Heritage Stewardship Program. Closes May 23, 2025. This program provides heritage funding to First Nations organizations in B.C. to address climate change, safeguard cultural sites, digitize cultural resources and record oral histories. HSP supports B.C. First Nations inherent right to act as stewards and experts of their cultures and heritage. This program provides funding for up to three out of four priority areas including Sense of Place, Climate Change, Oral Histories and Protocols, and Digitization and Archiving. Applicants can apply for up to three priority areas in one application, with a maximum of $25,000 for each priority area.

Braided Infrastructure Program. Closes May 26 2025. This program funding supports B.C. First Nations efforts to develop infrastructure projects that braid together arts, culture, heritage and language activities. Up to $70,000 in funding is available for B.C. First Nations infrastructure projects that conserve, repair or develop B.C First Nations’ cultural heritage, arts and language infrastructure.  

Arts Vitality Grant (FPCC). Closes May 28, 2025. The Arts Vitality Grant is a one-time opportunity to receive up to $10,000 to support creative projects that contribute to B.C First Nations arts. This grant supports B.C. First Nations storytellers, artists and arts organizations to share about the perseverance of storytelling, arts knowledge and practices in their communities. Stories may be told in a variety of ways using creative expressions such as weaving, carving, beading, dancing, songs, film and more. Projects that focus on the revitalization of community arts traditions whose vitality is threatened will be prioritized.

Thriving Indigenous Systems Fund (FISF) Closes May 21, 2025

https://www.vancouverfoundation.ca/grant-seekers/find-grants/thriving-indigenous-systems-fund-tisf/

Flexible, multi-year grants of up to $100,000 per year for three years to land-based First Nations and Indigenous-led organizations serving land-based First Nations in British Columbia.  These grants were designed to support Indigenous-led initiatives focused on healing, land, rights & responsibilities, and culture. The TISF will support work that creates the conditions for systemic transformation by preserving, evolving, and transforming the social, political, economic and cultural systems of Indigenous communities in BC.

INFO SESSIONS:   Register to attend a session for land-based First Nations and Hereditary Groups:

• Tuesday April 29th from 10am-11am

• Thursday May 8th from 3:30pm-4:30pm

Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund. Capacity Building Grants. Closes May 30, 2025. This funding stream supports grassroots Indigenous charities, programs, communities, and initiatives (artists and makers) with the potential for significant impact. This grant stream commits to multi-year relationships which increase the capacity, networks, programs, and profile of the partners selected. Grants are awarded on a case-by-case ‘needs’ assessment. There is no minimum dollar amount, but a ceiling of $175,000 per organization annually, for a maximum of four (4) years.

Arts Vitality Grant (FPCC). Closes May 28, 2025. The Arts Vitality Grant is a one-time opportunity to receive up to $10,000 to support creative projects that contribute to B.C First Nations arts. This grant supports B.C. First Nations storytellers, artists and arts organizations to share about the perseverance of storytelling, arts knowledge and practices in their communities. Stories may be told in a variety of ways using creative expressions such as weaving, carving, beading, dancing, songs, film and more. Projects that focus on the revitalization of community arts traditions whose vitality is threatened will be prioritized.

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• Scholarship Program. Closes April 30, 2025. This program supports education and training of B.C.’s future generation of artists, arts administrators, and arts and cultural practitioners. B.C. residents enrolled in full-time post-secondary art programs or high school half-day pre-professional dance programs are welcome to apply. Students should be committed to developing their independent artistic and creative practice towards a career in the arts and culture sector. Successful Scholarship applicants will receive payments of $3,000 for each term of full-time study, up to a maximum of $6,000 for 2 terms. 

• Arts-Based Community Development & Leon and Thea Koerner Award. Closes May 14, 2025. The Arts Based program supports eligible projects that embody arts-based community development (A-BCD) principles, through two categories: Projects where a professional artist (or artists) facilitates and supports the collective creation of new artwork in any discipline by community participants or Training of professional artists or community workers in Arts-Based Community Development processes. Maximum request amount is $25,000. The LTK Award is given to up to 5 organizations that are recognized for achieving social benefit through excellence and innovation, creating projects that lead to social change or transformation. This aligns with the principles of arts-based community development. Request amount must be a minimum of $25,000.

• Project Assistance: Professional Arts Training Organizations. Closes May 22, 2025. This program supports arts and culture organizations in the development and delivery of training activities through a specific project or component within the organization’s overall activities. Grant amounts up to $25,000. 

• Project Assistance: Professional Performing Arts Organizations. Closes May 22, 2025. This program supports the development, creation, production, realization, dissemination, or live performance of classical, experimental, original, traditional, and contemporary performing art forms from all world cultures. Performing Arts includes dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary, or other performing arts practices such as circus arts and comedy. Grant amounts up to $25,000. 

• Project Assistance: Literary Arts. Closes May 22, 2025. This program supports eligible literary arts organizations or collectives to develop, enrich, and promote Canadian literature and writers through publishing, presentation, and dissemination of literary works and the development of new or unique public programming and community engagement initiatives. Grant amounts up to $25,000. 

• Individual Arts Grants: Professional Performing Artists. Closes May 28, 2025.  This program supports initiatives in the development, creation, production, realization, dissemination, or live performance of classical, experimental, original, traditional, and contemporary performing art forms from all world cultures. Performing arts includes dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary, or other performing arts practices such as circus arts and comedy. Grant amounts up to $25,000. 

• The BC Arts Council has MANY programs with intakes throughout the year. Please visit their website for information for all opportunities: https://www.bcartscouncil.ca/program.

The Day Scholars Revitalization Fund. The Residential School Day Scholars Class Action Settlement is for Day Scholars who attended an Indian Residential School but did not sleep there at night between the years of 1920-1974 (depending on the school). The fund will grant up to $10,000 to Indigenous Individuals who aim to revitalize their languages and cultures; to promote their heritage and commemoration; to promote their healing and wellness journeys and education and training goals. There are [up to] three granting announcements each year.

​Community Economic Development and Diversification in British Columbia. Accepting applications on an on-going basis. This program supports projects that: attract investment and talent, increase productivity and economic growth, grow new, existing and transitioning sectors, increase the economic participation of British Columbians and respond to changing economic circumstances. Funding varies by project. Typically up to 50% of eligible project costs; in exceptional circumstances, PacifiCan may fund a higher proportion of a project’s costs. 

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• Preparing Our Home Mentorship Program 2025

In this program, Indigenous youth will have an opportunity to develop core skills for emergency preparedness leadership, supported by experienced mentors in the field. The program will take place from May through to November (six two-hour online group sessions + individual mentorship based on your interests). The training will culminate in a 5-day gathering at Spirit Ridge Resort, Osoyoos Indian Band territory in British Columbia. Application .

Apply Here: Preparing Our Home Mentorship Program 2025

• YOLO Community

The YOLO Community (Youth On the Land Opportunities) is a network of 200+ individuals supporting on-the-land/water opportunities for Indigenous youth across Canada. It includes folks running land-based learning programs through stewardship departments, Indigenous Guardian programs, health centres, schools, child/family services, non-profits, and more. This spring, YOLO is hosting three virtual coffee hours intended to provide space for Coordinators and those running on-the-land/water programming for Indigenous youth to informally connect with others doing similar work and chat about anything you want to with a small group of people. 

Register Here: Events - YOLO Community

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC is hosting a webinar on May 27th- “Leveraging fun: An introduction to the ORCBC’s new guidebook to building thriving outdoor recreation communities.” Register here. From Cumberland to Tumbler Ridge, rural towns are embracing outdoor recreation for economic diversification and community building. To get there, each one had to figure out its own formula, but now a breakthrough guidebook produced for the ORCBC offers a blueprint for success. Our May webinar will show you how to make the most of it.

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Authors Lauren Rethoret and Sarah Breen, from Selkirk College, will join us to unpack the new resource, Outdoor Recreation for Community and Economic Development: A guidebook for rural British Columbia communities. With the guidebook scheduled for release in early May, this is a timely opportunity to hear from the authors about key recommendations and how to use the guide’s features and tools. ​The hour-long, interactive presentation will include a question and answer session, as well as a case study with a rural BC community actively working to grow its outdoor recreation economy.​ For anyone interested in nurturing outdoor recreation, this guidebook is a catalyst for change, offering practical advice, tools, and case studies to inspire and guide rural communities. The webinar will help you make the most of it.

Intake 3 opening May 1, 2025 until December 1, 2025 (or when funding is exhausted).  This grant provides non-repayable funding contributions to First Nation communities, Indigenous organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs in British Columbia that want to participate in and receive financial supports to develop, expand, or strengthen their Indigenous food systems and innovation to enhance sustainability and growth of the Indigenous agriculture and food sovereignty.​

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STREAM 1 – Funding caps: $150,000 for Community businesses including Indigenous Farms: $100,000 for Entrepreneurs:  provides funding for activities and costs associated with the business development, planning and design phase of a food security project.

Eligible expenses include (not an all-inclusive list) feasibility studies and assessments, business planning, business coaching/mentorship, permaculture design, food production strategies, site analysis, community engagement, agriculture & food training etc.

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STREAM 2 – Funding caps: $250,000 for Community businesses including Indigenous Farms: $150,000 for Entrepreneurs: provides funding for activities and costs associated with the implementation of a food security project.

Eligible expenses include (not an all-inclusive list) start-up costs, capital contribution for construction, retrofits, equipment, community greenhouses, processing technologies, food cold storage, smoker/dehydration, freeze drying technologies, water infrastructure solutions, marketing, composting solutions, and other acquisitions to support the project and skills, training and capacity development directly related to food security project launch etc.

Eligible Applicants: Local Governments, Indigenous Communities, Métis Nations, Modern Treaty Nations

Program Category: Built Environment, Community Infrastructure

Under Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada

Deadline Details Eligible applicants can apply until March 31, 2025, 15:00 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Indigenous Applicants will have until May 19th, 2025, 15:00 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to submit their applications. 

CHIF uses a continuous intake, whereby project applications may be submitted at anytime while the intake remains open. Project applications received before the final closing date may be reviewed and approved during the application intake period, so interested parties are encouraged to apply early.

For a project to be eligible, applicants must demonstrate in their application that there is a housing need, or that growth is expected in the community where the project will take place. Eligible projects must also support increased capacity of municipal infrastructure related to drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, or solid waste management, as outlined below. Both capital and planning projects are eligible under CHIF. 

Description:

Capital infrastructure projects include new construction, rehabilitation or expansion projects that result in tangible infrastructure, including hybrid and natural infrastructure, for the following systems:

• Drinking water systems, including drinking water treatment facilities, storage assets, pump stations, local and transmission pipes, and natural infrastructure;

• Wastewater systems, including wastewater storage and treatment facilities, lagoon systems, pump/lift stations, sanitary force mains and sewer pipes, combined sewer pipes and natural infrastructure;

• Stormwater systems, including stormwater drainage pump stations, management facilities, pipes and natural infrastructure;

• Solid waste management systems, including landfills, organic waste processing, waste sorting, and thermal treatment.

Planning projects primarily consist of studies, plans or design work. For a planning project to be eligible for funding, it must support a future capital project that would be considered eligible under CHIF and align with its objectives.

Movable Cultural Property Grants. (Federal Government). No Deadline. Movable Cultural Property Grants help designated organizations acquire cultural property of outstanding significance and national importance to Canada, as outlined in the Cultural Property Export and Import Act. Designated organizations are located in Canada and demonstrate the ability to ensure the long-term preservation of cultural property. Grants can be used to purchase cultural property: for which an export permit has been denied; or that is important to Canada’s national heritage and available for purchase outside the country.

National Creation Fund. No Deadline. The National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund invests up to $3 million a year in the development of 15 to 20 compelling and ambitious new Canadian works in theatre, dance, music and inter-disciplinary performing arts. Fuelled entirely by donors, the Fund provides Canadian artists with the additional time, space and resources they need to create great work. The Fund invests in both new work, and in promising productions that need additional development after their initial run to produce stronger, more polished work that will be remounted and toured across Canada and around the world.

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. (Federal Government). No deadline- on-going. The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. The Fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces. The CCSF annual grants and contributions budget is $54 million for the period 2018-2028.

Legacy Fund- Building Communities through Arts and Heritage. (Federal Government). Applications accepted on continuous basis. This Department of Canadian Heritage Program provides funding for community-initiated capital projects, intended for community use. Recipients may receive up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenses up to a maximum of $500,000. unding supports community-initiated capital projects that: commemorate a significant local historical event or pay tribute to a significant local historical personality; mark a 100th anniversary or greater, in increments of 25 years (e.g., 125th, 150th); involve the restoration, renovation, or transformation of existing buildings or exterior spaces with local community significance that are intended for community use; encourage arts and heritage activities in the local community that are intended for and accessible to the general public.

Urban Communities Partnering for Reconciliation. Funding permitting, eligible applicants may submit one application between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025. This program was created as a multipartner, community-driven approach focused on improving the socio-economic outcomes for urban Indigenous communities in BC, including Inuit, First Nations and Métis populations. Funding is available to support eligible Indigenous organizations and local governments to work together to create opportunities for in-person dialogue and relationship building which can help advance collaborative reconciliation plans, protocols, agreements or future projects.

Community Investment Priorities t drive more equitable opportunities for prosperity, we intend to support projects that:

Create stability by addressing food security, housing stability, and access to health service. For example, ideas that:

•  Improve access to healthy and affordable food for the long-term to alleviate pressure on short-term emergency supports

• Improve access to housing situations that are safe, secure, and/or affordable

• o Enable more equitable health outcomes by removing barriers to relevant health supports and services

An additional $300 million is available until 2027 for your clean energy projects. These projects can help advance Indigenous-led climate action, support local economic development and create skilled jobs while reducing pollution and improving air quality.

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There is no deadline to apply. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

The Indigenous Youth Internship Program (IYIP) provides a 1-year paid internship for up to 25 young Indigenous British Columbians, ages 19 to 29. The program encourages Indigenous youth to consider the BC Public Service and First Nations / Indigenous organizations as a place to pursue a rewarding career. The program helps to support Indigenous youth to develop their leadership skills through work placements. Interns are initially placed with a BC Government ministry for the first 9 months. Following that, the intern is placed with an Indigenous organization for three months (salary still paid by BC Government). For more information on the program, including applying as a Intern or as a First Nation tohost an Intern, visit Indigenous Youth Internship Program - Province of British Columbia.