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Capacity-building Funding (Indigenous Child and Family Services Jurisdiction)

Capacity-building for Indigenous child and family services

Offered by
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)
Official source: sac-isc.gc.ca

Source change captured

Funding available
$ 2,000,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Indigenous groups, communities, or peoples with rights recognized and confirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
See full eligibility

Overview

Funding supports First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, Indigenous governing bodies, and national Indigenous organizations preparing to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services. It covers community engagement, self-assessment, planning, research, data collection, policy development, service models, and legislative work.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding
$2,000,000
Financing goals
  • Increase performance through digital transformation
  • Develop strategic partnerships
  • Develop team skills
  • Develop a new program or service
  • Increase social or community impact
  • Enhance an existing program
  • Improve governance or administrative structure
  • Conduct research and development activities
  • Develop workforce skills
  • Strengthen organizational capacity
  • Digitize or modernize organizational tools
  • Raise awareness or mobilize a population
  • Conduct research or evaluation activities

Eligible candidates

Location
  • Canada
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
All revenue ranges
Organisation size
All organization sizes
Audience
  • Indigenous Peoples
Legal structures
Non-profit
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
Social Services, Economic, Social and Community Development, Civic and Advocacy Organizations, Children and Youth Organizations
Target groups
Children & youth, Indigenous peoples, Rural / Remote communities, Community leaders
Revenue structures
100% donations / grants
Scope
Local, Regional, Provincial, National

Start applying for this program

Take a practical assessment to gain a clear understanding of how well this program aligns with your specific needs and long-term goals.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 1

Latest changes

Funding guide and application rules updated

The funding page and supporting guide were updated with a new deadline of June 15, 2026, revised application instructions, updated authorization requirements, and tighter funding and reporting conditions.

See more

The funding page now shows a deadline of June 15, 2026, and says late proposals may still be reviewed, while the supporting guide has been reorganized around application tools, required content, authorization, eligible activities, funding, reporting, and contact information. The application process also now requires annual or multi-year plans to include detailed objectives, activities, milestones, expected results, annual budget breakdowns, and authorization signed in the presence of quorum. Funding terms were tightened to state a maximum funding duration of five years for rights-holding Indigenous collectives, preserve the 100% federal/provincial cost-share cap, and restrict carry-forward of unspent funds to the terms of the recipient’s overall funding agreement with an approved unspent-funds plan and/or updated proposal. The guide also updates reporting instructions, including the annual financial report requirement and the need to use the reporting guide and certified financial stat

Official source: sac-isc.gc.ca
July 8, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Indigenous groups, communities, or peoples with rights recognized and confirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
  • Indigenous governing bodies, as defined by the Act.
  • National Indigenous organizations advancing culturally appropriate reform in child and family services.

Who is not eligible

  • Organizations without proof of authority to act for a section 35 rights holder
  • Groups seeking to implement Indigenous laws
  • Applicants seeking permanent staffing or permanent structures
  • Groups already at a coordination agreement table seeking implementation capacity

Eligible expenses

  • Professional consulting and expert advice
  • Travel and accommodation
  • Communications
  • Data collection, analysis, and reporting tools
  • Equipment and software to support data work

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Establish permanent employment
  • Establish permanent structures
  • Implement Indigenous law
  • Offer training on Indigenous law
  • Fund groups participating in coordination agreement discussions that seek to develop capacity to implement their models and laws

Eligible geographic areas

  • Canada
  • Remote areas of Canada may receive higher maximums

Activities funded

  • Community engagement, including participation in drafting, reviewing, or finalizing child and family services laws or culturally adapted programs.
  • Community self-assessment, needs assessment, research, and feasibility studies.
  • Planning for jurisdictional transition, including strategic planning and development plans.
  • Development of culturally based service models, child and family services laws and policies, and Indigenous legislation.
  • Data collection, policy development, communications, IT system design, and training on Indigenous laws and models.

How to apply

  • Email your proposal or workplan, detailed budget, and supporting authorization documents, if applicable.
  • Submit electronically only.
  • Do not send links to files stored on cloud or internet servers.

Documents Needed

  • Proposal or workplan
  • Detailed budget
  • Supporting documents proving authorization of the Indigenous governing body, if applicable

Selection criteria

  • The applicant wants to explore exercising jurisdiction or intends to do so within five years of receiving funding.
  • The applicant demonstrates sound administrative and financial management.
  • For sound management assessment, SAC reviews any existing financial arrangement and checks that prior capacity-building recipients are up to date in reporting and have accounted for all funds paid.

Processing and Agreement

  • SAC will confirm receipt of your proposal by email.
  • SAC may contact you for additional information, and for Indigenous governing body applicants may contact the representative rights-holding collective for additional information.
  • You will be informed whether your proposal is approved or not.

Additional information

  • Applications are reviewed annually for multi-year agreements.
  • Unused funding may be carried forward to the next fiscal year with an updated proposal.
  • Annual financial reporting is required.

Contacts

Partenariats.Partnerships@sac-isc.gc.ca

Official sources

sac-isc.gc.ca
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Capacity-building Funding (Indigenous Child and Family Services Jurisdiction) Program

What is the Capacity-building Funding (Indigenous Child and Family Services Jurisdiction)?

Funding supports First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, Indigenous governing bodies, and national Indigenous organizations preparing to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services. It covers community engagement, self-assessment, planning, research, data collection, policy development, service models, and legislative work.

How much funding can be received?

Capacity-building Funding (Indigenous Child and Family Services Jurisdiction) Funds up to $2,000,000 of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who is eligible for the Capacity-building Funding (Indigenous Child and Family Services Jurisdiction) program?

To be eligible for the Capacity-building Funding (Indigenous Child and Family Services Jurisdiction) program, you must: Section 35 rights holders and authorized Indigenous governing bodies National Indigenous organizations advancing culturally appropriate reform Beneficiaries less than five years away from exercising jurisdiction

What expenses are eligible under Capacity-building Funding (Indigenous Child and Family Services Jurisdiction)?

Professional consulting and expert advice Travel and accommodation Communications Data collection, analysis, and reporting tools Equipment and software to support data work

Who can I contact for more information about the Capacity-building Funding (Indigenous Child and Family Services Jurisdiction)?

You can contact Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) by email at Partenariats.Partnerships@sac-isc.gc.ca.

Where is the Capacity-building Funding (Indigenous Child and Family Services Jurisdiction) available?

The Capacity-building Funding (Indigenous Child and Family Services Jurisdiction) program is available across Canada.