Your Guide to the Community Innovation Grant Application

Apply for a Community Innovation Grant

Is your organization working on new, creative ways to improve lives and strengthen communities on Haida Gwaii?

You may qualify to receive up to $10,000 from our Community Innovation Grant.

Interested? Here’s everything you need to know to apply.

100% ($120,000) of the funding is still available. Apply now for your grant!

At a Glance

Application Deadline:
February 1, 2025, 11:59pm
April 1, 2025, 11:59pm
June 1, 2025, 11:59pm
September 1, 2025, 11:59pm
November 1, 2025, 11:59pm

Amount Available:
Up to $10,000 per year for your organization

Equity Requirement:
Local non-profit organization: 25%
Local governments: 50%

Who Can Apply for an Arts Grant?

Local Non-profit Organizations

OR

Local Governments

If you’ve got fresh new ideas for small-scale projects that will benefit Haida Gwaii, we’d love to hear from you!

The Community Innovation Grant Process

  1. Applications Open (6 weeks before deadline)
    • Ready to apply? You’ll need a clear plan for your project, an estimate of your costs, and any other sources of funding you have.
  2. Submit Your Application (Deadlines: February 1, April 1, June 1, September 1, or November 1 by 11:59 PM)
    • Once you have everything you need, submit your application online through the Gwaii Trust portal. Make sure you include all required documents.
  3. Review and Decision (Within 2 Months)
    • After the deadline, the Gwaii Trust Board will review your application and make funding decisions. You’ll hear back within two months.
  4. Approval and Next Steps
    • If your project is approved, review the terms, track your expenses, and wait until at least two months after the application deadline to start your project.
  5. Complete Your Project
    • Once you’ve completed your project, submit your final budget, receipts, photos, and a brief summary of what you achieved. We’d love to see the difference your project makes for the people of Haida Gwaii.
Need more information?

Contact us for more questions about the grant or help with your application.

Tando Dwyer

Community Grants Specialist
Office
: G̲aw Tlagée – Old Massett

Email: tando.dwyer@gwaiitrust.com
Ph: 250-626-7985

Michelle “Mik” Prouty

Community Grants Specialist
Office:
HlG̲aagilda – Skidegate

Email: michelle.prouty@gwaiitrust.com
Ph: 250-637-1050

FAQs

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!

For more information, please review our Community Innovation Grant Application Guide. We look forward to hearing from you!