Find 16 Indigenous grants! Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program, ASETS funding & Indigenous tourism grants.
Organization: Futurpreneur Canada
Amount: Up to $60,000
Provides financing, mentoring and culturally relevant support to Indigenous entrepreneurs aged 18-39.
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Amount: Up to $500,000
Supported community-led projects that create jobs and economic opportunities in communities across Canada (program now closed).
Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Amount: Up to $250,000 per project
Supports the development and adoption of assurance systems, standards and certifications to meet buyer and market demands for Canadian agriculture and agri-food products.
Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Amount: Up to $200,000 per year (50% of costs)
Supports under-represented groups in agriculture (such as women, Indigenous peoples, youth, persons with disabilities) to develop skills, gain knowledge and grow their businesses.
Organization: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Amount: Varies
A national plan with various funding initiatives to support marine safety, environmental protection, and Indigenous partnerships in ocean protection.
Organization: Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Amount: Up to $100,000
Supports the development of Indigenous tourism experiences and businesses through grants (often project-based funding for product development, marketing, etc.).
Organization: Canadian Heritage
Amount: Varies
Offers numerous grants and contributions programs supporting culture, heritage, official languages, Indigenous languages and sport (e.g., Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, Canada Book Fund, Athlete Assistance Program, etc.).
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Amount: Up to $25,000 (community stream)
Supports projects that empower seniors, encourage social participation and inclusion of seniors, and improve their quality of life, including small community-based grants and larger pan-Canadian projects.
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Amount: Varies
Supports skills development and employment training for Indigenous peoples through funding agreements with Indigenous service delivery organizations across Canada.
Organization: Indigenous Services Canada
Amount: Varies
Provides access to capital and business opportunities to Indigenous entrepreneurs by supporting a network of Indigenous Financial Institutions that offer loans and financing for Indigenous-owned businesses.
Organization: Kakivak Association
Amount: Up to $25,000 total per business
Provides grants to eligible Inuit-owned businesses in the Qikiqtani Region of Nunavut to support business pre-start up, start-up, and expansion activities.
Organization: Baffin Business Development Corporation (BBDC)
Amount: Varies (Small grants)
Administers the Small Business Support Program (SBSP) for the Government of Nunavut, providing small grants to eligible small businesses in the Baffin region.
Organization: Government of Alberta - Indigenous Relations
Amount: $150,000 to $750,000
Provides grants to support capital costs for Indigenous community-owned economic development projects in Alberta, aiming to grow businesses and create employment.
Organization: Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF)
Amount: Up to $99,999 (individuals) or $249,999 (community-owned)
Provides non-repayable contributions (grants) alongside loans to Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses for start-up, acquisition, expansion, marketing, and technology adoption.
Organization: Government of New Brunswick - Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
Amount: Up to 100% of costs, max of $90,000 over program duration
Offers funding for R&D, agricultural innovation, and technology demonstration within the agriculture, agri-food, and agri-science sectors in New Brunswick.
Organization: Government of New Brunswick
Amount: Up to 50% of costs, to a max of $100,000
Provides financial assistance for the purchase of specialized and/or automated equipment to increase efficiency, quality, and productivity for New Brunswick's agri-food processors.
Provincial programs: 4-8 weeks. Federal programs: 3-6 months. Quick-win programs like provincial startup grants approve fastest. Plan applications 2-3 months before you need funding.
Yes! Most successful businesses apply to 5-10 programs simultaneously. Programs are complementary - you can stack federal + provincial + sector-specific grants. Total government support can reach 60-80% of project costs.
Common requirements: business registration, financial statements, business plan, project description, budget, and proof of matching funds. Federal programs require more detailed applications than provincial quick-start programs.
Most programs require at least a basic business plan. Large federal grants ($100K+) need comprehensive plans with financial projections. Small provincial grants accept simplified 1-2 page proposals.
Yes! Permanent residents and citizens qualify for most programs. Newcomer-specific programs include Immigrant Employment grants, provincial settlement programs, and Futurpreneur Newcomer Entrepreneur stream.