Closed

Education Partnerships Program (EPP)

Supports First Nations education partnerships and capacity building

Offered by

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

Official source: sac-isc.gc.ca

Record updated July 23, 2026

Funding available: Varies by project
Deadline: Unspecified
Location: Canada
Who can apply: First Nations; See full eligibility

Overview

This program supports First Nations education partnerships and capacity building. It can fund activities such as partnership development, governance strengthening, strategic planning, and education systems work, with up to 15% for administration costs.

At a glance

Funding available

Varies by project

Financing goals

Increase performance through digital transformation
Develop strategic partnerships
Develop team skills
Increase social or community impact
Enhance an existing program
Improve governance or administrative structure
Develop workforce skills
Strengthen organizational capacity
Digitize or modernize organizational tools
Raise awareness or mobilize a population
Ensure financial sustainability
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: Primary and Secondary Education, Civic and Advocacy Organizations
Target groups: Children & youth, Indigenous peoples, Academia / students, Community leaders
Revenue structures: 100% donations / grants
Scope: Regional, Provincial, National

Receipt of requests is now closed

Get notified about updates to this grant.

Availability timeline

2026

Periods: 1

Latest changes

July 9, 2026

PPE call for proposals is now closed

The PPE call for proposals for 2026-2027 is now marked closed, and the submission deadline is stated in the past as 19 December 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

The Programme des partenariats en éducation landing page now shows the 2026-2027 call for proposals for the Partenariats and Préparation structurelle streams as closed instead of open. The submission deadline remains 19 December 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, but it is now written in the past tense, confirming the window has ended. A related provincial education link on the page was also replaced with a different Ministère de l’Éducation page for British Columbia.

Official source: sac-isc.gc.ca

July 9, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

First Nations
Designated First Nations organizations
Regional First Nations organizations designated to administer the stream

Who is not eligible

Organizations providing education services under a self-government agreement
Service purchase arrangements that are not true partnerships

Eligible expenses

Short-term salaries and benefits
Travel, accommodation, mileage, and meal allowances
Meeting, communications, and professional fees
IT software, hardware, licenses, and maintenance
Learning materials, legal advice, and administration costs

Ineligible Costs and Activities

Tuition-related costs and basic program activities
Self-government agreement activities
School infrastructure, construction, operation, or maintenance
Foreign travel
Health-related activities, gifts, prizes, and donations

Eligible geographic areas

Canada
Regional areas selected by participating First Nations

Activities funded

Education partnership development and implementation
Governance and leadership strengthening
Organizational capacity and strategic planning
Regional education agreement development and negotiation
Information sessions, technical tables, and education system transformation work

How to apply

Step 1: Prepare the proposal
- Complete the official proposal template.
- Gather all relevant supporting documents.
Step 2: Submit the application
- Submit through the ISC Services Portal if access is available.
- If portal access is not available, contact the regional office.
- Send the proposal to SAC using the official form for the applicable stream.
Step 3: Await review
- The proposal is reviewed by SAC or the designated regional body.
- Written funding decisions are provided to applicants.

Documents Needed

Completed proposal form
Letters of support
Quotes for professional development and IT
Supporting documents for partnership or community support
Required financial information in the proposal

Selection criteria

Applicant capacity and experience
Community, school, and partner support
Implementation plan quality
Alignment between requested funding and activity costs

Processing and Agreement

Applications are reviewed for eligibility and merit.
Missing or unclear information may lead to requests for revisions or rejection.
Applications are assessed by SAC or the designated regional First Nations organization, depending on the stream.
Applicants receive written funding decisions.
Approved applicants sign a funding agreement.

Additional information

Applications are submitted through the ISC Services Portal or through the regional office.
Supporting documents such as letters of support and quotes may be required.
Approved funding is provided through a 1-year contribution agreement.
Final reports are required each fiscal year.

Contacts

education-education@sac-isc.gc.ca

Official sources

sac-isc.gc.ca

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Education Partnerships Program (EPP) Program

What is the Education Partnerships Program (EPP)?

Who is eligible for the Education Partnerships Program (EPP) program?

To be eligible for the Education Partnerships Program (EPP) program, you must: First Nations or designated organizations Written community support Education-focused mandate

What expenses are eligible under Education Partnerships Program (EPP)?

Short-term salaries and benefits Travel, accommodation, mileage, and meal allowances Meeting, communications, and professional fees IT software, hardware, licenses, and maintenance Learning materials, legal advice, and administration costs