Role of Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation in the funding ecosystem
Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation (UICF) is an Indigenous-led, registered charity that serves Indigenous peoples and communities across Atlantic Canada. The Foundation’s core role is to bridge Indigenous communities with Canada’s philanthropic sector, mobilizing charitable capital into grants, scholarships, bursaries and community initiatives that reflect Indigenous values, priorities and ways of knowing.
Through its partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, UICF leads the EleV initiative in Atlantic Canada. Since September 2020, the Ulnooweg EleV Team has helped deliver more than $8 million in grants through nearly 168 youth-focused initiatives, directly benefiting Indigenous youth throughout the region. These initiatives range from cultural and language revitalization projects to education, employment and entrepreneurship supports.
Funding themes and main program families
The Foundation’s work is guided by four pillars that shape its funding activities:
- Leadership – supporting youth leadership through training, informal learning, networking and mentorship opportunities.
- Culture and language – enhancing access to programs that promote Indigenous culture, language, identity and wellness, and integrating these elements into education and support services.
- Education – strengthening accessible and culturally grounded educational pathways for Indigenous youth.
- Employment and entrepreneurship – building opportunities and networks that lead to meaningful work, self-employment and community-based economic development.
Within these pillars, UICF manages and supports a portfolio of philanthropic funds and awards, including named scholarship and language funds such as the Balsam L’nu Scholarship Fund, the Wolastoqey Language Fund, and athletic and memorial funds. These funds channel donor contributions into targeted scholarships, bursaries and community projects.
General approaches to grants, scholarships and bursaries
UICF and the EleV Team use flexible funding approaches designed around Indigenous youth and community priorities. The EleV initiative offers several forms of financial support:
- Open grants – the Youth Engagement Officers identify community needs aligned with EleV’s pillars and launch open calls for applications, inviting Indigenous youth groups, schools and centres to propose projects that create lasting, systemic impact.
- Scholarships and bursaries – the Foundation develops scholarship and bursary initiatives that respond to emerging educational needs of Indigenous learners, supporting their journeys through school and into meaningful work.
- Co-created initiatives – staff work directly with youth, organizations and communities to pinpoint gaps, shape project ideas and co-design initiatives that break down systemic barriers.
Supported audiences and impact
UICF’s primary focus is Indigenous youth in Atlantic Canada, but its funding also strengthens families, Elders, communities and organizations that support young people. By emphasizing youth leadership, language and cultural resurgence, and equitable access to education and employment, the Foundation seeks long-term systems change rather than short-term interventions.
Beyond direct financial support, the Foundation’s youth engagement officers mentor applicants, help refine project concepts and connect partners to build durable, community-driven programs. This combination of grants, scholarships and relational support positions Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation as a key Indigenous-led funder and catalyst for positive change in the Atlantic region.