The Fund for the Support for First Nations climate leadership aims to support projects led by First Nations* that seek to implement concrete climate change initiatives.
This initiative is funded by the Government of Quebec as part of the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy.
*With the exception of the Cree and Naskapi, who are engaged in a separate funding process with the provincial government.
What are the objectives of the Fund?
The main objective of the Fund is to support First Nations projects to strengthen their leadership in the climate transition.
More specifically, it aims to :
- Strengthen First Nations’ leadership in the climate transition by supporting projects that address their needs and priorities
- Accelerate the climate transition of First Nations by increasing their resilience to the impacts of climate change and supporting their community-based projects focused on climate change adaptation or mitigation
- Promote capacity building and training on climate change within the framework of the funded project
- Promote the development of expertise and know-how in the field of climate change
Selected projects will be eligible to receive funding up to $500,000 over three years. Projects must be completed within three years of the agreement’s signing, but no later than March 31, 2031.
Who is eligible?
This funding opportunity is open to First Nations organizations.
To be eligible, an organization must:
- Be an eligible First Nations organization
- Have been in operation for at least one year at the time of submitting its project proposal
For more details on eligibility, see the applicant’s guide available further down this page.
What projects are eligible?
To be eligible, projects must :
- Have a direct connection to First Nations’ climate transition and address one or more of the following aspects:
- climate change adaptation
- climate change mitigation
- engagement, knowledge transfer, and/or outreach on climate change
- Address a need identified as a priority by First Nations
- Build on the involvement of organizations and community members and focus on strengthening local capacity
Projects may include:
- Knowledge acquisition
- Capacity building
- Project planning
- Project development and implementation
For more details on eligible projects and selection criteria, please refer to the applicant’s guide available further down this page.
Need some inspiration? Check out the descriptions of the projects selected during the Fund’s first call for proposals.
Interested in this funding opportunity?
For full details on the First Nations Climate Leadership Support Fund, please refer to the applicant’s guide.
To submit a project, download the project submission template and the budget template, and send your application to funding@iddpnql.ca, mentioning the Fund for Support for First Nations Climate Leadership in the subject line of the email. The deadline for submitting a project is November 12, 2026.
Please note that your project proposal may be considered under another of our current or upcoming funding programs. If this is the case, our team will contact you to let you know.
Need some support?
Our climate change team is here for you! Whether you have questions, want to explore a project idea, or need more in-depth support, we’re available at every stage:
- Preparing your project proposal
- Planning the implementation of your activities
- supporting the realization of your project
Feel free to contact us, no matter where you are in the process, either by mail or by phone at 418 843-9999 (ask for Laura Normandin-Bellefeuille or Thomas Goudreault).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the FNQLSDI in this Fund?
As the manager of the Fund “Support for First Nations Climate Leadership”, we mobilize and support First Nations in the submission of their climate change projects. We are also responsible for administering the amounts allocated, supporting First Nations in the various stages of their projects (including monitoring and reporting) and coordinating the activities of the committees related to the decisions made for the Fund’s management parameters.
What is the project selection process?
A steering committee composed of members from the FNQLSDI and the MELCCFP will verify project eligibility. Project review and selection will be conducted by an independent committee composed of members representing all eligible Nations. Proposals will be evaluated using an evaluation grid that incorporates the selection criteria. If two proposals receive the same score, prioritization criteria, previously determined by the selection committee, will be used. Otherwise, these prioritization criteria will not be considered as part of the evaluation grid
Each organization that has submitted a project proposal will be contacted.
I have previously received funding from the “Support for First Nations Climate Leadership” initiative. Am I eligible to apply for this call for proposals again?
Yes, even if you have previously received funding through the “Support for First Nations Climate Leadership” initiative, you are eligible for this call for proposals.
You may also submit more than one project under this initiative.
Please feel free to contact us before submitting your proposal. We can help you determine the best strategy for your project.
Do I need a letter of support to submit a project proposal?
Any organization other than a community’s band council will need a letter of support from the communities with which it plans to collaborate on the project.
Are document templates required?
We provide a project proposal template and a preliminary budget for you to complete in order to meet the eligibility criteria. However, you may use whichever format works best for you. Regardless of the format you choose, be sure to address the topics covered by the questions in the template. The table in the schedule of the applicant’s guide lists the selection criteria for your project.
What is the deadline for submitting a project?
The deadline for submitting projects for the first round of review is November 12, 2026. If the entire budget has not been allocated, a subsequent round of review will be announced in the coming months.
What is the budget available per project?
The budget available per project ranges from $50,000 to $500,000 over a 3-year period.
Puis-je soumettre un projet en français ?
Oui. Vous trouverez toutes les informations nécessaires pour soumettre un projet en français en cliquant sur le lien ci-dessous.
Need more information?
Don’t miss our informational webinar on September 17 at 1:30 p.m. Contact us to get the link to join.
