INDIGENOUS YOUTH FUND

The Indigenous Youth Fund (IYF) is a new, community-rooted grant designed to resource and support Indigenous young people leading climate, Land, and Water-based action in their communities across what is currently known as Canada.

APPLY

INDIGENOUS YOUTH FUND

The Indigenous Youth Fund (IYF) is a new, community-rooted grant designed to resource and support Indigenous young people leading climate, Land, and Water-based action in their communities across what is currently known as Canada.

APPLY

COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, ACTION & SELF-DETERMINATION COMMUNITY CARE, CULTURE & CONNECTION KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, TEACHINGS & SKILL-BUILDING COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, ACTION & SELF-DETERMINATION COMMUNITY CARE, CULTURE & CONNECTION KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, TEACHINGS & SKILL-BUILDING COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, ACTION & SELF-DETERMINATION COMMUNITY CARE, CULTURE & CONNECTION KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, TEACHINGS & SKILL-BUILDING COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, ACTION & SELF-DETERMINATION COMMUNITY CARE, CULTURE & CONNECTION KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, TEACHINGS & SKILL-BUILDING COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, ACTION & SELF-DETERMINATION COMMUNITY CARE, CULTURE & CONNECTION KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, TEACHINGS & SKILL-BUILDING

Deadline

The pilot granting cycle will take place through the key dates below:

Application Deadline

Evaluation period

Application opens: March 6, 2026, 12:00pm (PT)

Application deadline: April 3, 2026, 12:00pm (PT)

Once your application is submitted, you will hear about the status of your application within the next 30 business days (six weeks)

Term Length

6 – 12 months

Amount Awarded

$500 – $5,000 per 12-month period

ELIGIBILITY →

The Purpose of the Indigenous Youth Fund

Created in response to long-standing gaps in youth-accessible, non-punitive funding, the IYF centers Indigenous self-determination, relational accountability, and Indigenous ways of knowing.

The IYF recognizes that Indigenous youth are already doing the work of protecting Lands, Waters, revitalizing culture and language, responding to climate impacts, and working towards a just future.

The IYF is a part of a larger effort to redirect climate justice funding toward Indigenous communities and projects across Turtle Island. It aims to address longstanding funding gaps by supporting Indigenous youth-led initiatives that are community-driven, Land-based, and grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems. The IYF exists to support this work in ways that are flexible, trust-based, and culturally responsive.

Application Process

Step 1: Review eligibility guidelines

eligibility guidelines →

Step 2: Review helpful materials

OUR PRINCIPLES →

BUDGET TEMPLATE →

RESOURCES →

Step 3: Review your application with a coach (optional)

Clarify the application questions or requirements
Support you in the development of your application answers, project development, budget, impact measurement, etc.
Recommend where in your application you may need more detail

EMAIL TO RECEIVE COACHING →

Step 4: Submit your application

Submit your written application in English, French, or a mixture of both. Alternative submission options (scheduled meeting or video) are described at the bottom of the application.

APPLY →

Overall communication and support is available in English and French.

Eligibility

Organization or project

The organization or project must:

Have a project or initiative that will reduce the impacts of the climate crisis in what is currently referred to as Canada.
Be grassroots in nature and/or conduct not-for-profit activities. The Youth Harbour cannot support for-profit activities.
The organization or project can have an operating budget no more than $300,000 CAD annually in order to be eligible

Age

The organization or project must be led by:

Indigenous youth (aged 35 or under)

HOWEVER

Organizations can apply that are not entirely youth-led, but a specific project must be led by someone aged 35 or under. However, priority in assessment is given to entirely youth-led organizations or projects.

Citizenship

Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, refugee status or a visa.

Language

Applicants can communicate to us in English, French, or a mixture of both.

Applying multiple times

An organization or individual can apply for as many projects or organizations as they are seeking from the Indigenous Youth Fund. Only one could be selected for the Fund during a given cycle.
Applicants may also simultaneously apply to other granting opportunities that The Youth Harbour offers; this does not help or hinder any of their applications in any other granting streams.
Applicants who are not selected can reapply for the next cycle of The Indigenous Youth Fund.

Funding areas

There are three key areas that The Indigenous Youth Fund seeks to support though the granting cycle. Applicants must fall generally under at least of of these three:

1. Community Advocacy, Action & Self-Determination

For projects focused on protecting Land, Waters, and Peoples through collective action.

e.g. funding to support community-led advocacy, mobilization, or action in response to urgent issues affecting our Lands, Waters, rights, or wellbeing.

2. Community Care, Culture & Connection

For projects rooted in gathering, healing, and sustaining community.

e.g. funding to support community gatherings and activities that strengthen relationships, cultural continuity, and collective care.

3. Knowledge-Sharing, Teachings & Skill-Building

For projects focused on intergenerational learning and action.

e.g. funding to support workshops, trainings, or learning spaces led by Indigenous peoples that build skills, knowledge, and confidence to take action on urgent climate and environmental justice issues.

Application Review Process

Phase 1: Staff Juries Round One

Initial assessment of applications, resulting in a preliminary grantee list and preliminary disbursement list.

ASSESSORS: The Indigenous Youth Fund assessors (comprised of FES staff members)

Phase 2: Individual Advisory Assessments

Gain the perspective of Indigenous youth climate leaders in Canada by intentionally involving them in the assessment and evaluation process.

ASSESSORS: The Indigenous Youth Advisory Circle

Phase 3: Staff Juries Round Two

To determine a final list of accepted applicants and amounts granted per applicant.

ASSESSORS: The Indigenous Youth Fund assessors

Final Decisions and Next Steps

All applicants will be notified by email when a decision has been made regarding their application.

If your application is successful, grantees of the Indigenous Youth Fund can expect to meet with the Project Manager to review contracts for signature, disbursement timelines, and general expectations.

Update and final reporting templates will be provided and completed on the agreed upon dates between FES and the Youth Harbour grantee.

Overall communication and support is available in English and French.

Ethical Engagement and Granting Guidelines

FES does not support, partner with, affiliate itself with, or provide grants to groups that:

Perpetuate systemic biases and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, religion, colour, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, or veteran or disability status.
Promote or support violence, aggression, prejudice, or oppression or any infringement on human rights, with a strong emphasis on the infringement of Indigenous rights.
Force, coerce, or exclude others based on religious or spiritual beliefs.
Are connected to political parties, political rallies, or otherwise partisan work.
Promote or partake in unsustainable practices and/or do not have an adequate climate plan in place to address the climate crisis in response to its unsustainable practices.
Has a track record of tokenizing youth or disrespecting the voices of youth.

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