Canada: Multicultural Initiatives Fund – Project Funding

Deadline: 31-Mar-22

SaskCulture is offering grants “Multicultural Initiatives Fund (MIF) – Project Funding” to community-based organizations to support:

ethno-cultural, multicultural, First Nations and Métis initiatives, projects and activities, with priority to projects reaching Indigenous people, youth, northern and/or rural communities, and newcomers.

MIF aims to advance cross-cultural understanding and support work that aligns with the principles of Truth and Reconciliation in Saskatchewan by supporting projects encouraging people to share, learn, appreciate and respect cultural diversity.

Types of Projects

The MIF-Project grant program prioritizes the following types of projects:
- Anti-Racism work that looks at issues of power and privilege and how they impact individual and systemic discrimination; it usually includes active dialogue to build equity and justice in organizations and communities.
- Intercultural Connections, Truth and Reconciliation entails different cultural and indigenous groups coming together over time to build bridges through activities like exchanges, cooperative work, creating safe spaces, community dialogues, creative projects, etc. This includes projects that have a focus on implementing or working towards implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action or reconciliation efforts.
- Integration supports welcoming and inclusive communities that create a sense of home and belonging. They recognize the creativity and innovation that arise from bringing different cultural perspectives together and cultivating the unique contributions of all.
The MIF-Project grant program also supports the following types of projects, but with lower priority for funding:
- Celebration of Diversity includes education and festivals that showcase differences and similarities, most often through performance, cuisine and other arts. It includes an awareness that groups that include many perspectives, especially from different cultural world views, lead to greater creativity and innovation.
- Cultural Retention supports organizations passing on cultural practices and traditions within a particular cultural community.

Funding Information

The maximum request amount per grant is $10,000. Matching funds for grants between $5,000 and $10,000 are no longer required. However, applications with requests of $5,000 and over should show greater evidence of community support and will benefit from showing other self-generated income.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants are:

Registered Non-Profit organizations in Saskatchewan. These organizations must:
- have a primarily cultural mandate in Arts, Heritage, Multiculturalism or Cultural Industries as defined by SaskCulture’s Cultural Policy, or otherwise demonstrate significant engagement in cultural activity; and
- have been in existence as a registered non-profit for at least one full fiscal year prior to the deadline date; and
- be in good standing with Information Services Corporation (ISC); and:
  - provide a copy of their most recent signed audited Financial Statement submitted to ISC; and
- have no outstanding grant follow-ups due to SaskCulture.
First Nation or Municipality. The applicant must:
- be in good standing with the Sask Lotteries Community Grant Program; and
- have no outstanding grant follow-ups due to SaskCulture.