Closed
Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF)
Supports diverse creators through media-sector development
Last Update: June 8, 2026
Funding available
$ 10,000,000
Timeline
- Open Date : July 15, 2025
- Closing date : July 31, 2025
Location
Canada
Overview
The Changing Narratives Fund provides up to $10 million over three years to support diverse communities in Canada’s media and cultural sectors. It funds mentorship, training, professional development, and work placements through the Canada Media Fund, the Local Journalism Initiative, and the Collective Initiatives component of the Canada Periodical Fund.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : July 15, 2025
- Closing date : July 31, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Mentorship, training, and professional development for diverse communities
- Work placements in the audiovisual sector
- Hiring diverse journalists to produce civic journalism for underserved communities
- Projects that support magazines and non-daily community newspapers through development activities
Documents Needed
- Program application form
- Supporting documents required by the selected stream
- Corporate information documents
- Applicants’ declarations and required signatures
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian television and digital media organizations
- News organizations in the written press, radio, television, and online news sectors
- Magazine and non-daily community newspaper organizations
Eligible expenses
- Mentorship, training, and professional development costs
- Work placement costs
- Project-related staffing, consulting, and delivery costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- The program will not be renewed after March 31, 2027.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Alignment with the program’s objectives
- Impact on participation of diverse communities
- Clarity of project planning
- Capacity of the applicant organization
- Partnerships or collaborations that strengthen impact
How to apply
- Step 1: Review the program guidelines
- Check the guidelines for the relevant stream and the related application resources.
- Confirm the project fits the program’s focus and requirements.
- Step 2: Prepare your application
- Gather the required supporting documents for the selected stream.
- Complete the application materials in the online system.
- Step 3: Submit online
- Submit the application through the CMF process or the Canadian Heritage funding portal, depending on the stream.
- Use the portal to complete and send all required documents.
- Step 4: Receive confirmation
- Save the submission confirmation and application number.
- Watch for the decision notice sent through the application system.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed and compared against other requests based on available funds.
- Applicants receive a decision through Dialogue, generally in about 8 to 10 weeks.
- If approved, the funding agreement must be signed before payments begin.
- Projects may require reports and final evaluation before payment completion.
Additional information
- The program is planned to sunset on March 31, 2027.
- Accessibility support is available for applicants who need accommodations.
- The application process uses the CMF portal and Dialogue for supporting documents and submission.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF) Program
What is the Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF)?
The Changing Narratives Fund provides up to $10 million over three years to support diverse communities in Canada’s media and cultural sectors. It funds mentorship, training, professional development, and work placements through the Canada Media Fund, the Local Journalism Initiative, and the Collective Initiatives component of the Canada Periodical Fund.
How much funding can be received?
Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF) Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses, capped at $10,000,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was July 31, 2025.
Who is eligible for the Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF) program?
To be eligible for the Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF) program, you must:
Supports diverse communities
Fits an eligible media stream
Focuses on training or mentorship
What expenses are eligible under Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF)?
Mentorship, training, and professional development for diverse communities
Work placements in the audiovisual sector
Hiring diverse journalists to produce civic journalism for underserved communities
Projects that support magazines and non-daily community newspapers through development activities
Where is the Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF) available?
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF) program is available across Canada.
Is the Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Canada Media Fund (CMF) - Changing Narratives Fund (CNF) is a Grant and Funding