The standard project length for a Gwaii Trust funded project is one year from the decision date, with the exception of the Major Contributions grant, which has a two-year completion window. Projects that have exceeded their maximum project length, where no contact has been made with Gwaii Trust regarding a deadline extension, are at risk of being decommitted.  If your project will not complete on time, contact your Project Officer before the deadline to avoid having your funds decommitted.
We encourage the acknowledgement of funding through the use of the Gwaii Trust logo on your website, in print materials or by mentioning us on social media.Â
You can also acknowledge Gwaii Trust on social media by using mentions, profile links and hashtags in your posts. You can find us on Facebook or Instagram. For logos and usage guidelines please visit our Logos & Acknowledgements page.
If you do not have access to a computer or need assistance with your application or with submitting receipts, please call or visit one of our offices.Â
Upon approval, your Project Officer will contact you to notify you of the amount of the award. This is done through a funding notification email.Â
Your next step is to have an authorized signor submit the Funding Terms and Conditions Follow Up form in the grant management system. This form outlines the standard conditions of funding and any application-specific conditions of funding (if there are any).Â
Further instructions on how to receive advances, project reimbursements, and final reimbursements can be found in our Instructions for Accessing Funds document, found here.
For step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a grant, please check out our visual application guide.
Please note, Continuing Education and Travel grants have a different process. Please visit the following links for details on those specific grants:
Decisions made by the Gwaii Trust Board of Directors are final and there is no appeal process for applications that have been declined or partially funded by the Board. Grant decisions made by staff according to Board set policy (see grant page for details) may be appealed to the Board of Directors. Â If you wish to appeal a decision, a letter outlining the basis of your appeal and any supporting evidence must be submitted to your Project Officer within 30 days of the decision. Â
Appeals for late applications will not be considered. The appeal will be added to a regular Board meeting agenda and a decision will be made within six weeks.Â
If your project will not complete on time, an extension request may be considered. Contact your Project Officer before the deadline to avoid having your funds be decommitted. All change and extension requests are then submitted through the grant management system.
Requests for extensions may need to go to Board of Directors for approval.Â
The standard project length for Gwaii Trust-funded project is one year, with the exception of the Major Contributions grant, which has a two-year completion window. Projects that have exceeded their maximum project length will lose their approval and the funds will be automatically decommitted. This means the funding will no longer be available. If your project will not complete on time, contact your Project Officer before the deadline to avoid having your project be automatically decommitted.Â
The Final Evaluation Follow Up form can be found in the grant management system.
To have your grant decommitted, please contact your Project Officer for next steps. For more information on grant decommitments review our Forms & Templates section on Decommitted Grants.
If any details of your project changes, including the budget, timeline or activities identified in your application, contact your Project Officer as soon as possible to discuss the changes and determine next steps. All change and extension requests are then submitted through the grant management system.Â
Change requests usually take up to one month to process once they are considered complete. Depending on the Gwaii Trust approval level needed they may take up to two months.
The final request is reimbursed through receiving confirmation of project completion. You will need to complete both the Claim Follow Up form and the Final Evaluation Follow Up form in the grant management system.Â
The Claim Follow Up form will include:
- Claim form
- Financial reporting for the total project cost (including receipts or invoices and payment confirmations)
The Final Evaluation Follow Up form will include:
- Final evaluation form
- A request for four project photos
- The Arts Grant is here to help you grow as an artist and connect with your community. Here’s how it can support you:
- Mentorship opportunities: Learn from experienced artists who can share important skills and traditional knowledge with you.
- Kickstart your career: If you’re just starting out, the grant can help you take the next step toward becoming a professional artist.
- Grow your craft: For established artists, it offers the chance to further develop your creative work.
- Build your skills: Use the grant for training or other professional development that helps you grow as an artist.
- Bring art to the community: Help more people engage with and enjoy the arts on Haida Gwaii through your project.
- To see if your project is a good fit, think about whether it helps the cultural, economic, or environmental well-being of Haida Gwaii. Gwaii Trust focuses on:
- Promoting – cultural and economic health
- Encouraging – local decision-making
- Improving – community well-being
- Supporting – education and artistic expression
- Fostering – cooperation, understanding and trust
- Creating – jobs and improving infrastructure
- Conserving – land, marine ecosystems, and archaeological sites
- Conducting – research on Haida Gwaii’s environment and history
- Planning – for a sustainable economy
- Providing – services where no municipal government exists
- If your project helps with any of these goals, it’s probably a great fit!
- We want to help as many artists as we can! Here’s what we prioritize when deciding:
- First-time applicants and those who haven’t received a grant in the past 3 years.
- Projects that support emerging or established artists.
- Projects with a cultural impact that benefit communities on Haida Gwaii.
- Mentorship projects, where experienced artists share skills and traditional knowledge with others.
- We’re excited to support projects that make a positive difference in the community!
- There are a few things the Arts Grant won’t cover. You can’t use the grant for:
- Marketing or promotion costs
- Touring off Haida Gwaii
- Creating merchandise to sell
- Fundraising, prizes, or awards
- Building or renovating studios or spaces
- Running your business (payroll, utilities, etc.)
- The focus of the Arts Grant is to support your creative work directly. If you’re unsure about an expense, feel free to ask!
We want to help as many artists as we can! Here’s what we prioritize when deciding:
- First-time applicants, followed by those who haven’t received the Arts Grant in the past 3 years.
- Projects that benefit communities on Haida Gwaii.
- Projects with cultural impact.
We’re excited to support projects that make a positive difference in the community!
There are a few things the Arts Grant won’t cover. You can’t use the grant for:
- Wage subsidies for BOTH the mentor and apprentice — you’ll need to choose one.
- Any money spent before the Board approves your application
Yes, there are a few simple requirements to keep in mind:
- Your organization must be a local non-profit or local government.
- If you’ve received a grant before, make sure you’ve submitted all required reports—organizations with overdue reports can’t apply.
- We want to help as many artists as we can! Here’s what we prioritize when deciding:
- First-time applicants and those who haven’t received a grant in the past 3 years.
- Projects that support emerging or established artists.
- Projects with a cultural impact that benefit communities on Haida Gwaii.
- Mentorship projects, where experienced artists share skills and traditional knowledge with others.
- We’re excited to support projects that make a positive difference in the community!
There are a few things the Community Innovation Grant won’t cover. You can’t use grant money for:
- Core funding
- Expenses made before Board approval
- Applications for temporary jobs supporting existing or previously filled positions
- Applications for temporary jobs that reduce responsibilities for government or government-funded organizations
- Other items mentioned in the general grant guidelines
If you’re unsure about an expense, feel free to ask!
- There are a few things the grant won’t cover. You can’t use the grant for:
- Workshops
- Professional fees
- Seminars, webinars, symposiums or forums
- Apprenticeships and one-on-one coaching
- Consultant fees
- Courses without tuition
- Courses taken at non-recognized post-secondary institutions
If you’re not sure if your course is eligible, please contact us. We’d love to see how we can help!
Absolutely! We understand that even with funding from scholarships, bursaries, or student loans, you may still have additional financial needs. We welcome your application and are here to help.
- The Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia each have lists of recognized schools:
- If the school you’re attending isn’t on either of these lists, let us know on your application how it’s accredited.
Payment is made once you have successfully completed your course. A student that has not passed a course may be eligible for funding if they are able to provide confirmation of attendance to 95% of classes. Â
Payment is made once you have successfully completed your course. To access funding, ensure that all conditions of your approval have been satisfied and submit confirmation that the course has been completed successfully. In most cases, this means arranging for the school/institution to send us your official transcript, certificate or diploma. In addition, submit a letter describing the outcome of your studies and requesting payment for your courses. If you did not include receipts for payment of tuition, course materials and books with your application, you will need to provide those before receiving your grant.
Contact ceg@gwaiitrust.com if there are any changes to the courses for which you have received approval.
Yes, there are a few simple requirements to keep in mind:
- Your organization must be a local non-profit or local government. Businesses and individuals are not eligible to apply.
- If you’ve received a grant before, make sure you’ve submitted all required reports—organizations with overdue reports can’t apply.
- To see if your project is a good fit, think about whether it helps the cultural, economic, or environmental well-being of Haida Gwaii. Gwaii Trust focuses on:
- Promoting – cultural and economic health
- Encouraging – local decision-making
- Improving – community well-being
- Supporting – education and artistic expression
- Fostering – cooperation, understanding and trust
- Creating – jobs and improving infrastructure
- Conserving – land, marine ecosystems, and archaeological sites
- Conducting – research on Haida Gwaii’s environment and history
- Planning – for a sustainable economy
- Providing – services where no municipal government exists
- If your project helps with any of these goals, it’s probably a great fit!
There are a few things the Food Sovereignty Grant won’t cover. You can’t use the grant for:
- General operating costs or funding for ongoing programs.
- Buying perishable or non-perishable foods.
- Costs incurred before grant approval.
- Other items mentioned in the General Grant Guidelines
- We look for projects that align with the overall goal of building safer, healthier, and more vibrant communities. Specifically, we prioritize applications that support one or more of the following focus areas:
- Improving Community Infrastructure: Projects that enhance public spaces, local facilities, and essential services for everyone
- Promoting Health and Safety: Initiatives that support the wellbeing and safety of all island residents
- Enhancing Community Beauty and Sustainability: Efforts that make communities more attractive, welcoming, and environmentally sustainable
- Growing Local Economies: Projects that help make Haida Gwaii a more vibrant place for business and tourism
- We also give preference to:
- Initiatives that create or sustain long-term employment
- Projects that involve partnerships, collaborations, or other funding sources
- Applications that benefit multiple communities or the island as a whole
- If your project supports any of these goals, it’s likely a strong fit. And if you’re unsure, just ask — we’re happy to help you figure it out.
- The grant is flexible, but there are a few important limitations. Grant funds cannot be used for:
- Core funding (like general operating costs or ongoing programs)
- Expenses incurred before grant approval
- Items listed as ineligible in the general grant guidelines
- Always check the full guidelines or get in touch with us if you have questions — we’re here to support you.
- We welcome projects that aim to make a meaningful, long-term impact. The grant supports initiatives in areas such as:
- Community infrastructure
- Economic development and job creation
- Emergency preparedness
- Environmental protection and sustainability
- Projects can last up to two years, giving you time to make a real difference in the community.
- The grant is open to local non-profit organizations and local governments. We’re looking to support projects that create meaningful, long-term benefits for island residents.
- If you’re not sure if your organization qualifies, reach out — we’re happy to help.
There are a few things the grant won’t cover. You can’t use the grant for:
- Fishing charters, tours, or lodgings by businesses that are NOT locally owned.
- Rentals or payments to private individuals
- Transportation, mileage, or car rental costs related to your trip.
- Tips, meals, clothing, or equipment purchases
- Fishing or other types of licenses
If you’re not sure if an expense is eligible, please contact us. We’d love to see how we can help!
You won’t be eligible for the Staycation Grant if your employer or group is paying for your trip.
If you need to delay your trip because of weather or other reasons, you won’t need to reapply. Just let us know about the delay.
Of course! Even if you have third-party coverage such as TAPS or workplace coverage, we’d love for you to apply. Just make sure to include that information with your application.
We will need receipts for all expenses, except food, and a written report once your trip is done. Please be sure to include a minimum of two photos of your trip with your report. Payments usually take up to three weeks to process once they are considered complete. If your trip is cancelled or any details have changed since approval, please contact travel@gwaiitrust.com to discuss the changes and determine next steps.Â
There are a few types of travel that aren’t covered under the Travel Assistance Grant. This includes:
- Attending off-island events solely as a spectator, including cultural events, sports competitions, and graduation ceremonies
- Working off-island on your art
- Visiting an off-island museum, aquarium, zoo or Science World
- Visiting an off-island swimming pool or ice rink
- On-island travel or kids camps
- Trips taken exclusively for medical reasons are not eligible for funding.
If you’re not sure if your travel qualifies, please contact us!
There are a few things the grant won’t cover. You can’t use the grant for:
- Costs incurred before approval
- Off-island travel or activities taking place off Haida Gwaii
If you’re not sure if an expense is eligible, please contact us. We’d love to see how we can help!
Yes, there are a few rules for how the grant money is distributed.
- In communities with a youth centre, the grant money is set aside for them and available upon application.
- In communities without a youth centre, the funds are available for other youth-based activities.
Yes! If you have a project funded by the Youth-Centered Grant, you can still apply for the final Youth Grant intake of the year.
Any leftover funds from the Youth-Centered Grant are automatically added to the total available for the Youth Grant.
The grant covers several uses. You can use the grant for:
- Operating community-based youth centres
- Community-based youth activities.
- Core funding
- Yes, there are a few simple requirements to keep in mind:
- Your organization must be a local non-profit or local government.
- Your project should primarily benefit school-aged youth (K-12), with an extra focus on high school-aged youth.
- If you’ve received a grant before, make sure you’ve submitted all required reports—organizations with overdue reports can’t apply.
- We’re here to help support projects that make a difference for youth on Haida Gwaii. If you have questions about eligibility, reach out—we’d love to chat!
- Great question! A good fit focuses on one or more of these goals:
- Increased opportunities: Expanding access to sports, culture, arts, and outdoor activities for youth.
- Reducing barriers: Tackling challenges like financial, geographic, or accessibility obstacles that prevent youth participation.
- Youth leadership: Building leadership skills and encouraging youth to take active roles in their communities.
- If your project aligns with any of these, it’s likely a great match! And if you’re unsure, don’t worry—just ask us. We’re happy to help you figure it out.