Cultural Indigenous Funding (CIF)

Who is eligible?

• Indigenous-mandated and led cultural organizations
• Registered non-profit societies
• Co-operatives (co-ops)
• Registered charities
• First Nations Band councils

Who is not eligible

• For-profit businesses and private enterprises.
• Organizations that are not led by Indigenous communities or do not serve Indigenous artists and cultural practitioners.
• Groups that do not deliver programs and services within Vancouver, unless they are Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh organizations in their traditional homelands.
• Applicants that are not registered non-profit societies, co-ops, charities, or First Nations Band councils.
• Organizations with an annual expense budget below $50,000 for the past 3 years.

Eligible expenses

• Core operational expenses for Indigenous-led cultural organizations.
• Costs associated with delivering artistic and cultural programming.
• Expenses related to building organizational capacity.
• Compensation for artists and staff at standard industry rates.
• Accessibility-related costs for applicants who are Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or living with a disability, up to $500 for application support.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations with an active presence in Vancouver.
• Organizations delivering programs and services within Vancouver.
• Organizations led by the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), or səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, operating in their traditional homelands.

• Organizational alignment with a clear mission supporting Indigenous artists and communities embedded in operations and leadership.
• Recognition by peers for high impact and trust within their cultural community.
• Consistent annual delivery of impactful arts and cultural programs or services.
• Demonstrated efforts to compensate artists and staff at minimum standard industry rates.
• Strength of governance, workplace inclusivity, and leadership capacity in artistic and/or administrative roles.

• Step 1: Review Program Information
  • Consult the CIF information guide for detailed program requirements and instructions.
• Step 2: Expression of Interest (EOI) Submission (for New Applicants)
  • Complete and submit the Expression of Interest (EOI) form by the specified deadline (July 30, 2025).
  • Wait for staff review of your EOI for eligibility and funding history.
  • If selected, expect to be contacted in mid-August with an invitation to apply.
• Step 3: Access Application Portal
  • If you are a previous Cultural Indigenous Grant (CIG) recipient, apply online using the access code emailed to you.
  • If you are a new applicant, wait to be invited after EOI review to complete the full application.
• Step 4: Complete Application Submission
  • Fill out all required sections of the online grant application.
  • Attach supporting documents as required by the application form.
  • Submit your completed application online by the stated deadline (October 1, 2025, 11:59 pm).
• Step 5: Application Support (If Needed)
  • If applicants are Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or have a disability, they may contact program staff for up to $500 in support services during the application process.
• Step 6: Await Review and Notification
  • Wait for council approval and notification about your grant status (expected December 2025).
• Step 7: Grant Payment
  • If awarded funding, expect the grant payment in January 2026.

• Grant payments for successful applicants are scheduled for January 2026.
• CIF grants are limited to no more than 50% of an applicant’s most recent actual expense budget.
• New recipients typically start with a base grant of $15,000, with possible adjustments based on available funding.
• Applicants requiring accessibility support for completing applications may access up to $500 for assistance.