Process, Timelines & Budgets

• A total of up to $2 million is available for Cycle 3: 2023-2024.
• Implementation of projects will take place over 1 to 3 years for Streams 1 and 2 and over 12-18 months for Stream 3.
• A clearly articulated budget with justification is expected to align specific activities with goals and expected outcomes.
• All Stream 1 and 2 proposals (if they reach the second stage) will need to be accompanied by a statement of support from their department, unit or Faculty head, including a statement committing to the sustainability of the project/initiative based on merit review.
• Applications will be reviewed by the adjudication committee who will make funding recommendations to the Indigenous Strategic Plan Executive Advisory Committee (ISPEAC) and the Indigenous Strategic Plan Coordinating Committee (ISPCC).

• Application launch: October 1, 2023
• Information session #1: October 10, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – noon
• Information session #2: November 8, 2023, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Information session #3: November 28, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Information session #4: December 6, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• Information session #5: December 12, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline for Streams 1 and 2: January 12, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
• Application deadline for Stream 3: January 12, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
• Notification of results for the LOI adjudication process: Late-February, 2024
• Notification of results for the Stream 3 adjudication process: April 2024
• Proposal deadline for Streams 1 and 2: May 1, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
• Notification of results for Streams 1 and 2: Late-June, 2024

The Indigenous Finance Guidelines have been created to address a long unresolved issue at UBC – how to better support gift giving and compensation in reciprocal, respectful, relationship-based collaborations between Indigenous partners and UBC. View the Indigenous Finance Guidelines.

Eligible Expenses

Funding can be used to cover costs associated with: 

• Project or contract positions to explore the development of projects, programs and curriculum enhancements and to integrate Indigenous perspectives and knowledges;
• Improving access, transition and retention programs to better serve the needs of Indigenous students;
• Development of education workshops and conferences;
• Enrichment and outreach initiatives for K-12 youth to develop a connection to university experiences;
• Expenses relating to the promotion and development of partnership strategies, including necessary travel expenses;
• Research opportunities for students (expenses related to the participation of students in field research e.g. transportation costs, stipends, meals, etc.) that are not part of the project team;
• Modest equipment expenditures given that rationale is provided that indicates: a) the expenditure is required for the success of the program and b) the project has significant in-kind funding from the associated unit/Faculty. The ISI Fund is not an equipment fund;
• Honoraria for community members, elders, leaders and knowledge keepers or brokers;
• Proportionate and reasonable catering costs;
• Salary, stipends or wages for student/community project team members who are not listed as a Principal Applicant or Co-Applicant;
• Partial costs of teaching releases. The ISI Fund funds up to 50% of teaching releases provided that at least 50% of funding is provided by the Faculty or unit.

Ineligible Expenses

• Major capital expenditures related to renovations or additions to the physical infrastructure, as the ISI Fund is not an equipment fund;
• Salary, stipends or wages for Principal Applicant or Co-Applicants;
• Living expenses;
• Insurance cost of equipment;
• Costs related to faculty and staff awards/recognition;
• Teaching Assistant costs;
• Tuition or fees for students;
• Monthly parking fees for vehicles (unless for fieldwork);
• Severance pay;
• Operational costs of the delivery of programs. The ISI Fund focuses on the development and start-up of projects, not their long-term sustainment;
• Staff or faculty salaries (that are not project or contract positions specific to the ISI proposal);
• Any administrative or core costs/expenses for community organizations, e.g., salaries associated with an organization’s daily operations or programming or office equipment;
• Academic research expenses that would be carried out in the normal course of work or study; i.e. any expenses that would normally be covered by Tri-Council or similar grants;
• Direct costs of research;
• Full costs of teaching releases. The ISI Fund funds up to 50% of teaching releases provided that at least 50% of funding is provided by the Faculty or unit.