Indigenous Youth

We welcome grant applications from Indigenous-led organizations that are:  

• Registered charities  
• Qualified donees  
• Nonprofit organizations delivering charitable initiatives 

We do not fund: 

• Capital campaigns or infrastructure expenses 
• Emergency relief 
• Endowments 
• Fundraising drives or event sponsorships 
• Government services 
• Individuals 
• Scholarships or bursaries 
• Singular events not connected to ongoing programs or services 

Ineligible applicants include: 

• Non-Indigenous-led organizations or partnerships 
• Entities with annual revenues/operating budgets over $5 million 
• Well-established and resourced entities (e.g., post-secondary institutions, hospital foundations, conservancy or historical associations) 
• For-profit businesses and enterprises (including corporations and social enterprises) 

Funding is available as both project grants and general operating grants. Project grants fund specific programs or activities while general operating grant funds can cover any costs of running the organization and fulfilling the charitable mission.  

Registered charities and qualified donees are welcome to apply for either type of grant depending on what would best suit the needs of the organization. Nonprofit organizations are only eligible to apply for project grant funding at this time.

To ensure our limited funds make the most impact, we prioritize groups with annual revenues below $1 million and cap eligibility at $5 million. This ensures our granting reaches grassroots, community-driven initiatives while still being accessible to established Indigenous organizations rooted in community.  

Applicants may request up to 10% of their organization’s annual revenue, to a maximum of:  

• $50,000 for registered charities and qualified donees 
• $25,000 for nonprofit organizations 

All Indigenous Youth grants are single-year commitments, so we encourage applicants to focus their proposal on efforts that that can deliver meaningful outcomes or impact within that timeframe. 

This funding is best suited to: 

• Filling a specific gap in your program, services, or budget 
• Helping pilot or prove a new concept 
• Supporting an expansion or stretch initiative that builds on your existing strengths

Due to our commitment to reaching a broad network of communities, we’re not able to fund long-term operational or sustained programming needs at this time. Instead, we aim to play a catalytic, time-bound role—helping organizations move an idea forward or meet a moment of opportunity.  

The Indigenous Youth grant program uses a single-round application process. Here are the steps for submission: 

1. Create an account on our online application portal 
2. Complete the 2-page form, which includes a variety of short, medium, and long answer questions (draft answers can be saved and returned to at any time) 
3. Attach requested financial documents 
4. Consider sharing additional supporting materials 
5. Once all required tasks are complete, select “submit” 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline, so you can apply any time. Submissions are reviewed every other month, and applicants are typically notified of outcomes within approximately 8 to 12 weeks. If your proposal is unsuccessful, please wait 12 months before reapplying.

We aim to partner with initiatives that share in the community-informed vision of this grant program, with priority given to: 

• Organizations that are community-based and culturally connected 
• Organizations serving Indigenous youth in rural and remote communities 
• Projects that are led by youth or informed by youth voices 
• Efforts that focus on integrated solutions rather than isolated interventions 

We value clarity over polish. Use your own voice. Don’t worry about perfect formatting or fundraising language. Just help us understand your work. 

We also understand that proposals are early-stage documents. This isn’t the final chapter—it’s the start of a conversation.  

We’re most excited by proposals that are realistic and right-sized—not trying to do everything but doing what’s proposed, well.  

What gives us pause is sole-source funding. We’re not looking to be the only donor—shared investment reduces risk and strengthens accountability.  

Finally, please know that it’s possible to submit a strong application and still not receive funding. Decisions must consider many factors—especially budget limitations and portfolio balance. This is not a reflection of the value of your work. We receive far more requests than we can support, which means making difficult choices and, unfortunately, leaving some important initiatives unfunded

As part of our due diligence process, we request the following financial documents be attached at the end of your application: 

• Audited Financial Statements (if applying as a registered charity or qualified donee) 
• Organization Annual Budget (if applying as a nonprofit organization) 
• Project Budget (if applying for a Project Grant) 

You are welcome to upload your own Project Budget or use this template. 

Yes. You will have the option at the end of the application to attach supporting materials to help us get to know and better understand your organization. All file formats are welcome to be uploaded. Examples include: 

• Annual Reports 
• List of Board Directors (or similar) 
• List of Funders 
• Letters of Support 
• Other materials of importance (examples: photos, a short video or audio clip) 
• Links to relevant and related content online (examples: articles, podcasts, social media posts) 

Not always. While we aim to meet approved requests in full, our annual budget may limit what we can award. When this happens, we provide a reduced grant if we are confident it will still help advance your work and support meaningful outcomes.

Our application form invites organizations to self-identify their leadership orientation using the I4DM (Definitional Matrix), and accompanying guidelines, that was created by The Circle on Philanthropy in 2022.

For questions about the Indigenous Youth grant program or the application process, please email info@petergilganfoundation.org.