Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Kw’umut Lelum Foundation (KLF)

Kw’umut Lelum Foundation (KLF) is the first Indigenous-owned and led community foundation in British Columbia. Stewarded by nine Coast Salish Nations—Halalt, Lyackson, Málexeł, Penelakut, Qualicum, Snaw-naw-as, Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus and Ts’uubaa-asatx—the Foundation operates as a CRA-registered charity dedicated to activating Indigenous philanthropy. Its core purpose is to receive and disburse funding to promote the well-being of these Nations and surrounding communities, with a strong focus on Indigenous children, youth and their families on Vancouver Island’s east coast.

KLF collaborates with a network of private donors, public funders, corporate partners and other foundations to build long-term, values-based relationships. These partnerships enable a portfolio of grants and awards that expand cultural, economic, social, educational and recreational access for Indigenous peoples.

The Foundation administers several recurring funding streams for both individuals and communities. For post-secondary students from the nine member Nations, the KL Indspire Scholarship Award provides grants of up to $5,250 per individual, with three annual intakes (August 1, November 1 and February 1). Awards are open to a wide range of college, university, technical and apprenticeship programs, and are assessed on financial need, academic merit and community involvement.

Through its Sport, Recreation and Culture Grants, KLF helps offset registration fees so children and youth from member Nations can participate in sports, arts and cultural programming. These grants, typically up to $1,000 per child, address barriers to participation and support physical health, mental wellness, leadership development and social connection.

At the community level, the flagship Snuw’uy’ulh for Success (SfS) Grant—formerly the Community Capacity Development Grant—offers grants of up to $75,000 per Nation. SfS supports self-determined initiatives that celebrate culture, strengthen language, build economic and educational opportunities and promote holistic wellness. Example activities include Hul’q’umi’num language camps, traditional harvesting and medicine programs, entrepreneurship training and community mentoring networks.

All KLF grants are guided by the Coast Salish teachings of snuw’uy’ulh and three articulated core values: Stitumstuxw tun shqwuluwun (self-determination), Xwunuts’amaat uw’ muqwstem (inter-connectedness) and Uy’ ya’tulct ci’cuwatulct (walking hand-in-hand in a good way). In practice, this means that funding decisions prioritize community-defined needs, cultural continuity, long-term relationships, and the holistic development of youth across physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions.

The Snuw’uy’ulh for Success framework further organizes impact along four pathways—Celebrating Culture, Commitment and Consistency, Opportunities to Learn and Mentor, and Working Together. Community projects are expected to align with one or more of these pathways and to contribute to sustainable, generational change rather than short-term outputs.

KLF primarily serves Indigenous children and youth from its nine Coast Salish member Nations, as well as their families and communities. It also supports Indigenous-led community organizations and, through specific partnership funds such as the Community Prosperity Fund, collaborates with other non-profits in the region around priorities like food security and local well-being.

Recent annual reporting highlights tangible impacts: hundreds of thousands of dollars distributed across the Nations in a single year, dozens of Indigenous youth directly supported through grants and scholarships, and multiple Indigenous-led community projects activated. Stories featured in Foundation publications showcase beneficiaries whose post-secondary studies, cultural revitalization projects, sport participation and community programs were made possible or significantly strengthened through KLF funding.

The Foundation works closely with partners such as Indspire, the Nanaimo Foundation, other philanthropic foundations and union-based funds to leverage resources and co-design initiatives. Its governance is entrusted to a board of directors drawn from Indigenous leaders and allies, reflecting strong community accountability. Public annual reports and thematic publications, including a Circle of Growth report, provide donors and communities with insight into funding allocations, stories of impact and the evolution of KLF’s Snuw’uy’ulh-informed approach to Indigenous philanthropy.

By centring Coast Salish worldviews and prioritizing redistribution, reciprocity and relationship-building, Kw’umut Lelum Foundation plays a distinctive role in Canada’s funding landscape, advancing reconciliation through Indigenous-led grantmaking.