Community programs for Indigenous businesses and communities

Ranked programs

32 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF)

   Ministry of Sport

   $500 million cost-shared program to repair/upgrade existing sport and recreation facilities (Stream 1) and build new or signature facilities (Stream 2).

   OpenOntarioGrantsUp to $10M
   41

   Strong

2. FedNor - Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP)

   FedNor

   FedNor's NODP funds community economic development, SME business growth and a municipal/First Nation economic-development-officer initiative (CIINO) in Northern Ontario...

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $170K
   40

   Strong

3. NOHFC Enhance Your Community Program

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds community infrastructure projects in Northern Ontario.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $2M
   39

   Strong

4. NOHFC Rural Enhancement Program

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds quality-of-life projects in rural Northern Ontario communities.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $500K
   39

   Strong

5. Great Lakes Local Action Fund

   Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

   Project funding for community-based action that increases climate resilience and protects or improves water quality in the Great Lakes, including wetland, shoreline and...

   OpenOntarioGrantsUp to $100K
   38

   Strong

6. Celebrate Canada Funding Program

   Canadian Heritage

   Funds community activities held on National Indigenous Peoples Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day.

   OpenFederalGrants
   36

   Worth a look

7. Enabling Accessibility Fund - Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG)

   Employment and Social Development Canada (Service Canada)

   Funds immediate workplace accessibility updates that support hiring, retention or continued employment of persons with disabilities. Projects can remove barriers through...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $50K
   34

   Worth a look

8. Ontario Trillium Foundation: Grow Grant

   Ontario Trillium Foundation

   Multi-year funding for established non-profits to scale proven community programs.

   OpenOntarioGrantsUp to $200K
   34

   Worth a look

9. NOHFC Community Events Program

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds events that promote economic development in Northern Ontario.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $15K
   32

   Worth a look

10. Changing Narratives Fund

    Department of Canadian Heritage

    The Changing Narratives Fund supports diverse communities (Indigenous, Black, racialized, ethno-religious minority, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+) in sharing...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    30

    Worth a look

11. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program - Events component

    Canadian Heritage

    Funds community events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, discuss multiculturalism and racism, or celebrate a community's history and culture such...

    OpenFederalGrants
    29

    Worth a look

12. FedNor - Build Communities Strong Fund, Local Impact Stream (Northern Ontario)

    FedNor

    Non-repayable funding for shovel-ready community projects in Northern Ontario that deliver public benefits.

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $1M
    28

    Worth a look

13. Indigenous Transportation Initiatives Fund for Indigenous Communities and Organizations

    Ministry of Transportation

    The Indigenous Transportation Initiatives Fund (ITIF) is an application-based funding program for Indigenous communities and organizations pursuing...

    OpenOntarioGrants
    28

    Worth a look

14. Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF)

    Ministry of Transportation

    Time-limited, application-based funding for up to 5 years to support the start-up and growth of transit services, especially in smaller and rural communities.

    OpenOntarioGrants
    28

    Worth a look

15. Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy

    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    A community-based program funding projects that prevent and reduce homelessness in urban, Indigenous, territorial and rural and remote communities, with decisions made...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    28

    Worth a look

16. Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk

    Fisheries and Oceans Canada

    The Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR) supports the recovery and protection of aquatic species at risk. It funds multi-species, place-based and...

    OpenFederalGrants
    27

    Worth a look

17. Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program

    Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA)

    Cost-share for rural economic development: plans, diversification, workforce, events, community infrastructure and rural small business.

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $250K
    26

    Worth a look

18. Ontario Trillium Foundation: Capital Grant

    Ontario Trillium Foundation

    Funding for equipment, renovation and capital projects of non-profits.

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $200K
    24

    Long shot

19. Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage - Local Festivals

    Canadian Heritage

    Funds local festivals that celebrate local arts and heritage and encourage community engagement.

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $200K
    23

    Long shot

20. First Nation Adapt Program

    Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

    Funds First Nation-led projects that assess climate change impacts and build climate resilience, such as hazard mapping, adaptation planning and community discussions.

    OngoingFederalGrants
    23

    Long shot

21. Indigenous Participation Fund: Consultation Supports (Mineral Development Advisor / Mineral Sector Specialist)

    Ministry of Energy and Mines

    Funds salary and activity costs so Indigenous communities and representative organizations can take part in consultation on mineral exploration and mine development and...

    OpenOntarioGrants
    22

    Long shot

22. Ontario Trillium Foundation: Youth Opportunities Fund - Youth Innovations (Test and Scale)

    Ontario Trillium Foundation

    Grassroots funding for youth-led groups and youth-adult partnerships to pilot (Test) or grow (Scale) projects that improve youth wellbeing, prioritizing Indigenous and...

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $150K
    22

    Long shot

23. Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative

    Canada Water Agency

    Supports local action to restore Great Lakes Areas of Concern, prevent toxic and nuisance algae, protect coastal wetlands, reduce harmful chemicals and increase...

    OpenFederalGrants
    21

    Long shot

24. Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF)

    Canadian Heritage

    Supports improving physical conditions for arts, heritage and creative innovation, including renovation projects and the acquisition of specialized equipment for...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    20

    Long shot

25. Indigenous Languages Program (Indigenous Languages Component, Canadian Heritage)

    Canadian Heritage

    Supports Indigenous communities and organizations to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages through distinctions-based funding models, plus...

    OpenFederalGrants
    18

    Long shot

26. NRC Outreach Initiative grants and contributions

    National Research Council Canada

    Funds non-profits and charities running science and innovation outreach such as conferences, workshops and symposia, including an Indigenous outreach stream.

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    18

    Long shot

27. Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF)

    Canadian Heritage

    Financial assistance to organizations that professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series, and to presenter support organizations; supports about 800...

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    17

    Long shot

28. Ontario Trillium Foundation: Youth Opportunities Fund - Family Innovations (Test and Scale)

    Ontario Trillium Foundation

    Grants for grassroots groups led by parents, guardians and caregivers to pilot or scale projects that support other parents, guardians and caregivers.

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $150K
    17

    Long shot

29. Museums Assistance Program (MAP)

    Canadian Heritage

    Supports heritage institutions and workers to preserve and present heritage collections, with components for Indigenous Heritage, Access to Heritage, Exhibition...

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    15

    Long shot

30. Environmental Damages Fund (EDF)

    Environment and Climate Change Canada

    Funds projects that benefit Canada's natural environment in restoration, environmental quality improvement, research and development, and education and awareness, using...

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    14

    Long shot

31. Ontario Trillium Foundation: Youth Opportunities Fund - System Innovations Grant

    Ontario Trillium Foundation

    Funding for collaboratives working to understand and strengthen systems so they work better for youth, prioritizing Indigenous and Black youth.

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $250K
    8

    Long shot

32. Federal Lands Initiative (CMHC)

    Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

    Transfers or leases surplus federal lands and buildings to eligible housing providers at discounted or no cost for development into affordable, accessible...

    Intake-basedFederalOther incentives
    6

    Long shot

Questions

How many community programs for Indigenous businesses and communities are open right now?

Of the 77 community programs for Indigenous businesses and communities in our database, 20 are open or ongoing and 12 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Nov 4, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF) publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $10M". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which community programs for Indigenous businesses and communities rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (41, Strong), FedNor - Northern Ontario Development Program (40, Strong), NOHFC Enhance Your Community Program (39, Strong). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 20 open or ongoing programs here, 20 are in our Grants category, 0 are loans and 0 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

11 of the 20 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 9 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.