Edmonton City Council approved funding of $1,000,000 for the Operating Grant for Indigenous-led Organizations to support the Reconciliation Pillar of the Community Safety and Well-Being Strategy.
Award amounts for the grant are a minimum of $2,500 to a maximum of $50,000.
Application Intake Status
Application intake for the Operating Grant for Indigenous-led Organizations is now closed.
Received applications are being reviewed. Funding decisions will be shared with applicants by the end of February 2026.
Thank you to all those who have submitted!
Grant Priorities
The Operating Grant for Indigenous-led organizations will help support Indigenous groups in their efforts to achieve the following:
- Promote the resurgence of Indigenous Peoples’ culture, language, identity and ceremony
- Ensure safe, inclusive and healing spaces
- Provide education, training, employment and economic security for Indigenous Peoples
Grant Application Assessment
Applications are assessed based on the following criteria:
- Organizational eligibility
- Alignment to grant priorities
- Eligible operating expenses
- Most recent year-end financial statements
Grant awards are determined by a formula based on the above criteria and the number of eligible applications.
Organizational Eligibility
To be eligible for the grant, the applicant must:
- Be a not-for-profit organization registered for at least 1 year and in good standing with the incorporating body (Alberta Society, Non-profit Private Company, Non-Profit Public Company, Extra-Provincial Non-profit Company)
- Be in good standing with the City in terms of reporting requirements and outstanding payments
- Be Indigenous-Led, which means they must have:
- The majority (minimum of 50%) of the board, management and staff/volunteers identifying as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit)
- Indigenous cultures central to the history and development of the organization, its governance and daily operations
- Provide programs and services that reflect the cultures and traditions of the First Nations, Inuit, and/or Metis Communities that call Edmonton home
- Organization is based in the Edmonton Area and has a minimum of 75% of its participants residing in Edmonton
- Have a mandate that aligns with 1 or more of the grant priorities
Note:
- Organizations may receive 1 operating grant per year funded by the City of Edmonton. These include operating grant programs for community leagues and seniors’ centres, as well as operating grant programs administered by the Edmonton Arts Council or Edmonton Heritage Council.
- Organizations that have 2 years or more of unrestricted cash reserves or restricted but available for operating expenses, may not be considered for an operating grant.
Ineligible Expenses
Ineligible expenses include:
- Capital projects: including significant maintenance or repairs to buildings such as an addition or a new roof
- Fundraising expenses: such as bingos and casinos
- Expenses associated with income-generating operations not directly associated with the programs and services of the Organization: for example, public food sales, catering and banquet services, facility rental
- Depreciation/Amortization: decreases the value of capital assets over time
- Debt repayment or Debt/Credit Interest: expenses related to a line of credit, mortgage, credit card, overdraft or other debt, or the principle and interest on any credit or debt
Required Documents
Attach these documents to your online application.
- 2024 audited year-end financial statements, signed by 2 board members or,
- 2024 internally generated financial statements (those that are not presented either as a notice to reader, a review or an audit) signed by 2 board members and must include a bank reconciliation and bank statement as at the fiscal year-end. See Financial Statement/Bank Reconciliation example.
- Grant Financial Information Form
Submit Your Application
Application intake for the grant is now closed.
Reporting Requirement
Successful applicants will be responsible for reporting on how operating dollars supported them in advancing their mandate, and:
- How the organization addressed 1 or more of the grant priorities
- Examples of the programs offered that supported each of the priorities selected
- Number of people who attended or participated in the programs identified
- The priority areas in which the organization had the largest impact
Reporting is done via the Community Investment Grant Portal.