CRE is launching a national Community Support Fund to enable small organizations and collectives to support youth wellbeing during COVID-19. Groups can apply for up to $5,000 to provide innovative and essential supports, resources, and initiatives to Indigenous youth (ages 14-29).
The Community Support Fund will accept applications over three periods. This will be a competitive process. We are anticipating a large number of applications and unfortunately will not be able to fund all projects and initiatives. Applicants are eligible to reapply to a later round if they are unsuccessful in an earlier round. Each organization/collective/group can only receive funding once.
Quick Access: View Application Form
Applications will be open through the following dates:
Application Round 1: April 6th to April 17th
Application Round 2: April 20th to May 1st
Application Round 3: May 4th to May 15th
Before applying, please review the project criteria and examples below.
Project Criteria
Eligible Applicants
Small organizations
Collectives and groups
Community councils and youth councils
Applications are open to both incorporated and unincorporated groups
Priority is given to small, grassroots organizations, collectives and groups who have existed previous to this application (or who have team members with demonstrated experience providing community supports)
Applicants can only receive funding from the Community Support Fund once. Applicants who were unsuccessful may reapply in later rounds
Ineligible Applicants
Individuals
For-profit corporations
Band Councils (but a Youth Council could apply)
Friendship Centres (but a Youth Council could apply)
Schools and post-secondary institutions
Eligible Projects and Expenses
Projects must directly support Indigenous youth. Priority is given to youth-led, youth-driven initiatives. All projects must take place in Canada.
Please find some examples of eligible expenses below. This is just a sample of the types of expenses that could be included and does not include all eligible items. Please request what your community needs.
Direct Youth Support: Funding can focus on providing direct support to youth and community. Direct supports can look like:
Food baskets and care baskets
Water
Water purification tablets
Cleaning supplies
Harm reduction supplies
Digital Supports: Online digital supports can look like:
Tech equipment for online programming
Satellite phones
Zoom memberships
Adobe and other online subscriptions to enhance digital programming
Holistic Wellness support: Provide services to digitally support youth’s mental health and well-being. Supports can include:
Outreach
Education
Counselling
Health promotion
Online programming and supplies: Funding can include honorariums for facilitators, art supplies, music equipment, books, medicines, seeds, etc. Programming can look like:
Digital language classes or storytelling
Medicine care packages
Indigenous food sovereignty online workshops
Digital medicine teachings
Digital arts projects
Digital drumming circle or round dances
General administration: Funding can be used to keep the organization or group going, such as bridging any funding gaps or ensuring staff are not laid off. These expenses can look like:
Salaries
Banking costs
Insurance
Ineligible Expenses
CRE will NOT fund projects that are political in nature, or that involve distributing substances (i.e. alcohol, non-traditional tobacco, marijuana, illicit substances, etc).
Review Process
In order to release funds quickly, CRE will be evaluating applications through an internal committee. The committee will be made up of Indigenous staff with experience running programs and initiatives, overseeing projects and offering community supports.
Funding Details:
CRE will release funding results within ten (10) business days of an application round closing.
Funding will be sent via Plooto direct deposit within five (5) business days of signing a funding agreement.
Funds must be spent by August 31st, 2020
Reporting
Grantees will be asked to submit information on how funds were spent and a short report by September 1st, 2020.