Funding Science Communication in Western Canada: The Ultimate Guide!

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Have a great idea for a science communication or knowledge mobilization project, but not sure how to fund it? Never fear, the Wapiti Studios guide to grants is here.

Since science communication can take many forms, I’ve assembled a diverse list of grants that can tackle everything from filmmaking to conference travel. Rest assured, there is something here for you!

That being said, I am certain this is an incomplete list. If you are aware of other grants that should be added to the database, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

To make the guide navigable and easy to use, it is organized by applicant eligibility. To start exploring grants that you may be eligible for, please select the description that best matches you/your organization below OR browse the entire database as an interactive spreadsheet to filter by your own criteria.

Note: your organization may fit multiple categories (e.g., Indigenous-led non-profits qualify for both non-profit grants and Indigenous-specific grants), so be sure to explore thoroughly!

I am a(n)…

Researcher, research administrator or graduate student employed at a post-secondary institution

Non-profit organization or registered charity

Independent artist, arts organization, freelance consultant or business owner

Indigenous individual or Indigenous-led organization

Primary/secondary school, student, or schoolteacher‍ ‍

Private industry member interested in partnering with a researcher

Municipality or local government

Or…

Just show me all the grants! (interactive spreadsheet, filterable by your own criteria)

Acronyms:

  • NSERC: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

  • ECCC: Environment and Climate Change Canada

  • CIHR: Canadian Institutes for Health Research

  • SSHRC: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

I am a researcher, research administrator or graduate student employed at a post-secondary institution.

International

Wenner-Gren / Engaged Research Grant: Up to $25,000 for PhDs in anthropology pursuing community-based research

Canada

Natural Sciences, Climate and Environment

Social Sciences and Humanities – note: to apply for any SSHRC grants, the primary applicant must be affiliated with an institution that holds institutional eligibility with SSHRC‍ ‍

  • SSHRC / Connection Grants: Up to $50,000 for outreach and knowledge mobilization activities and events

  • SSHRC / Partnership Grants: Up to $2.5 million over 4-7 years to support inter-institutional partnerships in the social sciences and humanities; application process occurs in two stages, with stage 2 being by invite only

  • SSHRC / Partnership Engage Grants: Up to $50,000 for short-term, timely support to partnered research activities that will inform decision-making in the public, private or non-profit sector

  • SSHRC / Knowledge Synthesis Grants: Up to $30,000 to produce a knowledge synthesis report and brief plus participate in a knowledge mobilization forum

Health Sciences

Interdisciplinary/Any

Northern/Territories

Alberta

British Columbia

Saskatchewan

Manitoba‍ ‍

  • Research Manitoba / Solutions Grant: Up to $100,00 per year for 2 years to support interdisciplinary, co-developed research with knowledge users (e.g., industry, non-profits, community-based organizations)

  • Research Manitoba / Strategic Partnership Program

    • Innovative Strategic Partnerships Stream: Supports collaborative research initiatives that bring together diverse partners from industry, non-profit institutions and government (unspecified amount)

    • Matching Funds Stream: Supports partnered research initiatives (minimum of one partner organization) that require provincial support (unspecified amount)

    • External Competition Awards: Helps foster collaborations with external organizations that host competitive research awards (unspecified amount)

  • Research Manitoba / Research Connections Grant: Up to $10,000 to support events that create skill development opportunities relevant to the research community, connect researchers across disciplines, promote research findings to the public, or connect researchers with potential industry partners

  • University of Winnipeg / Graduate Student Knowledge Mobilization Grants: Up to $750.00 to support conference travel or publication in open access venues

I am a non-profit organization or registered charity.

Canada

Natural Sciences, Climate and Environment

Social Sciences and Humanities – note: to apply for any SSHRC grants, the primary applicant must be affiliated with an institution that holds institutional eligibility with SSHRC‍ ‍

  • SSHRC / Connection Grants: Up to $50,000 for outreach and knowledge mobilization activities and events

  • SSHRC / Partnership Grants: Up to $2.5 million over 4-7 years to support inter-institutional partnerships in the social sciences and humanities; application process occurs in two stages, with stage 2 being by invite only

Health Sciences

Interdisciplinary/Any

Northern/Territories

Alberta

British Columbia

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Note: There are over 50 community foundations in Manitoba listed by Endow Manitoba here. Each foundation serves a relatively small geographic area, usually limited to one main municipality, making it impractical to include all of them in this guide. I encourage you to explore their listing to find a foundation in your area!

I am an independent artist, arts organization, freelance consultant or business owner.

International

Canada

Arts and Entrepreneurship

Natural Sciences, Climate and Environment

Interdisciplinary/Any

Northern/Territories

Alberta

British Columbia

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

I am an Indigenous individual or Indigenous-led organization.

Note: In this category I have only included any grants that specifically indicate First Nations, Metis, Inuit, band councils, tribal councils, Indigenous communities, Indigenous individuals, or Indigenous organizations in their eligibility criteria.‍ ‍

Canada‍ ‍

Arts and Entrepreneurship

Natural Sciences, Climate and Environment

Social Sciences and Humanities – note: to apply for any SSHRC grants, the primary applicant must be affiliated with an institution that holds institutional eligibility with SSHRC‍ ‍

Health Sciences

Interdisciplinary/Any

Northern/Territories

Alberta

British Columbia

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

I am a primary/secondary school, student, or schoolteacher.

Canada‍ ‍

Natural Sciences, Climate and Environment

Interdisciplinary/Any

Northern/Territories

Alberta

British Columbia

Saskatchewan‍ ‍

I am a private industry member interested in partnering with a researcher.

Canada

Natural Sciences, Climate and Environment

  • NSERC / Mobilize Grants: Supports colleges to develop applied research programs and develop/strengthen partnerships with universities, businesses, and non-profit organizations (unspecified amount)

  • NSERC / Alliance Advantage Grants: Up to $1 million over 1-5 years for research projects with knowledge mobilization components; applicant must have a partner in the private, public or non-profit sector willing to share costs

Social Sciences and Humanities – note: to apply for any SSHRC grants, the primary applicant must be affiliated with an institution that holds institutional eligibility with SSHRC‍ ‍

  • SSHRC / Partnership Grants: Up to $2.5 million over 4-7 years to support inter-institutional partnerships in the social sciences and humanities; application process occurs in two stages, with stage 2 being by invite only

  • SSHRC / Partnership Engage Grants: Up to $50,000 for short-term, timely support to partnered research activities that will inform decision-making in the public, private or non-profit sector

Interdisciplinary/Any

  • Mitacs / Accelerate: Up to $10,000 to support a 4-6 month research internship for a graduate student co-supervised by an academic and non-academic supervisor

Alberta

British Columbia

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

  • Research Manitoba / Solutions Grant: Up to $100,000 per year for 2 years to support interdisciplinary, co-developed research with knowledge users (e.g., industry, non-profits, community-based organizations)

  • Research Manitoba / Strategic Partnership Program

    • Innovative Strategic Partnerships Stream: Supports collaborative research initiatives that bring together diverse partners from industry, non-profit institutions and government (unspecified amount)

    • Matching Funds Stream: Supports partnered research initiatives (minimum of one partner organization) that require provincial support (unspecified amount)

  • Research Manitoba / Research Connections Grant: Up to $10,000 to support events that create skill development opportunities relevant to the research community, connect researchers across disciplines, promote research findings to the public, or connect researchers with potential industry partners

I am a municipality or local government.

Canada

Natural Sciences, Climate and Environment

Health Sciences

Interdisciplinary/Any

Northern/Territories

Alberta

  • ECCC / Indigenous fund for community-based environmental monitoring: Up to $150,000 per year over up to 3 years for Indigenous communities located in the Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring Program boundaries to carry out environmental outreach, awareness, community engagement and knowledge exchange activities

  • Government of Alberta / Small Community Opportunity Program: Up to $100,000 to support agriculture, tourism and small business

  • Alberta EcoTrust / Environmental Impact Grant: Up to $50,000 for environmental projects, including education and awareness efforts; projects must align with Alberta EcoTrust focus areas: Nature-based Solutions & Conservation, Climate Resilience and Emission Reductions, Circular Economy

  • Alberta EcoTrust / Springboard Grant: Up to $10,000 to build capacity in your organization (e.g., develop new strategies, competencies, skills, systems, or processes); projects must align with Alberta EcoTrust focus areas: Nature-based Solutions & Conservation, Climate Resilience and Emission Reductions, Circular Economy

  • Northwestern Alberta Foundation / Community Grants: Supports community-based projects in northwestern Alberta; primarily supports charitable work, but non-qualified donees (i.e., organizations not registered as qualified donees under the CRA’s Income Tax Act) may be eligible subject to additional review and compliance requirements (unspecified amount)

British Columbia

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Note: There are over 50 community foundations in Manitoba listed by Endow Manitoba here. Each foundation serves a relatively small geographic area, usually limited to one main municipality, making it impractical to include all of them in this guide. I encourage you to explore their listing to find a foundation in your area!‍ ‍

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