Cultural Indigenous Funding (CIF)

• Grant amounts range from $15,000 to $40,000 per recipient.
• Funding will not exceed 50% of an applicant’s last actual expense budget.
• New recipients generally start with a base level grant of $15,000.

• The applicant must be a registered non-profit society, co-op, charity, or First Nations Band council.
• The organization must have an active presence in Vancouver and deliver programs or services within Vancouver, or be led by Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh peoples and operate in their traditional homelands.
• The organization must have a clear mission with explicit commitments to support Indigenous artists and communities embedded in its mission, leadership, operations, programs, and services.
• New applicants must have received two grants through the Communities and Artists Shifting Culture (CASC) program.
• The organization must have sustained a minimum annual expense budget of $50,000 for the past three years.

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.

• 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.