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A staff-curated list of current grants and funding opportunities available to support First Nations’ projects in key areas including stewardship, clean energy, economic development, and cultural programming.
First Nations working to manage their territories and invest in their communities may be eligible to apply for funding from Crown governments, philanthropic foundations, and corporate community investment programs. And, through Coast Funds, participating First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii may have funding available for stewardship, conservation, and economic development projects in addition to fundraising support.
On this page, Coast Funds team members have compiled a list of additional funding opportunities for First Nations with upcoming deadlines.
Disclaimer: Coast Funds staff members have made a reasonable effort to gather and check information. However, details and timelines for grant programs can change. When looking for funding, please check eligibility and program details on the funding organization’s webpage.
Prefer to view this list in a table? Skip to the bottom.
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CONSERVATION, STEWARDSHIP, AND CLIMATE
ARTS & CULTURE
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT
AddressBC: First Nations Grant Program
Supports Integrated Cadastral Information Society First Nations members looking to develop a GIS dataset of civic addresses or to improve their existing civic address dataset.
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Blue Carbon Plus (BC+): Seagrass-Positive Businesses Funding Window
Supports the advancement of sea cucumber and bivalve business models that have the potential for actively restoring and preserving seagrass ecosystems.
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Government of Canada: Community Economic Development and Diversification in British Columbia
Supports projects that harness local ambitions, assets, knowledge, and economic opportunities to create more prosperous and resilient communities.
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Indigenous Services Canada: Community Opportunity Readiness Program
Supports First Nation and Inuit Communities for a range of activities to support communities’ pursuit of economic opportunities in addition to helping applicants to submit proposals to seek additional funding.
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Indigenous Services Canada: Professional and Institutional Development Program
Supports projects that develop the capacity of First Nations and Inuit communities for core functions of government like planning and risk management, leadership, administration, and financial management.
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NDN Collective: Community Action Fund
Supports Indigenous frontline, grassroots, community-based groups and organizations, Tribes, communities and villages, and individuals leading direct action or movement-building work in their effort to defend Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and protect their land, air, water, and natural resources.
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New Relationship Trust: BC Indigenous Cannabis Business Fund
Supports upcoming cannabis business’ by facilitating community planning and engagement activities, as well as assisting with business planning, design, and implementation tasks associated with their cannabis project.
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New Relationship Trust: Declaration Act Engagement Fund
Supports First Nation’s capacity to engage with the Province on the implementation of the Declaration Act action plan and alignment of Provincial laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
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New Relationship Trust: Food Security and Sovereignty
Supports the development, expansion, or strengthening of Indigenous food systems and innovation with the aim of promoting sustainability and growth in Indigenous agriculture and food sovereignty.
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New Relationship Trust: Indigenous Labour Market Fund
Supports Indigenous labour market and employment initiatives to increase Indigenous labour market participation and job creation in BC while demonstrating respect for Indigenous culture, values, and traditions.
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Northern Development Initiative Trust: Community Places
Supports the creation, restoration, or enhancement of community spaces that will improve amenities and enhance overall quality of life.
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Northern Development Initiative Trust: The Mainstreet Revitalization Capital program
Supports local governments and First Nation governments with grant funding to complete strategic public investments in public infrastructure within a community’s downtown/main street area.
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Province of BC: Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding program
Supports First Nations and local governments in BC to enhance their capacity to withstand and adapt to natural and climate-driven hazards.
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Union of BC Municipalities: FireSmart Pilot Program for Regional District Cooperative Community Wildfire Response Organizations
Supports regional districts in BC to increase community resiliency and to help build a cooperative pathway for wildfire response by undertaking training and purchasing Personal Protective Equipment for local community members in areas that do not fall within a structural fire protection jurisdiction area.
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Union of BC Municipalities: Urban Communities Partnering for Reconciliation
Supports Indigenous organizations and local governments who want to create opportunities for in-person dialogue and relationship building which can help advance collaborative reconciliation plans, protocols, agreements, or future projects.
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2 Billion Trees Program
Supports new tree planting projects.
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BC Conservation Fund: Project Grants
Supports projects conserving priority land and freshwater areas in BC. The next expression of interest intake will be in Summer 2025.
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First Nations National Guardian Network: First Nations Guardian Fund
Supports First Nations working to exercise their rights and responsibilities to the land, waters, and ice of their traditional territories by providing funding for First Nations-led, on-the-ground, community-based stewardship initiatives, and networks.
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First Nations Health Authority: Environmental Contaminants Program
Supports BC First Nation community-based research projects that explore the link between human health and environmental contaminants.
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Government of Canada: First Nations Adapt Program
Supports First Nation communities and organizations located south of the 60th parallel to assess and respond to the impacts of climate change, and increase climate resilience, in support of self-determined priorities.
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Habitat Conservation Trust Fund: Grants
Support conservation projects focusing on wildlife restoration, land acquisition, community engagement, and biodiversity education in BC.
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McConnell Foundation: Climate, Reconciliation, Community
Supports programs and activities that enhance climate, reconciliation, and community.
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Telus: Indigenous Communities Fund
Supports Indigenous-led social, health and community programs focused on, but not limited to health, mental health and well-being; access to education and resources; preservation of the land and water; community building and enhancement; and intergenerational language and cultural revitalization.
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First Peoples Cultural Council: Arts Vitality Grant
Supports First Nations storytellers, artists, and arts organizations to share about the perseverance of storytelling, arts knowledge, and practices in their communities, with a focus on the revitalization of community arts traditions whose vitality is threatened.
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Government of Canada: Local Festivals – Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
Supports festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans, or heritage performers, including the celebration of LGBTQ2S+ communities and Indigenous culture.
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Na‐mi‐quai‐ni‐mak: I Remember Them Community Support Fund
Supports Indigenous communities, survivor organizations, and registered non‐profits in healing, memorials, and remembrance within their communities. Na-mi-quai-ni-mak funds projects for survivors of the Indian residential school system.
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Oshki Wupoowane: The Blanket Fund
Supports Indigenous cultural, artistic, and educational activities. Offered through two grant streams (Reconciliation Action Grants and Capacity Building Grants), The Blanket Fund can be accessed by both grassroots Indigenous communities and organizations, and by Indigenous individuals undertaking related community initiatives.
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Agricultural Clean Technology Program: Research and Innovation Stream
Supports the development and adoption of clean technology that will help drive the changes required to achieve a low-carbon economy and promote sustainable growth in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
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BC Hydro: Indigenous Communities Conservation Program
Supports Indigenous communities by providing energy efficiency upgrades to homes, installation training, and free energy-saving products.
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Environment and Climate Change Canada: Indigenous Leadership Fund
Supports Indigenous-owned and led renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low-carbon heating projects to reduce emissions.
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Fortis BC: Indigenous Communities Conservation Program
Supports Indigenous communities looking to improve energy efficiency and comfort in community members’ homes.
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Government of Canada: Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program
Supports Indigenous-led climate action through biomass heating, district heating, and combined heat and power systems, as well as research, development, and demonstration projects.
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Government of Canada: Lands and Economic Development Services Program
Supports economic development, land and environmental capacity of communities and to support the establishment of the conditions for economic development to occur, increasing their participation in the economy.
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Government of Canada: Zero-Emission Vehicles Awareness
Supports Indigenous-led awareness and education projects for cleaner transportation and clean fuels.
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Island Coastal Economic Trust: Capital and Innovation Program
Supports the development of vital regional and community-based public amenities and services to support sustainable economic diversification and growth, innovation, as well as enhanced quality of life.
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Project Zero: Circular Economy Accelerator
Supports hands-on operations for businesses who seek to adopt circular economy principles, reduce waste and emissions, increase revenue, and develop innovative practices.
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Province of British Columbia: CleanBC Plastics Action Fund (Indigenous Projects Stream)
Supports plastic waste reduction projects to promote a circular economy in British Columbia through recycling, remanufacturing, reuse, and repair projects.
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Wah-ila-toos: Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities
Supports renewable energy and capacity building projects to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels for heating and electricity in Indigenous, rural, and remote communities across Canada.
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First Peoples Law: 2025 Indigenous Law Student Scholarship
An annual scholarship to an Indigenous law student with a demonstrated commitment to serving and advancing the interests of Indigenous Peoples.
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Government of Canada: Finder Tool
Indigenous bursaries search tool. You can search for bursaries by keyword, location, program of study, or Indigenous group.
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Indspire: Building Brighter Futures
Support is available to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students in remote communities, rural areas, and urban centres across Canada through bursaries, scholarships, and awards from various organizations. Use their funding page to find opportunities that suit your needs.
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Scholarships Canada: Finder Tool
Matches applicants to scholarships based on the information provided when applicants create an account.
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Work BC: BC Employer Training Grant
Supports employers throughout BC with skills training funding for their workforces, including prospective new hires.
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Know about a funding opportunity that isn’t on this list? Let us know at info@coastfunds.ca.
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