Indigenous Climate Action Grants

• Funding is available up to $10,000 per project for Stream 1.
• Funding is available up to $20,000 per project for Stream 2.
• Trustee organizations may charge fees up to 15% of the total project funding, which is eligible for coverage within the grant.

• The applicant must be based in Toronto (M postal code).
• The applicant must be Indigenous-led (at least 50% of the leadership or group identifies as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis ancestry), or, for non-Indigenous non-profits, the project must have an Indigenous Project Lead and be guided by an Indigenous council.
• The project must directly support and benefit Toronto’s Urban Indigenous community.
• The applicant can be an Indigenous grassroots group, collective, individual/community project, or a non-profit organization with an Indigenous project lead.
• Applicants may only receive one Indigenous Climate Action Grant per calendar year.

Who is eligible?

• Indigenous-led grassroots groups or collectives
• Indigenous-led individual/community projects
• Indigenous-led non-profit organizations
• Non-Indigenous non-profit organizations with an Indigenous project lead

Who is not eligible

• For-profit businesses and companies.
• Organizations conducting fundraising events.
• Charitable, political, or religious organizations seeking donations.
• Groups seeking funds for debt repayment or deficit funding.

Eligible expenses

• Equipment rentals and small equipment purchases (must remain within the community after project completion)
• Honoraria, food expenses, transit costs, and personal protective gear for volunteers
• Honoraria for Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and group members
• Barrier reduction costs for participants (such as childminding, meals, transit)
• Consultant and staffing fees related to the project
• Local travel expenses (e.g., Presto tickets, TTC tokens, car-for-hire receipts)
• Interpretation and translation fees
• Training and workshop expenses, including facilitation and speaker fees
• Training expenses (e.g., food handlers training)
• Communications and promotion (e.g., printing, digital advertising)
• Permit fees, space rental, and liability insurance for community events and activities
• Trustee fees (up to 15% of the total project funding)

Eligible geographic areas

• Applicants must be based in Toronto (M postal code).

• Indigenous leadership: The project must be Indigenous-led, either with at least 50% of the group identifying as First Nations, Métis or Inuit, or an Indigenous Project Lead.
• Community benefit: The project must directly serve and support Toronto’s Urban Indigenous community.
• Project rationale and clarity: Evaluation of the strength of the project’s rationale, clarity of goals, and alignment of activities with these goals.
• Technical merit: Assessment of the clarity and detail in the application, including realistic project steps and budget.
• Community engagement: Demonstration of value to the Indigenous community, detailed support plans, involvement of other Indigenous stakeholders, and accessibility of project location.

• Applicants may only receive one Indigenous Climate Action Grant per calendar year.
• Projects should conclude by the end of the year following the funding award.
• Successful applicants are required to attend a reporting circle and submit an expense summary as part of reporting requirements.
• Trustee organizations may charge a fee up to 15% of the project funding for their services.