What is the maximum amount of money an applicant can apply for?

Individuals can apply for a maximum of up to $20,000. However, in the 2024-2025 Individual call, the average award amount was $5,200.

Do I need to be a former residential school student (or family member) to be eligible for funding?

Preference is given to former students of residential schools, but all First Nations individuals over the age of 18 before December 31, 2025, with a valid social insurance number are eligible to apply through a competitive application process.

Do you have to be a resident of Canada to access FG Foundation funds?

First Nations individuals residing outside of Canada are eligible to apply for funding through FG Foundation, provided they have a valid Social Insurance Number.

Will I be taxed on the funding I receive?

You may be taxed on the funding you receive.

The information below pertaining to taxation is taken from Canada's Income Tax Regulations which may be subject to change.  This taxation information is not legal advice or taxation advice and is only included here as general information to recipients.  All recipients of a scholarship, training & trade, and cultural learning award or any other financial incentive from the Future Generations Foundation are advised to consult the Income Tax Act and Regulations that may apply to him or her and/or consult with a taxation professional with respect to taxation reporting requirements. 

The Future Generations Foundation shall not be liable for any errors of any kind of a recipient's taxation reporting including but not limited to under-reporting, over-reporting, errors in calculating income tax payments, tax refunds or income tax exemptions.

 Here are the key details:

For Individuals Receiving a Scholarship or Training & Trades Award:

• All successful applicants who receive a scholarship, or training & trades award will receive a T4A slip from the Future Generations Foundation.
• For all provinces and territories except Quebec, scholarship, or training & trades award income is fully exempt from tax when the income is received in connection with a program for which the student will get an education amount tax credit and for which the student is enrolled full-time.  The income is not reported on the tax return. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/p105.html
• For part-time students who can claim the part-time education amount, the amount of the scholarship, or training & trades award that will be exempted will be to cover tuition fees and costs of program-related materials. The Canada Revenue Agency provides a calculator to determine what amount is not exempted and that will need to be reported on line 130 of your personal tax return.
• If you are not eligible to claim the education amount, then only the first $500 of awards is tax free.  Amounts received in excess of $500 are reported on line 130 of your personal tax return.
• For Quebec students, the amount received will need to be included in the income, but a deduction for the full amount is allowed.  The scholarship, or training & trades award amount from box O of the RL-1 slip will be reported on Line 154 of the Quebec personal income tax return. It will also be reported on line 295, which deducts the amount from the taxable income.

 For Individuals Receiving a Cultural Learning Award:

• All successful applicants who receive an award will receive a T4A slip from the Future Generations Foundation. Since these amounts are not dedicated for education, recipients will be required to include this income on line 130 (Other income) on their personal tax return. For Québec recipients the amount will be included on line 154 (Other income) of the Québec personal income tax return.
• The amount will be fully taxable, but no tax will be deducted at source when the award is distributed. The recipients will be required to pay tax when filing their personal income tax return.

How long will funding be available through FG Foundation?

The FG Foundation aims to offer funding to First Nations individuals and organizations through a competitive application process for the next 20 years. Plans are in place to ensure the longevity of the FG Foundation. To view our financial statements, click here.

What won’t or can’t be funded?

The FG Foundation cannot disburse funding for the following purposes:

• Supplementation or compensation of an individual’s Common Experience Payment or Personal Credits amount
• Claims for compensation
• Legal action
• Entrepreneurial activities
• Capital costs
• Activities outside the FG Foundation’s objectives
• Partisan and/or political activities
• Payments for past student loans or debts

Can you apply for two programs, a scholarship and cultural learning award? 

We advise against submitting multiple applications. All applications are considered under one applicant, and if you submit multiple applications, they will be evaluated in competition with each other.

Is there a Section for Federal Indian Day School Survivors?

The funding received by the FG Foundation from the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement specifically pertains to Indian Residential Schools. The Indian Day School Settlement is a separate class action lawsuit. However, all day school survivors who are a recognized member of a First Nations community are eligible to apply to the FG Foundation.

How can I apply?

Applications are accepted only online at https://fgfoundation.smapply.io/

Faxed, email, or posted applications will not be accepted. The application must be completed online.

What are the criteria for applications and what is the screening process?

All applications are assessed based on specific principles and guidelines outlined in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, as well as the FG Foundation’s Terms and Conditions and Administration Plan.

Applications are first screened to ensure they are received by the deadline and include all necessary documentation and eligibility requirements. Only complete applications move forward to the Selection Committee for evaluation and scoring.

The Selection Committee then makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees, who make final decision on funding applications. Applicants will be notified of the decision via email.

What are the application deadlines?

Application deadlines are at 5:00 pm EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) on the date stated on the application form.

Is it possible to see a copy of the application before applying?

No. The FG Foundation application is only available to view once the application opens. The application opens every year in April and closes in June.

View our new How to Apply Toolkit! The toolkit will help you understand the format of the application, provide insightful tips, and give you with a general outline of what to expect when applying to the FG Foundation 2024-2025 Call for Applications.

My project or individual proposal was denied funding by FG Foundation. Is there an appeal process?

Yes, the appeal process document can be found here. Please note that the appeal process does not guarantee funding. Organizations and individuals that were not successful are encouraged to apply again in the next funding round.

What can individual applicants use the money for?

Payments from the FG Foundation for education programs for individuals include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Financial assistance for costs associated with attending post-secondary institutions.
• Financial assistance to individuals to access opportunities in arts, science, or athletics.
• Funding to support job skills training for First Nations individuals.
• Support for research on First Nations culture, history, and language to inform curriculum development and educate the public.
• Support to foster personal development by providing access to programs addressing harms resulting from Indian Residential schools, including access to counseling, family development, mental health, land-based healing and health promotion.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Universities, colleges, CEGEP.
• Trade or training schools.
• Technical training for career advancement.
• Programs promoting the preservation, reclamation, development, or understanding of First Nations history, cultures, or languages.
• Cultural education in tradition, ceremony, or knowledge building.
• Strengthening education and employment training.
• Fostering community and personal development, including access to counseling, mental health, land-based healing and other programs to heal communities from harms caused by the Indian Residential Schools.

Can I use this funding to start my own business?

No. FG Foundation does not offer funding for personal businesses, as this does not align with the mandate outlined in the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement for these funds.

Are there any restrictions to how the funds are used?

Yes. FG Foundation funds cannot be used to reduce, replace, or duplicate existing support from federal, provincial, territorial or local governments. However, they can be used to augment and complement this funding. Additionally, the funds cannot be used to pay off debts, capital expenditures or purchases, including construction or renovation of fixed assets, or acquisition of land, watercraft, or aircraft.

What constitutes an education program for the purposes of the FG Foundation application process?

Education programs supported by the FG Foundation as designed to advance individual education and personal development, encompassing areas such as literacy or trades training. These programs also include initiatives related to preserving, reclaiming, developing, or understanding First Nations history, cultures, or languages.

These programs can be offered by various entities, including education institutions, cultural centers, organizations, communities, and individuals or organizations. They may vary in duration (short or long-term), formality (informal or formal), and certification status (certified or non-certified).

Educational programs eligible for FG Foundation support include, but are not limited to, those that:

• Strengthen education and employment training opportunities;
• Promote First Nations languages and cultures; or,
• Foster community and personal development, including access to counseling and other initiatives aimed at healing communities from harms caused by the Indian Residential Schools.

I did not receive my personal education credit. Can I get it now through the FG Foundation?

No. Personal credit payments and all other formal compensation packages (Common Experience Payment and Independent Assessment Payments) are complete. The FG Foundation funds are a separate opportunity for First Nations individuals and organizations to access funding for education programs aimed at healing, reconciliation, and knowledge building.

Can I apply for funding for an education program that has finished?

No. Only educational activities taking place between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026, will be considered for funding.

How will funds be dispersed to successful applicants?

Funds will be dispersed to successful individual applicants through the following methods:

• Scholarship (Post-Secondary): Money awards for post-secondary education studies (e.g. University and College level studies).
• Training and Trades (Training/Certification): Money awards for certificate programs and training from non-post-secondary institutions (e.g. Nechi Institute, AFOA, or other non-post-secondary certified institution).
• Cultural Learning (Healing, Cultural, Language, Traditional Knowledge Building): Money awards for individuals pursuing healing, cultural, language, or traditional knowledge building that are not offered through formal education institutions. This may include life skills programs, learning a language or skill from an elder or expert, participating in traditional ceremonies, or acquiring land-based skills, among others.

How long will my funding last, and how will it be dispersed and when?

Funding is available for one academic year per application, covering programming from September and August. The FG Foundation aims to notify applicants by the end of September. Successful applicants will receive 90% of their approved amount after the submission and review of acceptable documents. The remaining 10% will be released once final grades or final reports are submitted.

What will the FG Foundation accept in terms of the Confirmation of Enrollment? 

The FG Foundation can accept the following official documents from the institution as Confirmation of Enrollment:

• Letter of acceptance
• Letter of enrollment
• Payment invoices related to program registration
• Official letter regarding enrollment or registration
• Applicants’ transcripts demonstrating active enrollment in their program

If I receive funding this year, can I apply next year as well?

Yes. Your application will be screened along with other applicants in the competitive process.

If I receive funding as part of an organization, can I also apply for individual funding and vice versa?

Yes. The organization and individual applications are separate processes and will be reviewed independently through a competitive process.

Can I apply on behalf of my son, daughter, or dependent?

No, the application must be submitted by the individual seeking funding. However, the FG Foundation is committed to supporting accessibility for all applicants, including those with disabilities. Information sessions and a toolkit are available to help with the application process. If additional accommodations are needed, applicants are encouraged to contact the FG Foundation for support.

I have been approved for funding from FG Foundation. Will this affect my Treaty-based funding?

This question should be directed to your existing funders. FG Foundation funds cannot be used to reduce, replace, or duplicate existing support available through federal, provincial, territorial, or local governments. However, may be used to augment and complement this funding.

How are funding decisions made?

All applications are assessed based on the principles, key criteria, priorities, and guidelines outlined in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the Administration Plan, and the FG Foundation’s policies. The Board of Trustees appoints a Selection Committee to review all complete applications and make funding recommendations. Applications are first screened to ensure they meet the submission deadline and include all required documentation. Only complete applications are forwarded to the Selection Committee for evaluation and consideration.

How long does the review process take?

Due to the large number of applications received by FG Foundation, the screening and selection process typically takes about four months. Individual funding decisions are typically released by the end of September.