Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Yukon Foundation

Role of the Yukon Foundation in the funding ecosystem

The Yukon Foundation is a community foundation created to help Yukoners support one another through long-term philanthropic funds. Established in 1980 and operating under the Yukon Foundation Act, it manages an endowment made up of nearly 200 individual funds. The income from these funds is used to provide scholarships for students, project grants for organizations, travel bursaries, and designated payments to specific charities and institutions across the Yukon.

The Foundation focuses strongly on educational advancement, scientific and medical research, and initiatives that enhance the mental, cultural and physical well-being of Yukon residents. It also supports projects that preserve and promote the cultural heritage and history of the Yukon, including First Nations heritage and local historical research.

Main funding streams and target audiences

• Scholarships for students: A wide range of scholarship funds are available for Yukon secondary school graduates, post-secondary and graduate students, and apprentices in trades. Fields covered include health and medical studies, education, environmental sciences, geology and mining, engineering, humanities, fine arts, social work, and many other disciplines. Most awards have Yukon residency or schooling requirements and may consider financial need, academic performance and community involvement.
• Project grants for organizations: The Foundation administers numerous project grant funds for Yukon registered societies and charities. These grants support initiatives in areas such as mental wellness, environmental protection, renewable resources, arts and culture, sport and recreation, youth programming, historical research, animal welfare, and community development. Projects must clearly benefit Yukoners and often focus on long-term or lasting impact.
• Designated and legacy funds: Some funds are designated to provide annual disbursements to specific organizations, such as hospitals, social service agencies, sports organizations and Yukon University. Others support particular sectors (e.g., heritage preservation, health care, Indigenous education) through recurring awards.
• Travel bursaries: The Foundation also manages travel bursary funds that assist Yukon secondary students and youth to participate in educational travel, national events or leadership experiences outside the territory.

General eligibility and application process

Each year, the Yukon Foundation runs a defined “Award Season” from April 15 to May 31. All scholarship and project grant applications are submitted through online portals. For students, a common application is used and the system automatically matches applicants to eligible scholarship opportunities based on the criteria set for each fund. Organizations apply through a dedicated project grant portal and select the funds that align with their project goals.

General guidelines require applicants to provide transcripts and proof of enrolment for scholarships, and detailed project information for grants. Project grants are open to Yukon registered societies, including both qualified and non-qualified donees under Canada Revenue Agency definitions; additional due diligence is applied when funding non-qualified donees. Projects should have clear relevance to Yukon people and contribute to lasting benefits for the territory.

Governance, review and accountability

Applications are reviewed by a combination of donors, volunteers and members of the Yukon Foundation Board. Their recommendations are evaluated by the Awards Committee, which makes final decisions on grants and scholarships, subject to approval by the Board’s Executive Committee. Successful applicants must often provide follow-up information or proof of enrolment, and project grant recipients are encouraged to acknowledge the donors and share summaries and photos for reporting and outreach.

Through annual reports and audited financial statements, the Yukon Foundation documents its investment performance, overall disbursements and community impact, reinforcing transparency and long-term stewardship of donor funds.