Indigenous Funding FinderEvery Child Matters
Translate

Translation is automatic and may have mistakes. Program names and phone numbers stay the same.

You can also use your phone. Android (Chrome): tap ⋮, then Translate. iPhone (Safari): tap aA, then Translate.

← Back

Help that may fit you

Where: Ontario · Who: Métis · Need: A community project

Start again

Your local Indigenous lender (IFI)

The federal Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program gives up to $99,999 that you do not pay back, for one person’s business (up to $250,000 for a community-owned business). It comes with a loan from your IFI. You apply to your local IFI (or Métis Capital Corporation), not to Ottawa. No deadline.

Lenders in Ontario. Ask the one near you if you are in their area:

See all IFIs, with phone numbers
★ Lesser-known grants many people miss

25 programs to look at

Open

FedDev Ontario programs (Indigenous applicants eligible)

Who runs it: FedDev Ontario

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Southern Ontario

What it gives: Contributions/loans

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Not Indigenous-only; FedDev has a dedicated Indigenous support team.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

FedDev Ontario – Indigenous businesses and organizations pathway

Who runs it: FedDev Ontario

Who can get it: Indigenous-owned businesses, IEDCs, Indigenous not-for-profits. Scale-up, community economic development, ecosystem projects

What it gives: Repayable (business) / non-repayable (organizations)

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Dedicated team: indigenous-autochtones@feddevontario.gc.ca. No deadline; no form needed to start.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

FedNor – Community Investment Initiative for Northern Ontario (CIINO)

Who runs it: FedNor

Who can get it: First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and organizations (also others). Community economic development, planning, hiring an economic development officer

What it gives: Non-repayable (generally)

Amount: Up to 90% of costs, to a maximum of $100,000 a year for up to 3 years (non-repayable)

Good to know: Limited money left. Talk to a FedNor officer first: 1-877-333-6673.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

FedNor – NODP Community Economic Development stream

Who runs it: FedNor

Who can get it: Indigenous communities and organizations eligible. Economic planning, business development, infrastructure

What it gives: Non-repayable (generally)

Amount: Amount not stated

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

FedNor – Northern Ontario Development Program (Indigenous eligible)

Who runs it: FedNor

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit businesses, communities, orgs. Northern Ontario

What it gives: Contribution

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Not Indigenous-only; Indigenous applicants eligible.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Indigenous Community Capital Grants Program

Who runs it: Ontario MIAFNER

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit communities/orgs, on & off reserve. Feasibility, design, construction of community buildings

What it gives: Grant

Amount: Amount not stated

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program (IOFP)

Who runs it: Building Ontario Fund (formerly OIDC)

Who can get it: Indigenous-owned entities. Equity in energy, critical minerals, resource infrastructure

What it gives: Loan guarantee

Amount: Amount not stated

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

New Relationship Fund

Who runs it: Ontario MIAFNER

Who can get it: Indigenous communities/orgs. Consultation & engagement capacity

What it gives: Grant

Amount: Amount not stated

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

NOHFC Indigenous Workforce Development Program

Who runs it: Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit interns. Northern Ontario employers (incl. Indigenous businesses/communities)

What it gives: Wage subsidy (52-week internship)

Amount: Up to 90% to $35,000/yr (communities/non-profits); up to 75% to $52,500/yr (businesses)

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Northern Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (NICFI)

Who runs it: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Who can get it: Indigenous groups not eligible for AICFI or PICFI. Communal commercial fishing and aquaculture enterprises

What it gives: Non-repayable contributions

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Community enterprises.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Ontario Arts Council – Indigenous Arts Projects

Who runs it: Ontario Arts Council

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit (Ontario-based). Artists, collectives, organizations

What it gives: Grant

Amount: Up to $15,000 individual / $20,000 collective / $25,000 organization

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program – Access to Business Opportunities

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada

Who can get it: First Nations & Inuit communities, Indigenous-owned organizations/associations. Regional or national projects only – NOT individual start-ups

What it gives: Non-repayable contribution

Amount: Up to $500,000 per recipient per year (stream budget $850,000/yr)

Apply by: Oct 31, 2026

Good to know: 2026 deadline Oct 31, 2026.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program – Access to Capital (delivered as NACCA Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program)

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada via NACCA, IFIs and Métis Capital Corporations

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Start-up, expansion, acquisition; individuals and community-owned businesses

What it gives: Non-repayable contribution (with IFI loan)

Amount: Up to $99,999 individuals; up to $250,000 community-owned businesses (per NACCA IEP page)

Good to know: Apply through your local IFI/Métis Capital Corp, not ISC directly. No deadline.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Canada Council – Creating, Knowing and Sharing

Who runs it: Canada Council for the Arts

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Artists, cultural carriers, groups, orgs

What it gives: Grants (travel, small-scale, short/long-term projects)

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Useful for artisans/creative businesses.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program

Who runs it: Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation (CDEV)

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit groups/communities. Equity stakes in major natural resource & energy projects

What it gives: Loan guarantee

Amount: $20 million to $1 billion per guarantee ($10B program)

Good to know: Community-scale, not small business.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

CIB Indigenous Equity Initiative

Who runs it: Canada Infrastructure Bank

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit communities. Equity in infrastructure projects CIB also invests in

What it gives: Loan

Amount: $5 million to $100 million; up to 90% of Indigenous equity

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open Lesser-known

Indigenous Business Navigator

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Businesses, organizations, communities

What it gives: Free single-window referral to federal programs

Amount: Free

Good to know: Email navigator@sac-isc.gc.ca; reply in ~3 business days.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) – 20/20 Catalysts Program

Who runs it: Indigenous Clean Energy

Who can get it: Indigenous clean-energy champions. Capacity building

What it gives: Training/mentorship

Amount: Amount not stated

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative (IODI)

Who runs it: Natural Resources Canada / Wah-ila-toos, with Indigenous Clean Energy

Who can get it: Remote Indigenous communities. Clean-energy champions, planning, project development

What it gives: Non-repayable

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Works in groups (cohorts). No open intake found.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

NACCA Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program (IEP)

Who runs it: NACCA / IFI network

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Entrepreneurs and community businesses

What it gives: Non-repayable contribution

Amount: Up to $99,999 individual; up to $250,000 community-owned

Good to know: Same money as AEP Access to Capital; entry point is your IFI.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

RBC Origins – Indigenous banking & entrepreneurs

Who runs it: RBC

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Individuals, businesses, communities

What it gives: Banking, capital, partners (e.g., Futurpreneur IESP)

Amount: Amount not stated

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Scotiabank services for Indigenous peoples

Who runs it: Scotiabank

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Individuals, bands, economic development corps

What it gives: Banking, financing

Amount: Amount not stated

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Strategic Partnerships Initiative

Who runs it: Indigenous Services Canada (federal partners)

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit communities. Community-scale multi-year opportunities; no direct applications – federal partners bring projects forward

What it gives: Contribution

Amount: Program budget $14.45M/yr (not per project)

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

TD Indigenous Banking (personal & commercial)

Who runs it: TD Bank Group

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Individuals, businesses, communities

What it gives: Banking, financing

Amount: Amount not stated

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open

Wah-ila-toos (clean energy single window)

Who runs it: Government of Canada (NRCan, ISC, CIRNAC, ECCC)

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit communities, Indigenous governments, dev corps. Clean energy projects

What it gives: Funding & technical support (multiple programs)

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: CERRC fully committed; check which sub-programs are open.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

By type of business

Closed now (8)

These are closed right now. Check their page for the next time they open.

Closed

IESO Indigenous Energy Support Program (IESP)

Who runs it: Independent Electricity System Operator

Who can get it: First Nation & Métis communities/orgs. Energy capacity, planning, projects

What it gives: Grants

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: 2026 intake closed Oct 2, 2026.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Closed

Indigenous Economic Development Fund – Economic Diversification Grant

Who runs it: Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation

Who can get it: First Nations, PTOs, tribal councils, Métis/Inuit/urban Indigenous orgs. Communities/organizations (planning)

What it gives: Grant

Amount: Up to $100,000 per fiscal year

Good to know: 2025 intake closed Dec 1, 2025; watch for next.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Closed

Indigenous Economic Development Fund – Regional Partnership Grant

Who runs it: Ontario MIAFNER

Who can get it: Indigenous orgs with delivery partners. Regional skills training & business development

What it gives: Grant (50% match)

Amount: Up to $250,000 per fiscal year (≤50% of costs)

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Closed

OIYPP Makakikedaa grant

Who runs it: Ontario Indigenous Youth Partnership Project

Who can get it: Indigenous youth (Ontario). Youth-led projects

What it gives: Grant

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: 2026 deadline Mar 31 passed.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Closed

AAFC Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative (IAFSI)

Who runs it: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Who can get it: First Nations, Métis, Inuit. Agriculture and food-system projects

What it gives: Non-repayable

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Ended (ran 2018 to 2023). Try the AAFC Indigenous Pathfinder Service instead.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Closed

Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC)

Who runs it: Natural Resources Canada

Who can get it: Indigenous and remote communities. Diesel reduction projects

What it gives: Non-repayable

Amount: n/a

Good to know: Fully committed. Not taking applications.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Closed

Indigenous Tourism Fund – Signature Indigenous Tourism Experiences Stream

Who runs it: ISED / regional development agencies

Who can get it: First Nations (status & non-status), Métis, Inuit. Tourism businesses/organizations

What it gives: Contribution

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Programs suspended (2026). No longer accepting applications.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Closed

Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways (SREPs) – Indigenous-led clean energy stream

Who runs it: Natural Resources Canada

Who can get it: Indigenous communities and organizations. Renewable/grid projects

What it gives: Non-repayable

Amount: Amount not stated

Good to know: Not taking proposals now. Future intakes are possible.

Official page ↗

Last checked Oct 31, 2026

Open means we did not see it closed when we checked. Always check dates and rules on the official page.

What do grant, loan and contribution mean?