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Have a project in mind and need funding to make it a reality? We’ve gathered a list of grants and funding opportunities for First Nations on the coast.
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 has 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 OR EQUIPMENT
 
AddressBC: First Nations Grant Program
Provides funding to ICI 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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Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada: Residential Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund
Provides funding for locating, documenting, maintaining, and commemorating burial sites associated with former residential schools, and responding to family wishes to commemorate or memorialize their losses and the children’s final resting places.
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Indigenous Services Canada: Community Opportunity Readiness Program
Provides funding for 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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New Relationship Trust: BC Indigenous Cannabis Business Fund
To support an 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
Multi-year funding contributions to support 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
Funding to address three specific gaps in advancing 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
This fund 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: Economic Infrastructure
Supports projects of regional and local significance that contribute to economic growth and stronger communities, including renovations or new construction of public multi-use facilities or capital investments that drive revenue and job creation within the community.
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Northern Development Initiative Trust: Recreation Infrastructure
Supports community efforts to create and support recreational infrastructure, such as arenas, gymnasiums, golf courses, fields, boat launches and others, to encourage resident attraction and retention while also increasing opportunities for sport tourism.
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Province of British Columbia: Residential School Response Fund
Funding for First Nations-led strategies to identify, investigate, protect, and commemorate the sites of former residential schools and hospitals in BC and for the mental health, wellness, and cultural supports required to do this work.
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Real Estate Foundation of BC: General Grants
Funds projects led by First Nations, non-profits, and other organizations working on research, education, and policy relating to land use or real estate in BC.
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Union of BC Municipalities: Emergency Operations Centres (EOC) and Training
To support eligible applicants to build local capacity through the purchase of equipment and supplies required to maintain or improve an EOC and to enhance EOC capacity through training and exercises.
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Union of BC Municipalities: Public Notification and Evacuation Route Planning
Provides funding to develop evacuation route plans and/or public notification plans that provide information for First Nations, other local governments, and community members in the event of an emergency.
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Union of BC Municipalities: Urban Communities Partnering for Reconciliation
Provides funding to 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
This program aims to motivate and support new tree planting projects. Over a period of 10 years, by 2031, up to $3.2 billion will be invested in tree planting efforts to support provinces, territories, third-party organizations (for-profit and not-for profit), and Indigenous organizations to plant two billion trees across Canada.
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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
Various grants are available to 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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National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association (NALMA): Land Use Plans
To assist in the development of Indigenous land use plans. NALMA may also provide First Nation communities with technical support and training throughout the planning process, as needed.
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Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions: Community Climate Action Events
Provides funds to non-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations, and First Nations planning events that drive tangible climate action.
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Pacific Salmon Foundation: Community Salmon Program
Provides funds to volunteer and community–driven organizations that undertake salmon conservation and restoration projects.
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Telus: Indigenous Communities Fund
Supports Indigenous-led social, health and community programs focused on, but not limited to, 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: Youth Empowered Speakers Program
Provides funding to support a BC First Nations student aged 18-35 who is interested in learning their Indigenous language while working towards a career as a language immersion teacher, early childhood immersion educator, or a community language revitalization leader.
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Government of Canada: Local Festivals – Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
Provides funding for 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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Indigenous Screen Office: Sector Development
Supports a wide array of initiatives and projects that aim to strengthen and grow the Indigenous screen sector. Workshops, labs, incubators, research projects, community-based programs, and funding for organizations whose mandate is to develop the Indigenous screen sector should consider applying to this program.
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Na‐mi‐quai‐ni‐mak: I Remember Them Community Support Fund
To support 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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Northern Development Initiative Trust: Cultural Infrastructure
Supports creation or improvement of arts, heritage, culture, and creative innovation spaces.
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Oshki Wupoowane: The Blanket Fund
Provides support for 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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Fisheries and Oceans Canada: Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative
Provides funding to increase First Nations’ access to commercial fisheries in British Columbia and Yukon. The program seeks to build BC and Yukon First Nations communities’ capacity to fish and to operate commercial fishing enterprises (CFEs); improve the business and operational capacities of First Nations’ CFEs and aquaculture businesses; and strengthen community economic self-sufficiency.
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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
Funds projects that contribute to 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 (LEDSP)
To assist with enhancing the 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
Provides funding for Indigenous-led awareness and education projects for cleaner transportation and clean fuels.
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Green Municipal Fund: Accelerating Community Energy Systems
Funds Indigenous community research studies that help advance community energy systems (CES) and identifies opportunity areas for low-carbon community energy systems (including renewable and district energy systems) and develops mechanisms to support implementation.
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Island Coastal Economic Trust: Capital and Innovation Program
Funding to support 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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Natural Resources Canada: Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program – Indigenous Clean Energy
The Indigenous Clean Energy stream supports Indigenous communities and/or Indigenous organizations to increase meaningful and equitable Indigenous participation in decarbonizing the electricity system.
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Wah-ila-toos: Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities
Provides funding for 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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BC First Nations Forestry Council: Indigenous Forestry Scholarship Program
Funding is available for First Nations, Inuit, or Métis students interested in enrolling in full-time postsecondary program related to: forestry technician, natural resources, environmental technology, business management, business administration, geographic information systems, and forestry trades. The program also offers work placements and one-on-one mentorship with industry partners.
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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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Scholarships Canada: Finder Tool
Matches applicants to scholarships based on the information provided when applicants create an account.
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Union of BC Municipalities: CEPF – Emergency Support Services Equipment and Training
Funding helps build local capacity to provide emergency support services through volunteer recruitment, retention, and training, including in-house training, and the purchase of emergency support services equipment.
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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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