Grants up to $1,000 for Yellowknife residents to build community and make your neighborhood a better place to live.
Yellowknife Small Grants are based on a simple but powerful idea: that everyone is a valuable member of the community and that we all have something to share.
Applications open Oct 6th - November 7th 2025
For projects taking place January 1 – June 30, 2026
FAQ
Who can apply?
Any current resident of Yellowknife (6 months or more) is eligible to apply for a grant up to $1,000 for a project in Yellowknife.
- We encourage any person 12 years of age and older to apply.
- Projects must be carried out by an individual. The applicant can partner with family members, a neighbour, friend, group, or organization.
- Charities, businesses, and service clubs are not eligible to apply.
How much is the grant?
Individuals can apply for a grant of $250, $500, $750, or $1,000.
In Fall 2025, there is a minimum of $8,000 total available for grants.
What kinds of ideas get funded?
Lots of different ideas are funded, with a focus on those that build connections. Examples include:
- block parties
- emergency preparedness workshops
- art-making projects and art shows
- community garden projects
- book exchange boxes or little community libraries
- music, harvest and lantern festivals
- cultural celebrations
- sports days
- and much more!
What are the other guidelines for projects?
- Applicants must track their expenses and provide receipts to the Yellowknife Community Foundation once their project is completed, along with a final report.
- Projects must be free to attend, accessible, and welcoming to community members.
- Grant recipients may not fundraise for other projects and/or organizations during your event. However, grant recipients are welcome to seek donations or gifts in kind from local businesses to help support the project.
- Projects should have a clear and achievable plan for implementation.
- Projects taking place on streets or public spaces and/or parks must follow municipal by-laws and have proper permits if required.
- Most projects will not require liability insurance, but bigger projects or events may need them. If you do, we may provide a conditional acceptance to you, and you will have to secure the insurance before you receive the grant.
What is the timeline?
- Applications will be open twice annually for approximately 1 month in the Fall and Spring.
- Retroactive funding is not available, so projects can start once the applicants have been notified that their application has been approved.
- After applications close, top applications will be shortlisted by the Yellowknife Community Foundation staff and asked to answer a few more questions. Shortlisted applications will be reviewed and scored by the Grants Committee.
- Applicants can expect to be notified of the grant within a month of the applications closing.
Eligible Costs
- Materials and supplies directly related to the project.
- Venue rental for community events.
- Marketing and promotional costs for the project.
- Equipment rentals needed for the project’s execution.
- Honorarium up to a max. of $500 per project for skills or knowledge contribution, excluding the grant recipient.
- The grant recipient may receive a max. of $200 themselves for skills or knowledge contribution.
What if I need support to do the project?
The Yellowknife Community Foundation will provide support throughout the project if you need it.
- We will provide reporting templates and a project planning template
- We are available through phone and email on demand for support
What happens after your project is completed?
- Share your story with a few photos or video, and a short story on how it went. Your story will inspire other ideas!
- Return the expense form and any unused money.
- Participate in the survey after your project is complete.
- Join the Grants Committee the following year if you are interested.
What if I want to do a summer project?
If you want to do a summer project, apply in March. Our Spring intake covers projects running from July 1 – December 31st annually.
Our Fall intake covers projects running in the first six months of the new year, January 1 – June 30 annually.
What if my project takes longer than expected?
We provide you 6 months to do your project.
If you need an extension, we may provide a 3 month extension on a case by case basis – we just need a reason why and you will need approval from us to move forward with that extension.
Principles
Everyone has gifts: Anyone can offer their ideas, talents, skills, experiences and contacts to build a strong community.
Small is powerful: Small amounts of money have the potential to bring powerful changes in the community through new relationships, increased self-confidence, leadership development, stronger sense of place, and the creation of local traditions.
Local decisions are best: Community members from diverse backgrounds and experiences get an opportunity to make decisions on who should get the grants in their community.
Where we live matters: The grants enable anyone to team up with their neighbour and come up with a project that they can carry out within an area of where they live and based on what they think works best in their community.
We learn together: There is no single right way to build community so anyone involved in the program will have many opportunities to learn, share, reflect, exchange and capture knowledge, skills and information that they can use within and beyond the program.
Everyone is invited: The program is accessible and inclusive to anyone living in Yellowknife area no matter their age, ethnicity, income, cultural background, gender, ability, and sexual orientation.
The Yellowknife Small Grants Program supports projects that make our community stronger, healthier, and more connected. When applying, think about which of the following community needs your project addresses. Projects that meet multiple needs will be prioritized, but all ideas that help residents to connect, support well-being, and improve the community are welcome:
- Building connections – reducing isolation and helping neighbours meet each other.
- Youth engagement – creating safe, positive activities and leadership opportunities for young people.
- Elders and seniors – supporting inclusion, social connection, and knowledge-sharing.
- Health and wellness – encouraging physical activity, healthy food, mental health, and overall wellbeing.
- Arts, culture, and heritage – celebrating creativity, traditions, and local stories.
- Environment and land – caring for the land, nature, and sustainability.
- Inclusive communities – supporting newcomers, marginalized groups, and people facing barriers to participation.
- Neighbourhood improvement – making shared spaces more welcoming, safe, and accessible.
- Cultural exchange – bringing people from different cultures together to learn from one another.
- Food security – improving access to affordable, nutritious food and building community food projects.
- Safety and resilience – projects that help neighbours feel safe, prepared for emergencies, or reduce harm.
- Education and skills sharing – creating opportunities for learning, mentorship, and passing on knowledge.
- Economic participation – supporting local entrepreneurship, trades, and opportunities for people to earn income.
- Reconciliation and Indigenous knowledge – supporting projects that centre Indigenous cultures, traditions, and healing.