Community
Impact
Fund
About the Community Impact Fund
The Community Impact Fund was established in 1994 to assist the Foundation in addressing a wide range of needs in the Yellowknife area.
Please note that the grant criteria for the Community Impact Fund has changed in 2023 to best meet the needs of our community and non-profit and charitable organizations.
Organizations can apply for one grant in each of the streams within the Community Impact Fund:
- Community Enrichment Stream
- Organizational Capacity Stream
The purpose of the community enrichment stream is to support community initiatives in the Yellowknife area. Organizations may apply for a grant that complements their new or ongoing programs and initiatives.
The purpose of the organizational capacity stream is to support organizational needs and to strengthen the non-profit and charitable sector in Yellowknife. Organizations may apply for a grant for professional training or learning opportunities for their staff and board.
See below to answer more questions about these streams.
Application process
We accept applications from charitable organizations that have a valid charitable number from Canada Revenue Agency. If you are a non-profit organization that does not have a registered charitable number, you may still be able to apply. Please call our office to discuss +1-867-446-4527.
To check that your charitable number is in good standing, visit Canada Revenue Agency or call 1-800-267-2384.
Organizations interested in applying must create an organizational profile on our application portal. Once your profile is created, you can submit an application to the Community Impact Fund.
2023 key dates
1 June, 12.01am
Applications open.
28 July, 11.59pm
Applications close.
*Deadline Extended!
September
Funding distributed.
We recognize that in previous years, applications to the Community Impact Fund could be submitted throughout the calendar year, and evaluated on two dates (March and September).
Key dates may be subject to change in future years.
Community Enrichment Stream
The purpose of the community enrichment stream is to support community initiatives in the Yellowknife area. Organizations may apply to grants that complement their new or on-going programs and initiatives.
Activities that the grant supports must occur in the Yellowknife, Dettah or N’dilo areas or be of direct benefit to residents in these areas.
The Community Impact Fund is eligible for charitable organizations (organizations with a registered charitable number) conducting activities in the Yellowknife area.
If you are a non-profit organization that does not have a registered charitable number, you may still be able to apply. Please call our office to discuss +1-867-446-4527.
To check that your charitable number is in good standing, visit Canada Revenue Agency or call 1-800-267-2384.
Eligible costs in the Community Enrichment Stream include:
- Capital projects including renovations
- Wages
- Purchase of equipment or materials
- Administration costs up to 15% of the total proposed budget
Ineligible costs for the Community Enrichment Stream include:
- Travel
- Rent, mortgage, loans and utilities
Ineligible costs for all YKCF grants include:
- Activities of religious organizations that serve primarily their membership and/or direct religious purposes
- Political activities, specifically directly or indirectly supporting or opposing a political party or candidate for public office
- The establishment of or addition to endowment funds
- The establishment of or addition to operating reserves
For our 2023 intake, grant requests from the Community Enrichment Stream of the Community Impact Fund can be from $1,000 – $50,000.
Applications can be submitted to the Community Enrichment Stream when the application portal opens.
In 2023, the application portal opens on June 1st. Please use the link on our website to apply.
Please note that application dates may vary in future years.
Applications are reviewed by our Grants Committee.
15 July 2023 at 11.59pm MST: All applications due via grant portal found on the Yellowknife Community Foundation website.
July and August 2023: Yellowknife Community Foundation staff and Grants Committee members conduct due diligence checks on all applications and undertake a review process. As a normal part of our review process, you may hear from us with questions about your application. We appreciate your time in providing clarity.
Early September 2023: Applicants are notified. Every applicant will receive notification regardless of funding decision.
- All successful applicants will be required to submit a final report through our online portal.
- We want to hear from you during the lifecycle of your grant! Please reach out anytime with an impact story, picture or video, or just to say “Hi!”.
We recognize that our Community Enrichment stream is currently only eligible for organizations conducting activities in the Yellowknife area, and there is a need for funding for organizations in NWT communities, beyond Yellowknife.
The Yellowknife Community Foundation is planning to incorporate granting needs and requests for communities and organizations outside of Yellowknife in the near future.
In the meantime, please visit our Granting Opportunities page to read more about our other granting funds as some are available for organizations outside of Yellowknife.
Organizational Capacity Stream
The purpose of the organizational capacity stream is to support organizational needs and to strengthen the non-profit and charitable sector in Yellowknife.
Organizations may apply for a grant for professional training or learning opportunities for their staff and board.
The Community Impact Fund is eligible for charitable organizations (organizations with a registered charitable number) conducting activities in the Yellowknife area.
If you are a non-profit organization that does not have a registered charitable number, you may still be able to apply. Please call our office to discuss +1-867-446-4527.
To check that your charitable number is in good standing, visit Canada Revenue Agency or call 1-800-267-2384.
Eligible costs within the Organizational Capacity stream include:
- Fees for training
- Course fees
- Venue rental
- Meeting expenses
- Honorariums for board members
- Travel and accommodation for trainer(s) to come to Yellowknife
Ineligible costs within the Organizational Capacity stream include:
- Travel and accommodation costs for board and staff
- Staff wages
Ineligible costs for all YKCF grants include:
- Activities of religious organizations that serve primarily their membership and/or direct religious purposes
- Political activities, specifically directly or indirectly supporting or opposing a political party or candidate for public office
- The establishment of or addition to endowment funds
- The establishment of or addition to operating reserves
For our 2023 grant intake, grant requests for the Organizational Capacity stream can be from $1,000 – $10,000.
Applications can be submitted to the Organizational Capacity stream when the application portal opens.
In 2023, the application portal opens on June 1st. Please use the link on our website to apply.
Please note that application dates may vary in future years.
For our 2023 intake, grant requests from the Organizational Capacity Stream of the Community Impact Fund can be from $1,000 – $10,000.
Applications are reviewed by our Grants Committee.
15 July 2023 at 11.59pm MST: All applications due via grant portal found on the Yellowknife Community Foundation website.
July and August 2023: Yellowknife Community Foundation staff and Grants Committee members conduct due diligence checks on all applications and undertake a review process. As a normal part of our review process, you may hear from us with questions about your application. We appreciate your time in providing clarity.
Early September 2023: Applicants are notified. Every applicant will receive notification regardless of funding decision.
- All successful applicants will be required to submit a final report through our online portal.
- We want to hear from you during the lifecycle of your grant! Please reach out anytime with an impact story, picture or video, or just to say “Hi!”.
For more information
If you require assistance or have questions about the Community Impact Fund, please do hesitate to contact the Yellowknife Community Foundation office at information@ykcf.ca or by phone at +1-867 446 4527.