Grants for First Nations, Indigenous-led organizations, and organizations serving Indigenous populations to support food sovereignty and security in Indigenous populations throughout BC
The 2025/26 fall funding cycle IS CLOSED – Will re-open for the 2026/27 Cycle in the Spring of 2026
Introduction
The Food Systems Program (FSP) supports Indigenous communities in reaching their food security and food sovereignty goals. The Food System Program 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.
The Food Systems Program Team is excited to announce a one-time FALL INTAKE of the Food Systems Program Grant. This intake is specific to expenses and activities happening within the late fall and winter months and all activities must be completed and funds expended by March 31, 2026. Grant specifics:
- BC-based indigenous communities and organizations are eligible to apply and receive up to $5,000
- The Food System Program 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 funding to support 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 Food System Program.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are BC-based:
- First Nations and First Nation communities
- Indigenous-led organizations
- Organizations serving Indigenous populations in BC
Please note: Individuals are not eligible to apply.
Communities/Organizations that are currently active in the Food Systems Program and received funds through the spring intake in 2025 are eligible to re-apply, even if activities are still ongoing.
Eligible Projects
- Projects must serve and be to the benefit of B.C Indigenous populations including First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban and away from home populations. Please note that at least 75% of the population served with this specific project must be Indigenous
- 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
- Organizations who are not indigenous-led, but serve Indigenous populations must demonstrate the projects are led by/or guided by Indigenous peoples
- For this intake projects must focus on activities and expenses that can be completed over the fall and winter months. A list of examples can be found in the FAQs document
Considerations
- I·SPARC will only approve one application per organization and cannot provide multi-year funding. Funded projects or programs must be able to complete funded activities by March 31, 2026
- Currently active program participants that received funds during the spring intake can apply for this fall grant intake
Application Process
- Initial intake: August 25, 2025
- Deadline: September 15, 2025
- Only complete applications submitted prior to the deadline will be considered for funding
- Initial screening of all applications will be conducted by Food Systems Program 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
FAQs
To see if your project fits the criteria of this grant please ensure to read all information provided here thoroughly. Please refer to the attached FAQ document for more details and project examples. If you have any more questions or are unsure if your project idea fits the scope, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Provincial Coordinator, Sonja Grosse – Broemer.
Food Systems Program Grant FAQ
For more information, please refer to the recorded webinar Food Systems Program 2025 – Program Grant Application and register for the upcoming webinar Strategic Food Systems: The Power of Planning.
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.
Funds will be distributed to successful applicants via direct deposit. We highly recommend enrolling in the Direct Deposit System with I·SPARC at the time of submitting the application. The template can be found here, and once completed it can be attached to the application or sent to the Provincial Coordinator Sonja Grosse – Broemer.
Grant Reporting
Approved applicants will be required to provide a final report by March 2026. A template with instructions will be provided by the FSP team. Successful applicants may also be asked to share their stories and pictures with the Food System Program 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 your organization is approved for funding in the fiscal year 2025-26, you will be eligible to apply for the Learning Together, Growing Together Fund, to top up your grant. This top-up will be part of the application and 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 including Indigenous food systems. This top-up is meant to be a complimentary support to the Food Systems Program grant and is only available to successful applicants of the Food Systems Program grant. Planned activities must be completed over the fall and winter months.
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 Applicants
All BC based Indigenous communities and organizations are eligible to apply to the top up together with the Food Systems Program grant.
Eligible Expenses
- All expenses MUST be for activities and purchases taking place over the fall and winter months
- 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 workshop/knowledge sharing session or series
Ineligible Expenses
- Any expenses for activities or purchases happening after March 31, 2026.
- Material expenses associated with the day-day operations of your project or program, like garden equipment, materials etc.
- General labour costs associated with day-day operations, like wages for the gardener, or food security coordinator.
- Wages or honoraria for staff to attend classes, training, and/or knowledge sharing sessions.
- Day-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.
If you have any questions regarding the Food Systems Program, the grant and top up, the application, or if you just want to chat and see if your project idea fits the criteria – please do not hesitate to reach out to:
Sonja Grosse – Broemer
Provincial Coordinator, Food Systems Program