Grants for First Nations and Indigenous-led organizations to support food sovereignty and security in Indigenous populations.
All funding cycles are currently closed.
Introduction
The Food Systems Program (FSP) supports Indigenous communities in reaching their food security and food sovereignty goals. The FSP distributes grants and provides support with capacity building, technical training, networking, and cultural sharing through in-person gatherings, online events, and resource sharing.
A core component of the Food Systems Program (FSP) is to provide project and program support through grants to First Nations and Indigenous serving organizations who are leading food work in their respective communities. The program follows a community-driven approach, and these grants are intended to support a wide variety of projects and be inclusive of Indigenous food systems and food relations.
There will be one grant available in 2024, The Food Systems Program (FSP) Grant:
- BC-based communities and organizations are eligible to apply and receive up to $5,000.
- The FSP grant supports food related activities and can be applied towards wages or honoraria, planning work, the purchase of tools, equipment, materials, and the building of food related infrastructure.
- Successful applicants will be eligible to access additional supports in relation to community-driven capacity building, mentorship, and training through the Learning Together, Growing Together Top Up and participation in in-person gatherings.
While the Food Systems Program acknowledges that immediate access to food is important, especially in emergency situations, the goal, purpose, and scope of the program is to contribute to longer term capacity-building and sustainability. Therefore, the program does not support projects and programs that are only focused on immediate access to food. For example, the purchase of food for a food bank is not within the scope of the FSP.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are BC-based:
- First Nations and First Nation communities
- Indigenous-led organizations
- Organizations serving Indigenous populations
Please note: Individuals are not eligible to apply.
Eligibility Requirements
- Projects must serve and be to the benefit of Indigenous populations including First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban and away from home populations.
- Projects must include and benefit larger groups within the populations/community and cannot serve one family or a small fraction of the population.
- Projects should have or include a focus on capacity-building and knowledge sharing and be connected to a longer-term community vision.
Considerations
- I·SPARC will only approve one application per organization/community per year and cannot provide multi-year funding. Funded projects or programs must be able to complete funded activities by March 31, 2025.
- Past program applicants must be in good standing to apply for funding in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
FAQs
Food Systems Program Grant FAQ
Application Process
- Only complete applications submitted prior to the deadline will be considered for funding
- Initial screening of all applications will be conducted by FSP Provincial Coordinator
- Funding decisions will be made by a review panel
- All applicants will be notified of successful or unsuccessful applications. Instructions on next steps and grant obligations will be conveyed to successful recipients
Grant Distribution
A funding decision will be made within three (3) weeks of the application deadline. Funding may only be utilized for the direct delivery of the specific program, activity, event, expense that has been applied for.
We highly recommend enrolling with Direct Deposit. Click here for the form.
Grant Reporting
Approved applicants will be required to provide a final report by March 28, 2025. A template with instructions will be provided by the FSP team. Successful applicants may also be asked to share their stories with the FSP team for use and promotion on the I·SPARC website, in social media platforms, reporting, and other promotion materials.
Learning Together, Growing Together Fund
If you are approved for funding in the fiscal year 2024-25, you will be eligible to apply for the Learning Together, Growing Together Fund, to top up your grant. This top up focuses strictly on capacity building through education, workshops, training, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. The purpose of this funding is to support communities and organizations to build and increase capacity and knowledge related to food and Indigenous food systems within their community or organization, be a complimentary support to the Food Systems Program grant, and is only available to successful applicants of the regular FSP grant.
Funding in any amount up to $3,000 can be requested by communities or organizations and will be provided as a top-up to the Food Systems Program grant. Applying to the Learning Together, Growing Together Fund is optional.
Eligible Expenses
- Hire Elders or Knowledge Holders as needed for training, mentorship, and knowledge sharing events and activities
- Materials necessary to deliver a workshop or knowledge sharing session
- Host workshops and/or knowledge sharing sessions (in person or virtual)
- Create educational material like interpretive materials, information flyers, resource libraries, video series, webinars
- Send community members to the Master Gardener program (or similar), to be trained on a farm, or mentored by a Knowledge Holder on the land etc.
- Facilitator fees and honoraria
- Costs to attend workshops, training, and knowledge sharing sessions, such as registration fees, transportation, etc.
- Costs associated with the planning and hosting of a workshop/knowledge sharing session or series
Ineligible Expenses
- Material expenses associated with the delivery of the main project, such as garden equipment, etc.
- General labour costs associated with the delivery of the main project, such as wages for the gardener
- Wages or honoraria to attend classes, training, and/or knowledge sharing sessions
- Day-to-day operational costs of the main project
- Infrastructure and maintenance costs
- Catering and space rental costs, unless it is for a knowledge sharing session or workshop and all other costs are covered by more restrictive grants/funds (case by case basis)
- Administration fees and related costs of the community or organization
For questions and inquiries please contact:
Sonja Grosse – Broemer
Provincial Coordinator, Food Systems Program