Operating Grant for Indigenous-led Organizations

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Program Overview

Edmonton City Council approved funding of $1,000,000 for the Operating Grant for Indigenous-led Organizations to support the Reconciliation Pillar of the Community Safety and Well-Being Strategy.

If you have any questions or need help, please contact grants@edmonton.ca.

Application Intake

Grant applications will be accepted until November 26, 2025.

Apply Now

Grant Information Sessions

To learn more about the Operating Grant Program, we are hosting a Grant Information Session.

This session will give you a better understanding of the organizational and program eligibility requirements, provide tips for completing the application, and provide information on the timelines for review and decisions.

Date: Wednesday November 5, 2025
Time: 3pm

Register For a Session

Grant Priorities

The Operating Grant for Indigenous-led organizations will help support Indigenous groups in their efforts to achieve the following:

Promote the resurgence of Indigenous Peoples’ culture, language, identity and ceremony
Ensure safe, inclusive and healing spaces
Provide education, training, employment and economic security for Indigenous Peoples

Grant Application Assessment

Applications are assessed based on the following criteria:

Organizational eligibility
Alignment to grant priorities
Eligible operating expenses
Most recent year-end financial statements

Grant awards are determined by a formula based on the above criteria and the number of eligible applications. Awards amounts for the grant are a minimum of $2,500 to a maximum of $50,000.

Application Criteria and Requirements

Please review all information before you apply.

Organizational Eligibility

To be eligible for the grant, the applicant must:

Be a not-for-profit organization registered for at least 1 year and in good standing with the incorporating body (Alberta Society, Non-profit Private Company, Non-Profit Public Company, Extra-Provincial Non-profit Company);
Be in good standing with the City in terms of reporting requirements and outstanding payments;
Be Indigenous-Led, which means they must have:
- Majority (minimum of 50%) of the board, management, and staff/volunteers identifying as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit)
- Indigenous cultures central to history and development of the organization, its governance and daily operations
- Provide programs and services that reflect the cultures and traditions of the First Nations, Inuit, and/or Metis Communities that call Edmonton home
Organization is based in the Edmonton Area and has a minimum of 75% of its participants residing in Edmonton
Have a mandate that aligns with one or more of the grant priorities:
- Promote the resurgence of Indigenous Peoples’ culture, language, identity and ceremony
- Ensure safe, inclusive, and healing spaces
- Provide education, training, employment, and economic security for Indigenous Peoples

Please note:

Organizations may receive 1 operating grant per year funded by the City of Edmonton. These include operating grant programs for community leagues and seniors’ centres, as well as operating grant programs administered by the Edmonton Arts Council or Edmonton Heritage Council.
Organizations that have 2 years or more of unrestricted cash reserves or restricted but available for operating expenses, may not be considered for an operating grant.

See grant guide for more details.

Ineligible Expenses :

Capital projects including significant maintenance or repairs to buildings such as an addition or a new roof
Fundraising expenses, such as bingos and casinos
Expenses associated with income-generating operations not directly associated with programs and services of the Organization (for example: public food sales/catering/banquet services, facility rental)
Depreciation/Amortization - decreases the value of capital assets over time)
Debt repayment or Debt/Credit Interest - expenses related to a line of credit, mortgage, credit card, overdraft or other debt, or the principle and interest on any credit or debt

Required Documents

2024 audited year-end financial statements, signed by 2 board members or,
2024 internally generated financial statements (those that are not presented either as a notice to reader, a review or an audit) signed by 2 board members and must include a bank reconciliation and bank statement as at the fiscal year-end
Grant Financial Information Form
See Financial Statement/Bank Reconciliation example

Watch Required Financials Presentation

Submit Your Application

Application deadline is November 26, 2025.

Grants must be submitted through the Community Investment Grant Portal. If you already have an account, please login with your username and password. If you do not have an account, please register for one.

See the instructional videos below to learn how to register for an account:

Please note: This grant program uses the new Community Investment Grant Portal for application intake and reporting. For questions or additional support, please contact grants@edmonton.ca.

Reporting Requirement

Successful applicants will be responsible for reporting on how operating dollars supported them in advancing their mandate, and:

How the organization addressed 1 or more of the grant priorities
Examples of the programs offered that supported each of the priorities selected
Number of people who attended or participated in the programs identified
The priority areas in which the organization had the largest impact

Reporting will be done via the Community Investment Grant Portal.

Instructional Videos

Account Registration

Watch the instructional video on how to register an account.

How to Apply for an Operating Grant

Information on how to apply for the Indigenous Led Operating Grant through the new Community Investment Grant Portal.

Information Session

Recorded September 20, 2024
Learn about organizational and program eligibility requirements, tips for completing the application and information on the timelines for review and decisions.

Operating Grant for Indigenous-led Organizations

Program Overview

Application Intake

Grant Priorities

Grant Application Assessment

Organizational Eligibility

Ineligible Expenses :

Required Documents

Submit Your Application

Reporting Requirement

Grant Recipients

2025 Grant Awardees

2023-2024 Grant Awardees