innovating healthcare systems, developing solutions to infrastructure and resource challenges (such as access to clean water and sustainable food sources) and increasing access to technology. 

Projects will engage multiple age groups and should help to enhance the sense of community (i.e. projects where youth participate in programs with Elders, families, adults, etc).

Projects will focus on organizational development in Indigenous agencies. The intention of this focus area is to increase leadership, governance, capacity and opportunity for Indigenous organizations to impact communities and systems. Projects can include organizational enhancements (i.e. training, website development, strategic plan development, consulting projects, purchase of supplies, etc).

Projects will focus on enhancing community wellness and can include one-off events or long-term programs and any type of programming related to wellness (i.e. workshops, teachings, gatherings). 

Eligibility

Funding in this stream is only open to incorporated/registered non-profit organizations and charities that are Indigenous youth-led OR grassroots groups that have an incorporated group trustee. 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: 

  • Indigenous youth-led incorporated non-profit organizations
  • Indigenous youth-led registered charities
  • Indigenous youth-led organizations
  • Grassroots groups that have an incorporated organization that has agreed to trustee the project (please include a trustee letter as a part of your application)

Ineligible groups and projects: 

  • Individuals
  • Unincorporated and grassroots groups without a trustee
  • Non-Indigenous organizations
  • Organizations that are not Indigenous youth-led
  • For profit corporations
  • Groups or projects operating outside of Canada
  • Groups with an organizational budget of over $2,000,000

Examples of Funded Projects

Nakoda AV Club is building a community of programmers to collaborate on the first Stoney Nakoda video game. During the current phase, they will consult with Elders and community members to establish game content, run workshops on Discord, and provide youth with computer equipment/internet access. This project engaged 10 Indigenous youth.  

Tkemlups te Secwepemc will support youth wellbeing through food sovereignty, on-the-land culture camps, leadership workshops and two youth-led Going Miles (Motivate, Inspire, Lead, Empower, and Succeed) Conferences. This project engaged over 50 Indigenous youth and over 20 community members. 

Western Arctic Youth Collective will address the community interest for Tunniit Kakinniit – Inuit Tattoos – and provide space for discussion around conflicting beliefs (colonization, religion, stigma) to be held in a good way. They will host a Gathering for artists, experts, mentees, youth and Elders, with learning sessions and workshops that are developed in consultation with community. This project engaged over 50 Indigenous youth and over 75 community members. 

4Rs Youth Movement will support a cohort of 20-30 Indigenous youth to participate in the 4Rs National Learning Community – a year-long community organizing and healing leadership program. Project activities include recruitment and outreach, in-person opening retreat, learning conversations, virtual community gatherings, capacity building workshops, and ceremonies. This project engaged over 100 Indigenous youth and over 120 community members. 

Stream Specific FAQ

See the general FAQ here.

Absolutely! We will fund both project funding and organizational funding in this stream. If you are applying for core funding, use the “project summary” question to describe the work your organization overall does.  

No – the funding is flexible and can be used for different things each year. If you know what it will be different in the second year, please describe it in the application!  

Of course! Just loop in with your Grant Coordinator/Grant mentor to let them know.

Stream Impact & Reports

IYR has run 1 round of the Multi-Year Funding Stream. In total $884,000 in funding has been given to 6 projects. Funded projects have reached 315 Indigenous youth. What excites us about this stream is that we’re able to provide long-term core and operational funding to Indigenous youth organizations that are scaling and growing their impact.   

Past Multi-Year Stream Funding Guides

2025-2027

Feburary 2025 – February 2027  View English Guide  |  View French Guide

2023-2025

March 2023 – July 2025   View English Guide  |  View French Guide

Grant Contact Name and Pronouns

Arizona Commanda-Boissoneau

(she/her)

Grant Coordinator