CREation is a multi-level funding program that supports strengths-based, community-focused and youth-led projects taking place in communities across Canada. Grassroot youth groups/collectives (comprised of Indigenous youth ages 15-29) are eligible to apply for funding to support community programs and projects, while receiving innovative mentorship, training and capacity-building opportunities. Funding will be provided to projects/groups that seek to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth.
This program aims to support Indigenous youth to take ownership over the wellness of their peers and community.
Interested in applying?
Before applying, please read through the program description and eligibility requirements in the Funding Guides below. CREation runs multiple funding streams per year. Upcoming streams include:
Community Support Fund ($2,500 grants and $5,000 grants)
OPEN—February 11th – May 3rd, 2021.
Project Funding Stream ($25,000 grants)
CLOSED—Accepting applications in Summer 2021.
If you have any questions, please reach out to creation@canadianroots.ca
Community Support Fund: Funding Guide
Project Summary
CREation is a multi-level funding program that will support strengths-based, community-focused and youth-led projects taking place in communities across Canada. Funding is dispersed through themed streams, which focus on specific funding gaps and needs in communities.
The Community Support Fund Stream will provide small grants of $2,500 and $5,000 to youth-focused projects happening in urban, rural and remote communities across Canada. The focus of this stream is to enable small organizations and collectives to support youth wellbeing during COVID-19 through providing innovative and essential supports, resources and initiatives.
The Community Support Fund will accept applications over three periods. This will be a competitive process. We are anticipating a large number of applications and unfortunately will not be able to fund all projects and initiatives. Applicants are eligible to reapply to a later round if they are unsuccessful in an earlier round. Each organization/collective/group can only receive funding once.
CRE first ran the first Community Support Fund in Spring/Summer 2020. $300,000 in funding was provided to 58 groups in 11 provinces and territories across Canada. During the second intake period in Winter 2021, we will be releasing an additional $300,000 in funding.
Project Focus Areas
Projects should focus on providing programming, resources, training or wellness opportunities for Indigenous youth. Below are some possible examples of eligible projects. These examples do not include every type of project that we would fund.
- Direct Youth Support: Funding can focus on providing direct support to youth and community. Direct supports can look like:
- Food baskets and care baskets
- Water
- Water purification tablets
- Cleaning supplies
- Harm reduction supplies
- Digital Supports: Online digital supports can look like:
- Tech equipment for online programming
- Satellite phones
- Zoom memberships
- Adobe and other online subscriptions to enhance digital programming
- Holistic Wellness support: Provide services to digitally support youth’s mental health and well-being. Supports can include:
- Outreach
- Education
- Counselling
- Health promotion
- Online programming and supplies: Funding can include honorariums for facilitators, art supplies, music equipment, books, medicines, seeds, etc. Programming can look like:
- Digital language classes or storytelling
- Medicine care packages
- Indigenous food sovereignty online workshops
- Digital medicine teachings
- Digital arts projects
- Digital drumming circle or round dances
- General administration: Funding can be used to keep the organization or group going, such as bridging any funding gaps or ensuring staff are not laid off. These expenses can look like:
- Salaries
- Banking costs
- Insurance
All funded projects engage more youth other than just project leaders. Projects must directly support Indigenous youth. Priority is given to youth-led, youth-driven initiatives. All projects must take place in Canada.
Eligibility
The Community Support Fund will provide funding to Indigenous-led groups and initiatives that focus on improving the wellness of Indigenous youth.
Please note: for the purpose of this program, CRE defines Indigenous as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada, living both on and off reserve.
Eligible groups and projects include:
- Unincorporated/grassroots groups/collectives/councils
- Incorporated groups and organizations
- Projects must serve primarily serve Indigenous youth
- Youth-led projects have priority, as do projects focused on and led by Afro-Indigenous youth.
Ineligible groups and projects:
- Individuals
- Non-Indigenous organizations
- Projects taking place outside of Canada
- For profit corporations
Ineligible Expenses
CRE will NOT fund projects that are political in nature, or that involve distributing substances (i.e. alcohol, non-traditional tobacco, marijuana, illicit substances, etc).
Review Process
Applications will be reviewed by an internal Grants Committee. All members will have experience running programs and initiatives, overseeing projects and offering community supports. A minimum of 75% of the review committee will be Indigenous, and 50% will be youth.
Capacity Building
Youth will be invited to participate in CRE’s Capacity Building Program. This program is geared towards strengthening skill sets around program administration, facilitation, evaluation as well as providing opportunities to learn about program design, organizational governance and growth, personal development and youth leadership. Youth will have the opportunity to work toward a certificate in the program.
Reporting and Evaluation
Grantees will be asked to submit one report:
Final Report (1 month after project completion): Grantees will submit a budget report and an evaluation report. Grantees will receive a copy of the evaluation report within the first month of their project start date.
Financial Oversight and Trusteeship
Groups/councils/collectives with members who are over the age of 18 do not require an external funding administrator/trustee and, if successful, will receive the grant funds directly.
Successful applicant groups (with leaders aged 15-17) will require a local non-profit or trusted community member over age 18 to serve as their grant trustee. This trustee may be someone the applicants are already familiar with or CRE can support in connecting them with a willing organization or community member as well as with creating a trustee agreement that ensures youth will be supported.
Release of Funds
CRE does not issue cheques. Funding will be sent to grantees via a Plooto bank transfer/direct deposit. Grantees will receive funds within three weeks of submitting a signed funding agreement.
Timelines
| Stages | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 |
| Applications Open | February 11th, 2021 | February 26th, 2021 | March 16th, 2021 |
| Application Deadline | February 25th, 2021 | March 15th, 2021 | April 15th, 2021 (extended until May 3rd, 2021) |
| Decisions Released | March 12th, 2021 | March 26th, 2021 | May 15th, 2021 |
| Project Start Date | March 12th, 2021 | March 26th, 2021 | May 15th, 2021 |
| Project End Date | September 30th, 2021 | September 30th, 2021 | September 30th, 2021 |
| Final Report Due | October 31st, 2021 | October 31st, 2021 | October 31st, 2021 |
Unless otherwise noted, all deadlines are 6:00pm CST
Questions
CRE encourages applicants to reach out if they have any questions. Please email creation@canadianroots,ca to speak to a member of the team.
Youth Empowerment Stream: Funding Guide
Project Summary
CREation is a multi-level funding program that will support strengths-based, community-focused and youth-led projects taking place in communities across Canada. Funding is dispersed through themed streams, which focus on specific funding gaps and needs in communities.
The Youth Empowerment Stream will provide small grants of up to $5,000 to youth-led projects happening in urban, rural and remote communities across Canada. The focus of this stream is to fund new and emerging micro-projects that focus on increasing the resilience, engagement and wellness of youth. Projects must be led by 2+ Indigenous youth (ages 15-29). Grantees and youth will receive innovative mentorship, training and capacity-building opportunities throughout the project.
Project Focus Areas
Projects should focus on providing programming, training or capacity building opportunities for Indigenous youth. Below are some possible examples of eligible projects. These examples do not include every type of project that we would fund.
- Programs for youth to participate in recreational, wellness and/or arts-based programming
- Cultural programming, including ceremonies, teaching circles and land-based activities
- Peer-led circles where youth can build relationships and participate in online activities
- Intergenerational programs, that provide youth opportunities to work with Elders, parents, families, children, etc
- Programs that increase youth leadership skills
- Professional development programs for members of a youth council/organization to increase their knowledge about organizational governance
- Projects that target making resources (such as mental health services) safer and more accessible
All funded projects engage more youth other than just project leaders.
Eligibility
CREation will only fund grassroots Indigenous youth groups consisting of a minimum of 2 youth.
Please note: for the purpose of this program, CRE defines Indigenous as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada, living both on and off reserve.
Eligible groups and projects include:
- Unincorporated/grassroots youth groups/collectives/councils comprised primarily of Indigenous youth
- Small, incorporated youth groups (note: CRE defines a small organization as groups that have 1-8 full-time employees and an operating budget of less than $500,000)
- Projects must serve primarily serve Indigenous youth
Ineligible groups and projects:
- Individuals
- Projects that are not youth-led (or where the majority of leadership is 30+)
- Non-Indigenous organizations
- Projects taking place outside of Canada
- For profit corporations
Ineligible Expenses
CRE will NOT fund projects that are political in nature, or that involve distributing substances (i.e. alcohol, non-traditional tobacco, marijuana, illicit substances, etc).
Project leaders cannot receive honorariums of more than $500.
Review Process
Applications will be reviewed by a Community Grants Committee that includes community members, program staff and CRE staff. All members will have experience running programs and initiatives, overseeing projects and offering community supports. A minimum of 75% of the review committee will be Indigenous, and 50% will be youth.
Capacity Building
Youth will be invited to participate in CRE’s Capacity Building Program. This program is geared towards strengthening skill sets around program administration, facilitation, evaluation as well as providing opportunities to learn about program design, organizational governance and growth, personal development and youth leadership. Youth will have the opportunity to work toward a certificate in the program.
Reporting and Evaluation
Grantees will be asked to submit two reports:
Midterm Report (February 2021): Grantees will submit a short one-page report sharing their impact and budget updates.
Final Report (1 month after project completion): Grantees will submit a budget report and an evaluation report. Grantees will receive a copy of the evaluation report within the first month of their project start date.
Financial Oversight and Trusteeship
Groups/councils/collectives with members who are over the age of 18 do not require an external funding administrator and, if successful, will receive the grant funds directly.
Successful applicant groups (with leaders aged 15-17) will require a local non-profit or trusted community member over age 18 to serve as their grant trustee. This trustee may be someone the applicants are already familiar with or CRE can support in connecting them with a willing organization or community member as well as with creating a trustee agreement that ensures youth will be supported.
Release of Funds
CRE does not issue cheques. Funding will be sent to grantees via a Plooto bank transfer/direct deposit. Grantees will receive funds within two weeks of submitting a signed funding agreement.
Timelines
| Stages | Fall Application Period |
| Applications Open | November 2nd, 2020 |
| Application Deadline | November 23rd, 2020 |
| Decisions Released | December 11th, 2020 |
| Project Start Date | December 14th, 2020 |
| Midterm Check In | February, 2021 |
| Project End Date | April 30th, 2021 |
| Final Report Due | May 28th, 2021 |
Unless otherwise noted, all deadlines are 6:00pm CST
Questions
CRE encourages applicants to reach out if they have any questions. Please email creation@canadianroots,ca to speak to a member of the team.
Project Funding Stream: Funding Guide
Project Summary
CREation is a multi-level funding program that will support strengths-based, community-focused and youth-led projects taking place in communities across Canada. Grassroot youth groups/collectives (comprised of 3+ Indigenous youth ages 15-29) are eligible to apply for funding to support community programs and projects, while receiving innovative mentorship, training and capacity-building opportunities. Funding of up to $25,000 will be provided to projects/groups that seek to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth.
This program aims to support Indigenous youth to take ownership over the wellness of their peers and community. Providing funding for Indigenous youth to mobilize is an act of reconciliation, as much as the work that they will do for their communities is reconciliation.
Project Focus Areas
Successful projects will fall within the following areas:
Assessment and Feasibility Studies
Projects will focus on assessing community and youth needs, doing feasibility projects and engaging community in consultation.
Arts and Culture
Projects that increase access to arts, art-based workshops, cultural knowledge, traditions and ceremony
Innovation and Change
Projects will support youth groups in accessing capacity-building, knowledge mobilization and funding resources. Projects will focus on innovating healthcare systems, developing solutions to infrastructure and resource challenges (such as access to clean water and sustainable food sources) and increasing access to technology.
Intergenerational Relationship Building
Projects will engage multiple age groups and should help to enhance the sense of community (i.e. projects where youth participate in programs with Elders, families, adults, etc).
Resiliency Building
Projects will focus on organizational development in Indigenous agencies. The intention of this focus area is to increase leadership, governance, capacity and opportunity for Indigenous organizations to impact communities and systems. Projects can include organizational enhancements (i.e. training, website development, strategic plan development, consulting projects, purchase of supplies, etc).
Youth and Community Wellness
Projects will focus on enhancing community wellness and can include one-off events or long-term programs and any type of programming related to wellness (i.e. workshops, teachings, gatherings).
Eligibility
CREation will prioritize funding grassroots youth groups consisting of a minimum of 3 youth of which at least 2 identify as Indigenous.
Please note: for the purpose of this program CRE defines Indigenous as status and non-status First Nation, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada, living both on and off reserve.
Eligible groups and projects include:
- Unincorporated/grassroots youth groups and collectives
- Small, incorporated youth groups (note: CRE defines a small organization as groups that have 1-8 full time employees and an operating budget of less than $500,000)
- Youth Councils
Ineligible groups and projects:
- Individuals
- Projects that are not youth-led (or where the majority of leadership is 30+)
- Non-Indigenous organizations
- Projects taking place outside of Canada
- For profit corporations
Ineligible Expenses
CRE will NOT fund projects that are political in nature, or that involve distributing substances (i.e. alcohol, non-traditional tobacco, marijuana, illicit substances, etc).
Review Process
CRE will be evaluating applications through an internal review circle of 6 evaluators. All members will have experience running programs and initiatives, overseeing projects and offering community supports.
Capacity Building
All funded groups will be required to take part in online training/skills development workshops on managing, facilitating, evaluating, and reporting on programs. There will be orientation sessions for all new grantees. All grantees will be assigned a CRE staff member and will have individual meetings with this staff member throughout the project.
Reporting and Evaluation
Grantees will be asked to report twice on their projects.
Midterm Check In (4-5 months into project): Grantees will meet digitally with a CREation staff to talk through challenges and successes. Grantees will share updates on budget spending, completed activities and youth reach.
Final Report (2 months after project completion): Grantees will submit a budget report and an evaluation report. Grantees will receive a copy of the evaluation report within the first month of their project start date.
Financial Oversight and Trusteeship
Successful applicants over age 18 do not require an external funding administrator and, if successful, will receive the grant funds directly.
Successful applicants aged 15-17 will require a local non-profit or trusted community member over age 18 to serve as their grant trustee. This trustee may be someone the applicants are already familiar with or CRE can support in connecting them with a willing organization or community member as well as with creating a trustee agreement that ensures youth will be supported.
Release of Funds
CRE does not issue cheques. Funding will be sent to grantees via a Plooto bank transfer/direct deposit. Grantees will receive funds within two weeks of submitting a signed funding agreement.
Timelines
| Stages | Summer Application Period | Winter Application Period |
| Applications Open | July 6th, 2020 | December 1st, 2020 |
| Application Deadline | August 14th, 2020 | January 15th, 2021 |
| Decisions Released | September 14th, 2020 | February 12th, 2021 |
| Project Start Date | October 1st, 2020 | March 1st, 2021 |
| Project End Date | June 30th, 2021 | November 30th, 2021 |
| Final Report Due | August 28th, 2021 | January 31st, 2022 |
Unless otherwise noted, all deadlines are 6:00pm CST
Questions
CRE encourages applicants to reach out if they have any questions. Please email creation@canadianroots,ca to speak to a member of the team.