Updated: January 24, 2023

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Funding related to Food Security & Food Sovereignty

 

Please note that the blurbs are meant to provide some context about the funding parameters, but some information may not be up to date. Always check the main source for up-to-date grant information.

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SilverChef Community Grants Program

SilverChef is a B certified corporation that provides flexible equipment finance and funding to hospitality businesses and small communities. The Community Grants Program offers $5,000 to purchase selected ‘Certified Use’ commercial kitchen equipment ($3,750 credit plus $1,250 in cash to assist with freight & installation). Deadline:

 

Applications open. Deadline: March 31st, 2023. Application form: SilverChef_Community_Grants_Program_Application_Form_Canada_June2022.pdf (shopify.com)

​

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TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Grant

The Foundation supports a wide range of environmental initiatives, with a primary focus on environmental education and green space programs. Eligible projects include schoolyard greening, park revitalization, community gardens, park programming and citizen science initiatives. Generally, funding requests range between $2,000 and $8,000.

 

Deadline: January 15th, 2023. 

 

​

Garden Grant Program

Whole Kids Foundation, aims to get kids knowing and connecting to their food, so they become more curious about how things grow or taste, and more willing to try new foods. This is why we believe in edible garden learning spaces! The Garden Grant program provides a $3,000 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible educational garden located at either a: K-12 school, or a non-profit organization that serves children in the K-12 range.

 

Applications open February 1st, 2023. Deadline: March 1st, 2023. Application form: 2023-Whole-Kids-Foundation-Garden-Grant-Application_FINAL.pdf (wholekidsfoundation.org)

 

 

Indigenous Food Systems & Agriculture Partnership Program – IAF

This program supports Indigenous communities, businesses, and organizations in increasing food security and sovereignty over their food systems and strengthens Indigenous peoples’ success within the agriculture and food sector. The program funds activities involved in agriculture, food processing, and/or food systems planning, training and skills development, technological adoption, productivity and profitability improvements, and climate change adaptations. $80,000 is available per project for a maximum of two years (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).

 

Applications closed.

 

 

TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund

TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund offers flexible grants up to $50,000 for Indigenous-led social, health and community programs. Projects must clearly address a pressing social or well-being need and create measurable community outcomes. Projects that have been funded in the past include a community garden, STEM programming for youth, language revitalization, and wellness programs.

 

Applications closed October 2022. Check back for next intake.

 

​

Heritage Infrastructure Program – First Peoples’ Cultural Council

Up to $250,000 in funding is available for First Nations organizations in B.C. with a focus that includes Indigenous heritage. The goal of this program is to assist First Nations communities to safeguard, revitalize and celebrate their heritage through heritage infrastructure projects. This can include First Nations bands, Tribal Councils and Indigenous-led not-for-profit societies. Of note is that eligible projects include construction and upgrades to longhouses, bighouses, carving sheds, community meat freezers and meat processing stations.

Applications closed October 2022. Check back for future intakes. For funding guidelines: FPCC_HIP_Grant_Guidelines_2223.pdf (smartsimple.ca). To apply: FPCC Grant Portal | First Peoples' Cultural Council (smartsimple.ca). View recorded info session: HIP Info Session 2022 - YouTube

 

​

Feed Opportunity Fund – Maple Leaf Feed Opportunity

The Feed Opportunity Fund is offering two funding streams this year: Project Grants to support initiatives that reduce barriers to food security; and Learning Grants for collaborative research or knowledge-sharing initiatives. Both funding streams offer up to $150,000 per year and may be extended up to three years. Funding priority will go to collaborative initiatives working across organizations, government and academia.

 

Applications closed October 2022. Check back for next intake.  

 

Indigenous Climate Health Action Plan - FNHA

The Indigenous Climate Health Action Program (ICHAP) funds climate action projects that are community driven and focus on health and wellness outcomes. Projects can focus on climate health in general or on developing a strategy or action plan to reduce climate change impacts on community health. Some examples of focus areas are:

food security and food sovereignty

access to the land

mental health

traditional medicine

traditional harvesting

water quality and quantity

 

Intake open August 17, 2022 for projects starting in Spring 2023, applications open until funding is exhausted.

 

​

Farm to School BC – Farm to School BC Grants

School communities may apply for a maximum of $3,000 to launch their Farm to School BC project. The amount granted will be dependent on the scope of the proposed program. A total of 30 grants will be allotted for the 2022 granting cycle. Projects may include building garden beds, foraging local food, growing indigenous plant gardens, small-scale farms, indoor growing spaces, and much more. For more farm-to-school program ideas, click here.

 

Applications closed November 2022. Check back for next intake.

 

 

Real Estate Foundation - General Grants

REFBC’s grants program supports projects that contribute to sustainable land use and real estate practices. Grants can support: • Applied research • Public and professional education • Policy analysis and law reform. Grant dollars can be used for project-related costs, including staffing and program delivery, project coordination, communications, consultant fees, workshops, and travel. Grant dollars cannot be used for capital costs (buildings, land, equipment), directed political lobbying, or activities that primarily provide financial benefits for individuals.

 

Note: projects need other funding contributions as well, REFBC will only fund up to 50%

 

​

B.C. Indigenous Agriculture Development Program – BC Government

The B.C. Indigenous Agriculture Development Program supports Indigenous people’s success in the food and agriculture sector. The program is divided into one stream for Indigenous governments, communities and organizations and another stream for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Each stream has two steps of financial support to work with a B.C. Ministry of Agriculture pre-approved Qualified Business Consultant. For governments, communities, and organizations:

• Step 1 provides up to $5,000 for agriculture opportunities assessment.

• Step 2 provides up to $10,000 for financial and business planning.

• Community engagement top-up fund: During each step of the program, you are eligible for up to $2,000 of additional funding to support community engagement during your project.

​

Application intake is now closed. Check back for next intake.

 

​

Edible Trees Program - Tree Canada

Funding is available to educational institutions, Indigenous communities, community groups or gardens, food banks, community housing projects, municipalities, or other groups interested in planting edible trees on publicly accessible sites. Up to $3,500 in funding is available per project.

 

Applications open October of each year. Application form example: Edible Tree Program Application Form.pdf

 

 

 

Recovery and Resiliency Fund - Vancouver Foundation

Flexible three-year grants of $50,000 and $72,000 per year to eligible organizations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Eligible organizations have an identifiable need to recover from the pandemic, a vision of its long-term resiliency, and needs additional financial resources to realize its vision; and had an annual operating budget in 2020 and 2021 of less than $1 million.

 

Applications now closed. Check back for 2023 intake.

 

 

Community Grants Program - Canadian Roots Exchange

CREation is a multi-level funding program that supports strengths-based, community-focused and youth-led projects taking place in communities across Canada. Grassroot Indigenous youth groups/collectives (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. There are four streams:

 

• Youth Empowerment Stream: Sprout – $2500

• Youth Empowerment Stream: Blossom – $5000

• Education and Training Stream – $20,000

• Medium Project Stream – $30,000

 

Intake for 2022 is now closed.  

 

 

Indigenous Resilience and Recovery Grant Initiative - New Relationship Trust

Same as Vancouver Foundation Recovery and Resiliency Fund, but for Indigenous organizations with annual revenues of $1 million or more (based on most recent audited financial statements). The goal is to enhance the organizational and economic resilience of Indigenous not for profit organizations during their post-pandemic recovery journey. Eligible requests are quite flexible and broad. Maximum funding is $75,000 per year for three years.  

 

All funding resources fully exhausted. For details to prepare for future rounds of funding: Indigenous-Resilience-and-Recovery-Initiative-Final.doc (live.com)

 

 

 

Co-op Community Spaces Funding

The Co-op Community Spaces Program was established to improve community health and well-being by building places for Western Canadians to come together, build social connections and enable community development.

• Projects can apply for between $25,000 and $150,000 in capital funding.

• The program supports small-scale community agriculture initiatives in both rural and urban spaces, including community gardens and food education facilities.

• Projects must be located in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba.

• Projects must provide the opportunity for permanent signage.

• Projects must be available and accessible for community use.

• Application sample: SPONSORIUM - Proposal Request Form (co-op.crs)

​

Applications currently closed, check back for 2023 application dates.  For inquiries please contact: communityspaces@fcl.crs

 

 

Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Agri-Food & Agriculture Canada

The Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) is a 5-year, $60 million initiative ending March 31, 2024. It was created as part of the Government of Canada's Food Policy for a healthier and more sustainable food system in Canada. The LFIF is aimed at community-based, not-for-profit organizations with a mission to reduce food insecurity by establishing and strengthening their local food system. The fourth intake of LFIF will take place from June 1, 2022 to July 15, 2022 and will focus on projects that either create a portion of (or expand) a food system or implement an entire food system. Projects must be infrastructure specific and be community-driven, dedicated to improving access to healthy, nutritious and local foods for Canadians at risk of food insecurity.

 

There will be one more round of funding offered in 2023.

 

 

Gardens for Good Grant Program

The Gardens for Good grant program supports community gardens across North America that are growing organic food and making a difference in their communities. So far, Nature’s Path has supported 52 community gardens with more than $515,000 in grant funding.

 

Applications for 2022 closed now. Check back for 2023 application.  

 

​

Fill Your Basket /Community Harvest Grant - ŚW̱,ȻENEṈITEL Indigenous Foods Systems Initiative

This grant provides funds for food initiatives or harvesting equipment that meet the needs of current and future generations. Funds available for Individuals between $100-$1000, family-community between $1,000-$5,000 and large-scale community up to $10,000. To be eligible, must be ancestral to one or more of the 4 ancestral territories ŚW̱,ȻENEṈITEL serves (Lekwungen, WSANEC, Tsuk, Pacheedaht); OR have a clear connection to any of the 4 ancestral territories served by ŚW̱,ȻENEṈITEL (ie. relationship to land, families, communities, etc); OR Indigenous Person or Persons living or working within the CRD, willing to follow local protocols of the lands in which they are on.

 

2022 round of funding closed.

 

 

Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative – Agriculture Canada

This grant is available specifically to advance economic opportunities through building capacity in growing, producing and selling food. Projects could include developing an approach to growing and selling fresh produce or building/sharing skills and knowledge to scale up or enhance a current agriculture project. Proposals are being accepted until September 30, 2022 and the initiative ends on March 31, 2023. Cannot exceed $500,000 a year. 

 

Applications currently suspended due to high demand.

​

​

Indigenous Food Systems & Agriculture Partnership Program – IAF

This program supports Indigenous communities, businesses, and organizations in increasing food security and sovereignty over their food systems and strengthens Indigenous peoples’ success within the agriculture and food sector. The program funds activities involved in agriculture, food processing, and/or food systems planning, training and skills development, technological adoption, productivity and profitability improvements, and climate change adaptations. $80,000 is available per project for a maximum of two years (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).

 

Deadline: October 31st, 2022

 

 

TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund

TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund offers flexible grants up to $50,000 for Indigenous-led social, health and community programs. Projects must clearly address a pressing social or well-being need and create measurable community outcomes. Projects that have been funded in the past include a community garden, STEM programming for youth, language revitalization, and wellness programs.

 

Deadline: October 8th, 2022

 

 

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Grant

The Foundation supports a wide range of environmental initiatives, with a primary focus on environmental education and green space programs. Eligible projects include schoolyard greening, park revitalization, community gardens, park programming and citizen science initiatives. Generally, funding requests range between $2,000 and $8,000.

 

Deadline: January 15th, 2023.  

 

​

Heritage Infrastructure Program – First Peoples’ Cultural Council

Up to $250,000 in funding is available for First Nations organizations in B.C. with a focus that includes Indigenous heritage. The goal of this program is to assist First Nations communities to safeguard, revitalize and celebrate their heritage through heritage infrastructure projects. This can include First Nations bands, Tribal Councils and Indigenous led not-for-profit societies. Of note is that eligible projects include construction and upgrades to longhouses, bighouses, carving sheds, community meat freezers and meat processing stations.

Applications open. Deadline October 21st, 2022. For funding guidelines: FPCC_HIP_Grant_Guidelines_2223.pdf (smartsimple.ca). To apply: FPCC Grant Portal | First Peoples' Cultural Council (smartsimple.ca). View recorded info session: HIP Info Session 2022 - YouTube

 

​

Feed Opportunity Fund – Maple Leaf Feed Opportunity

The Feed Opportunity Fund is offering two funding streams this year: Project Grants to support initiatives that reduce barriers to food security; and Learning Grants for collaborative research or knowledge sharing initiatives. Both funding streams offer up to $150,000 per year and may be extended up to three years. Funding priority will go to collaborative initiatives working across organizations, government and academia.

 

Applications open now to submit Letter of Intent. Deadline October 28th.

 

​

Indigenous Climate Health Action Plan - FNHA

The Indigenous Climate Health Action Program (ICHAP) funds climate action projects that are community driven and focus on health and wellness outcomes. Projects can focus on climate health in general or on developing a strategy or action plan to reduce climate change impacts on community health. Some examples of focus areas are:

food security and food sovereignty

access to the land

mental health

traditional medicine

traditional harvesting

water quality and quantity

 

Intake open August 17, 2022 for projects starting in Spring 2023, applications open until funding is exhausted.

 

​

Farm to School BC – Farm to School BC Grants

School communities may apply for a maximum of $3,000 to launch their Farm to School BC project. The amount granted will be dependent on the scope of the proposed program. A total of 30 grants will be allotted for the 2022 granting cycle. Projects may include building garden beds, foraging local food, growing indigenous plant gardens, small-scale farms, indoor growing spaces, and much more. For more farm to school program ideas, click here.

 

Deadline: November 13th, 2022.

 

 

Real Estate Foundation - General Grants

REFBC’s grants program supports projects that contribute to sustainable land use and real estate practices. Grants can support: • Applied research • Public and professional education • Policy analysis and law reform. Grant dollars can be used for project-related costs, including staffing and program delivery, project coordination, communications, consultant fees, workshops, and travel. Grant dollars cannot be used for capital costs (buildings, land, equipment), directed political lobbying, or activities that primarily provide financial benefits for individuals.

 

Note: projects need other funding contributions as well, REFBC will only fund up to 50%

 

​

B.C. Indigenous Agriculture Development Program – BC Government

The B.C. Indigenous Agriculture Development Program supports Indigenous people’s success in the food and agriculture sector. The program is divided into one stream for Indigenous governments, communities and organizations and another stream for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Each stream has two steps of financial support to work with a B.C. Ministry of Agriculture pre-approved Qualified Business Consultant. For governments, communities, and organizations:

• Step 1 provides up to $5,000 for agriculture opportunities assessment.

• Step 2 provides up to $10,000 for financial and business planning.

• Community engagement top-up fund: During each step of the program, you are eligible for up to $2,000 of additional funding to support community engagement during your project.

​

Application intake is open for the 2022-2023 cycle.

 

​

Edible Trees Program - Tree Canada

Funding is available to educational institutions, Indigenous communities, community groups or gardens, food banks, community housing projects, municipalities, or other groups interested in planting edible trees on publicly accessible sites. Up to $3,500 in funding is available per project.

 

Applications open October of each year. Application form example: Edible Tree Program Application Form.pdf

 

​

​

Recovery and Resiliency Fund - Vancouver Foundation

Flexible three-year grants of $50,000 and $72,000 per year to eligible organizations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Eligible organizations have an identifiable need to recover from the pandemic, a vision of its long-term resiliency, and needs additional financial resources to realize its vision; and had an annual operating budget in 2020 and 2021 of less than $1 million.

 

Applications now closed. Check back for 2023 intake.

 

 

Community Grants Program - Canadian Roots Exchange

CREation is a multi-level funding program that supports strengths-based, community-focused and youth-led projects taking place in communities across Canada. Grassroot Indigenous youth groups/collectives (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. There are four streams:

 

• Youth Empowerment Stream: Sprout – $2500

• Youth Empowerment Stream: Blossom – $5000

• Education and Training Stream – $20,000

• Medium Project Stream – $30,000

 

Intake for 2022 is now closed.  

 

 

Indigenous Resilience and Recovery Grant Initiative - New Relationship Trust

Same as Vancouver Foundation Recovery and Resiliency Fund, but for Indigenous organizations with annual revenues of $1 million or more (based on most recent audited financial statements). The goal is to enhance the organizational and economic resilience of Indigenous not for profit organizations during their post-pandemic recovery journey. Eligible requests are quite flexible and broad. Maximum funding is $75,000 per year for three years.  

 

All funding resources fully exhausted. For details to prepare for future rounds of funding: Indigenous-Resilience-and-Recovery-Initiative-Final.doc (live.com)

 

 

 

Co-op Community Spaces Funding

The Co-op Community Spaces Program was established to improve community health and well-being by building places for Western Canadians to come together, build social connections and enable community development.

• Projects can apply for between $25,000 and $150,000 in capital funding.

• The program supports small-scale community agriculture initiatives in both rural and urban spaces, including community gardens and food education facilities.

• Projects must be located in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba.

• Projects must provide the opportunity for permanent signage.

• Projects must be available and accessible for community use.

• Application sample: SPONSORIUM - Proposal Request Form (co-op.crs)

Applications currently closed, check back for 2023 application dates.  For inquiries please contact: communityspaces@fcl.crs

 

 

Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Agri-Food & Agriculture Canada

The Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) is a 5-year, $60 million initiative ending March 31, 2024. It was created as part of the Government of Canada's Food Policy for a healthier and more sustainable food system in Canada. The LFIF is aimed at community-based, not-for-profit organizations with a mission to reduce food insecurity by establishing and strengthening their local food system. The fourth intake of LFIF will take place from June 1, 2022 to July 15, 2022 and will focus on projects that either create a portion of (or expand) a food system or implement an entire food system. Projects must be infrastructure specific and be community-driven, dedicated to improving access to healthy, nutritious and local foods for Canadians at risk of food insecurity.

 

There will be one more round of funding offered in 2023.

 

 

Garden Grant Program

Whole Kids Foundation, aims to get kids knowing and connecting to their food, so they become more curious about how things grow or taste, and more willing to try new foods. This is why we believe in edible garden learning spaces! The Garden Grant program provides a $3,000 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible educational garden located at either a: K-12 school, or a non-profit organization that serves children in the K-12 range.

 

Applications closed March 2022.

 

 

Gardens for Good Grant Program

The Gardens for Good grant program supports community gardens across North America that are growing organic food and making a difference in their communities. So far, Nature’s Path has supported 52 community gardens with more than $515,000 in grant funding.

 

Applications for 2022 closed now. Check back for 2023 application.  

 

​

Fill Your Basket /Community Harvest Grant - ŚW̱,ȻENEṈITEL Indigenous Foods Systems Initiative

This grant provides funds for food initiatives or harvesting equipment that meet the needs of current and future generations. Funds available for Individuals between $100-$1000, family-community between $1,000-$5,000 and large-scale community up to $10,000. To be eligible, must be ancestral to one or more of the 4 ancestral territories ŚW̱,ȻENEṈITEL serves (Lekwungen, WSANEC, Tsuk, Pacheedaht); OR have a clear connection to any of the 4 ancestral territories served by ŚW̱,ȻENEṈITEL (ie. relationship to land, families, communities, etc); OR Indigenous Person or Persons living or working within the CRD, willing to follow local protocols of the lands in which they are on.

 

2022 round of funding closed.

 

 

Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative – Agriculture Canada

This grant is available specifically to advance economic opportunities through building capacity in growing, producing and selling food. Projects could include developing an approach to growing and selling fresh produce or building/sharing skills and knowledge to scale up or enhance a current agriculture project. Proposals are being accepted until September 30, 2022 and the initiative ends on March 31, 2023. Cannot exceed $500,000 a year. 

 

Applications currently suspended due to high demand.

 

 

Food Infrastructure Grant – United Way B.C.

United Way British Columbia and the Ministry of Health are looking to collaborate with community food-based organizations to address the unique food access and availability challenges of rural, remote and Indigenous communities. This one-time Food Infrastructure Grant will fund the development, implementation, or improvement of food infrastructure to support year-round, long-term procurement, storage and distribution of fresh, traditional, and other food and enhance community well-being. Two-step application. No further details given.

 

Applications are currently closed.