Closed
Source verified July 9, 2026
Reconciliation focus area
Indigenous-led reconciliation funding for system change
Latest source updateLast Update: July 8, 2026Latest change: The For applicants guidance now says activities must take place in Canada, renames Capacity Strengthening as Sector Building, and updates support access through Reconciliation office hours.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 8, 2026
Latest change: The For applicants guidance now says activities must take place in Canada, renames Capacity Strengthening as Sector Building, and updates support access through Reconciliation office hours.
Reconciliation guidance and support links updated
The For applicants guidance was revised: Montreal-specific funding language was removed, Capacity Strengthening is now shown as Sector Building, activities must take place in Canada, and the guidance now says McConnell is almost never the sole funder and rarely funds the majority of a project budget. The Reconciliation focus area page also updated its featured results and contribution summary from $7.68M in 2024 and 53 organizations to $7.2 million in 2025 and 55 organizations, while the Reconciliation office hours booking link now opens a live scheduling page for support.
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
The Reconciliation focus area allocates $7.2 million in contributions to support Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. It backs Indigenous-led solutions that advance the National Indigenous Economic Strategy Calls to Economic Prosperity and collaborative funding projects that redistribute power and resources.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new program or service
- Improve governance or administrative structure
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Civic and Advocacy Organizations
- Grant-making Foundations
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- Nonprofits / charities
- Community leaders
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Indigenous-led solutions linked to the National Indigenous Economic Strategy Calls to Economic Prosperity.
- Indigenous-led collaborative funding projects that redistribute resources and power to Indigenous communities.
- Policy change efforts tied to economic reconciliation.
Documents Needed
- Short-form application
- Detailed application, if invited
- Budget template
- Supporting documents, if applicable
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Indigenous-led organizations and Indigenous communities
- Canadian registered charities and other qualified donees
- Non-profit organizations in Canada
- Non-qualified donees, where permitted under the Foundation’s process
Who is not eligible
- For-profit organizations, except in rare and specific situations
- Organizations or projects based outside Canada
- Private schools
- Projects focused on international development
- Projects mainly tied to basic academic research or partisan political activity
Eligible expenses
- Project-related salaries and operating costs, when linked to the initiative.
- Costs needed to carry out the proposed project or collaborative funding model.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- General fundraising campaigns, including fundraising salaries.
- Deficit reduction, operating shortfalls, or endowments.
- Ongoing operating costs or frontline service delivery.
- Partisan political activities, religious purposes, or basic academic research.
- Projects based outside Canada, international development, construction, renovation, or building purchases.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Strategic alignment with the Foundation’s mission and focus area.
- Potential for systemic change.
- Potential impact of the project.
- Organizational capacity, partnerships, and community support.
- Feasibility of carrying out the proposed work.
How to apply
- Step 1: Register on the portal
- Create an account on the application portal.
- Complete the eligibility quiz when registering for the first time.
- Step 2: Submit the short proposal
- Select the primary focus area.
- Answer the short-form questions and provide key budget information.
- Submit the application through the online portal.
- Step 3: Complete the detailed proposal if invited
- Provide detailed project, focus area, and evaluation information.
- Upload the full budget and any relevant supporting documents.
- Step 4: Review and decision
- Staff review the application and conduct due diligence if needed.
- The Board makes the final decision.
Processing and Agreement
- Stage 1 short proposal is reviewed first.
- If the proposal is a fit, the applicant is invited to Stage 2.
- Staff review the detailed application and may start due diligence with a phone call.
- The Foundation’s Board makes the final funding decision.
- Applicants are usually informed within about one month on Stage 2 eligibility, and the full process can take four to six months.
Additional information
- No application deadline for focus area funding.
- Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
- Virtual office hours are available for project fit questions.
- Applications must be submitted through the online portal.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Reconciliation focus area Program
What is the Reconciliation focus area?
The Reconciliation focus area allocates $7.2 million in contributions to support Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. It backs Indigenous-led solutions that advance the National Indigenous Economic Strategy Calls to Economic Prosperity and collaborative funding projects that redistribute power and resources.
Who is eligible for the Reconciliation focus area program?
To be eligible for the Reconciliation focus area program, you must:
Project aligned with Reconciliation goals
Project based in Canada
Indigenous-led or Indigenous-focused
What expenses are eligible under Reconciliation focus area?
Indigenous-led solutions linked to the National Indigenous Economic Strategy Calls to Economic Prosperity.
Indigenous-led collaborative funding projects that redistribute resources and power to Indigenous communities.
Policy change efforts tied to economic reconciliation.
Who can I contact for more information about the Reconciliation focus area?
You can contact The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation (MCF) by email at none or by phone at 514-288-2133.
Where is the Reconciliation focus area available?
The Reconciliation focus area program is available across Canada.
Is the Reconciliation focus area a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Reconciliation focus area is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Reconciliation focus area?
Reconciliation focus area is funded by The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation (MCF)