During these unprecedented times, the Federal Government has introduced the Indigenous Community Support Fund. The Fund is intended to help Indigenous organizations and communities providing services to Indigenous peoples in urban centres or off-reserve prevent, prepare and respond to COVID-19. This Fund supports the health, safety, and well-being of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis with a commitment of $305 million to improve public health response for these Indigenous communities and provide them with the flexibility they need to address the specific needs identified by communities and their members. This funding will also provide support to regional, urban and off-reserve Indigenous organizations.
These funds could be used for measures including, but not limited to:
- support for Elders and vulnerable community members
- measures to address food insecurity
- educational and other support for children
- mental health assistance and emergency response services
- preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19
More information on the Indigenous Community Support Fund can be found here.
How the Indigenous Community Support Fund works
Communities identified jointly by Indigenous Services Canada, the National Indigenous Organizations, and other Indigenous leaders, based on emergency needs, do not need to apply:
- on-reserve and self-governing First Nations communities will receive funding directly from ISC
- Inuit Nunangat Regions will receive funding directly from ISC
- Métis will receive funding through existing mechanisms to facilitate the speed at which funding can be received
Call for proposals for urban and off-reserve Indigenous organizations and communities
Indigenous organizations and communities providing services to Indigenous peoples in urban centres or off-reserve need to apply through a call for proposals. Proposals will be accepted starting April 6, 2020, and the deadline to submit proposals is April 13, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Who can apply
- National, regional, and local Indigenous service delivery organizations supporting Indigenous peoples living in urban centres.
- National, regional, and off-reserve Indigenous organizations supporting their members living away from their communities (for example, Indigenous representative organizations and Tribal Councils).
- Other Indigenous organizations or communities providing services to Indigenous peoples living off-reserve or in urban centres that are not eligible for funding under the distinctions-based streams of the Indigenous Community Support Fund (for example, non-status groups and independent communities).
How to apply
- Complete a proposal and budget using the Project or Work Plan Funding Application (PDF format), or submit the same information in another format, such as Microsoft Word or Excel
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- In the budget section, list all potential sources of funding from other sources to support your COVID-19 response, including any funding that has or will be received from the First Nations, Inuit or Métis Nation streams of the Indigenous Community Support Fund.
- Make sure your proposal package includes:
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- Organization type:
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- First Nation, Inuit or Métis community
- Indigenous government or representative organization
- Indigenous incorporated not-for-profit organization
- other Indigenous association, group or organization
- Who this proposed activity will reach and who will benefit (number of people and audience, such as community members, women, youth, Elders, homeless, etc.)
- If your proposal has multiple activities or sub-activities, provide a prioritized list, in case your proposal can only be partially funded.
- Joint proposals must list all the partners and what their roles and activities will be.
- National or regional organizations that will distribute the funding to service delivery organizations must list those organizations and how funding would be allocated.
Email your proposal to aadnc.icsfru-fscaru.aandc@canada.ca.
Only proposals submitted electronically will be considered.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
