Laidlaw Foundation invest in opportunities for Indigenous youth to connect with their land, languages and cultures, and community through the Indigenous Youth & Community Futures Fund (IYCFF). Through the IYCFF, Laidlaw Foundation seeks to support change-makers to engage in acts of decolonization, nation and community building, and cultural resurgence.

MORE ABOUT Indigenous Youth & Community Futures Fund (IYCFF)

The IYCFF grants are for Indigenous youth to develop and lead projects where they:

• learn about and are immersed in their lands, languages, rights, laws and cultures

• participate in everyday acts of resurgence, reclamation, healing and wellbeing

• build relationships within and across diverse Indigenous communities and nations

• Address environmental racism and promote sustainable relationships with the land and water

Laidlaw Foundation will host two virtual information sessions to provide more information and assist applicants in questions for the grant programs on the following dates.

• Tuesday, February 18th at 5:30 PM EST: Register here.

• Thursday, February 20th at 12:00 PM EST: Register here.

Also, in collaboration with various foundations, Laidlaw will host an information session in Sault Ste.Marie on Monday, February 3rd, 2025. For those interested, please contact abernard@laidlawfdn.org for further details.

Available Funding/Prizing

• Interested applicants can apply for up to $30,000 for small-scale projects that can last between 6 to 12 months. If your group was a past 1-year IYCFF grantee, you may apply for a maximum of $30,000 per year for up to two years, for a maximum total of $60,000.

NOTE THAT: Due to the number of applications and the limited funds available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The grant is open to Indigenous youth-led groups that are based in remote, rural and urban territories spanning Ontario. The grant is inclusive of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Afro-Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+ and disabled young people.

**A youth-led group is a project group that has been developed by and is led by at least two Indigenous young people 35 years and under. Groups with adult allies, community members, elders or knowledge keepers playing supportive roles as long as young people, who self-identify as Indigenous Peoples, come up with the project idea and lead the project are also welcome.

You can view the complete list of eligibility criteria here.

APPLICATION LINK

Visit the Laidlaw Foundation Grant Portal to access the application form

DEADLINE

Applications for this fund are due by Thursday, March 6th, 2025.

As always, we will keep you posted on any relevant grant programs and contests for small businesses and organizations within the province.

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