Philanthropic Initiatives

The Akiing Onji Foundation is an Indigenous-led charity that was founded to promote and preserve Indigenous languages and cultures through culturally appropriate education activities, programs, training, and workshops for the Indigenous community in Manitoba.

Building on the interest of First Nations child and family services leaders to create a national networking organization, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (the Caring Society) was developed at the Squamish First Nation in 1998 at a national meeting of First Nations child and family service agencies. Meeting delegates agreed that a national nonprofit organization was required to provide research, policy, professional development and networking to support First Nations child and family service agencies in caring for First Nations children, youth and families. An interim board was elected and the plan was approved at a second national meeting at Kingsclear First Nation in 1999. You can read more about the Caring Society and some of their programs in their entry under Foundations of Reconciliation.

The Future Generations Foundation was formerly called the NIB Trust Fund. Established in 1975 as a trust and charity by First Nations leaders. Addresses the harms of the Indian Residential School system through education, culture, and reconciliation. Entrusted with residual IRSSA funds, the foundation prioritizes educational, vocational, cultural, language, and healing programs. The FG Foundation accepts applications for funding for programs aimed at education, healing and reconciliation, and cultural knowledge building. The goal of the FG Foundation is to help First Nations, Métis people and communities address the impacts of the Indian residential school’s system, and to provide resourcing to create meaningful opportunities that improve the quality of life for First Nations and Métis people.

The HBC Point Blanket has been called many things throughout its history: an essential trade item, an enduring emblem of Canada, a carrier of disease, and a symbol of colonialism. Applications for Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund are now open. Oshki Wupoowane launched on September 30, with an initial $1 million investment from Hudson’s Bay Foundation and a commitment to direct 100% of net proceeds from the sale of all HBC Point Blankets to The Blanket Fund moving forward. Since then, The Blanket Fund has grown to more than $1.5 million, which will be disbursed to successful applicants over multiple years. Through two grant streams, The Blanket Fund will provide support for Indigenous cultural, artistic, and educational activities. Indigenous people, as well as Indigenous-led initiatives and organizations in Canada, are eligible.

A listing of funding resources to combat Inuit food insecurity – hunger resources.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a national Indigenous organization representing political voices of Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Transgender, and Gender-Diverse+ (WG2STGD+) People in Canada. NWAC is inclusive of First Nations—on- and off-reserve, status, non-status, and disenfranchised—Inuit, and Métis. An aggregate of Indigenous women’s organizations from across the country, NWAC was founded on a collective goal to enhance, promote, and foster social, economic, cultural, and political well-being of IndigenousWG2STGD+ People in their respective communities and Canadian societies.

Every year, the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) provides scholarships and bursaries to young Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, and/or gender-diverse students.

The NWAC ISET program helps Indigenous women and gender-diverse individuals fully participate in economic opportunities. NWAC believes education can help Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people achieve economic success. Empowerment is the foundation for strong families and communities. Through NWAC’s agreement with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) we are able to provide financial supports such as tuition, living allowance, childcare, job starts, and other resources to help Indigenous women and gender-diverse people reach their employment and skills training goals.

Our programs support diverse young people (ages 18 to 30) including Indigenous young people, newcomers, those facing economic disadvantages, and young people affected by mental health challenges. They prepare young people for the future of work through a continuum of programs designed to meet their current and future employment needs.

The Circle on Philanthropy (The Circle) transforms philanthropy and contributes to positive change between Philanthropy and Indigenous communities by creating spaces of learning, innovation, relationship-building, co-creation, and activation. The Circle works alongside Indigenous-led organizations, Indigenous informed organizations, organizations with Indigenous beneficiaries, our members and philanthropic signatories of The Declaration of Action to encourage individuals and organizations to learn, acknowledge, and understand more about reconciliation and the decolonization of wealth.

True North Aid is dedicated to serving and supporting northern and remote Indigenous communities in Canada through practical humanitarian support. Our Stones of Support help us to define projects based on various levels of need and support. This includes self-determination, health, food, reconciliation, housing, water, education and culture.