Capital and Innovation

We welcome applications led by:

• First Nations, including governments, bands, corporations controlled by First Nations, and First Nations not-for-profit organizations
• Local and regional governments, including municipalities, regional districts, and incorporated areas
• Registered not-for-profit organizations and registered charities, including:
  • community-based organizations
  • economic development organizations
  • industry associations
  • regional and sectoral organizations, and 
  • educational organizations and institutions
• Social enterprises and community-benefit structures, including:
  • Co-operatives
  • Community Contribution Companies (C3s)

We encourage proposals that foster economic reconciliation with First Nations and Indigenous people. Often, great projects create meaningful partnerships and mutually beneficial opportunities based on holistic, values-driven approaches to attaining community economic prosperity.

We don’t fund individuals or businesses operating for private profit. We do invest in social enterprises and community-benefit corporate structures, and we encourage projects that include private-sector partnerships.

Under the Act governing the Trust, projects must be located within our defined service region. See Our Region for a map.

In recognition of First Nations territories, the Trust welcomes proposals from First Nations for projects in areas adjacent to our service region that deliver economic development outcomes benefiting communities within the region.

We fund capital projects and innovation-focused investments that align with one or more of our eight Investment Priorities that that diversify local economies and drive sustainable growth.

• Construction or installation costs including materials, installation, third-party labour, or tool rentals
  Acquisition and implementation of technology
• Detailed design and engineering for capital construction
• Contracted project management (up to 10% of total project costs)
• Procurement communications including procurement advertising, signage, or web development
• Project-related insurance, shipping/delivery, permits/certifications, project-specific staff training
• Costs incurred after Trust staff have provided written confirmation the application is complete

In-Kind Contributions

In-kind contributions directly required to complete the approved project, such as donated or loaned equipment, donated materials, specialized equipment operator time, donated professional or technical services, and volunteer labour directly related to construction, installation, or project implementation.

Total in-kind cannot exceed 20% of eligible costs

Board activities or directors’ volunteer time, staff volunteer time, and discounts are not eligible

• Core operating or administrative costs including staff, utilities, or rent
• Feasibility studies, concept designs, preliminary cost estimating, development of business or capital plans
• Fundraising campaigns, grant writing, consultation or engagement processes, publicity announcements, hospitality expenses
• Legal fees, financing costs such as interest expenses, non-arm’s length transactions, refundable GST
• Cost overruns
• Costs incurred prior to Trust staff providing written confirmation that the application is complete.

We invest up to $200,000 in a project under this program. Our investment is always one part of a larger funding package that includes other funders and a contribution from the organization leading the project.

The portion we fund depends on the population and location of the community a project serves. We require less matched funding from rural, Indigenous, and remotely located communities, recognizing that these communities often have fewer local sources to leverage. The smaller and more remote a community, the larger the share of eligible costs we contribute.

We have a continuous intake with no posted deadlines. When we start working together, we focus on preparing a complete application for one of the three Regional Advisory Committee meetings we hold each year.

To learn more about our process, see How We Fund – Building your proposal.

We bring more to a project than money. We aim to be a true partner, invested not only in what gets built but in the impact it creates and the outcomes it delivers. Our How We Fund page walks through our developmental approach to investing in economic projects, from the first conversation to the final report:

• Connecting with us
• Building your proposal
• Submitting
• Due diligence, review, and decision
• Agreement and funding
• Project implementation and reporting

As you build your proposal, we encourage you to read our Application Form. When you are ready to submit, your complete application includes the documents below. We are glad to talk through any of them with you before you start.

Project Plan, including a capital budget and a financial forecast for operations. A project plan usually covers:

• An overview of the project and how it aligns with your organization’s mission
• The project’s main goals and the objectives you want to achieve
• Your organization’s financial and human resources capacity to carry out the project, including the team who will lead it
• The project partners, including governments, private businesses, local groups, and contractors
• A capital expenditure budget, including funding sources and cost estimates or quotes
• An operating plan, with a detailed income statement for the first year and projections for three or more years
• An outline of the community engagement you have undertaken

Along with the project plan, please provide:

• Quotes from qualified suppliers
• Your most recent financial statements, audited if available
• Any permits, approvals, or letters of authorization the project requires
• Letters of support
• For first-time not-for-profit or community-owned company applicants: your constitution, bylaws, articles, and current list of directors