Youth Contributions Program
The Youth Contribution Program provides funding to community governments or registered non-profit territorial, regional and community-based organizations that are providing specific programs or services to youth.
As of April 1, 2025, a portion of the Youth Contributions Program has transferred from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE).
As a result of this transfer, funding for NWT Schools, District Education Authorities (DEA) and Divisional Education Councils (DEC) will be provided through ECE, not MACA. This change supports the GNWT’s efforts to streamline services and better align school-based programming under ECE. Information will be provided to NWT schools, DEAs and DECs directly from ECE in the coming weeks.
For questions or further information, please contact Judy Whitford at ECE: Judy_Whitford@gov.nt.ca.
Overview
The Youth Contribution Program provides funding to community governments or registered non-profit territorial, regional and community-based organizations that are providing specific programs or services to youth.
The purpose is to support initiatives that promote positive lifestyles to improve the quality of life and well-being of youth in their communities.
Available Funding
- Approved projects held within the Northwest Territories may receive up to 75 percent of eligible expenses, to a maximum of $5,000.
- Approved projects held outside the Northwest Territories may receive up to 50 percent of eligible expenses, to a maximum of $4,000.
Deadline
Applications must be submitted 6 weeks in advance of the project start date.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this funding, the following criteria must be met:
- Focus on activities and initiatives that create a long-term commitment to positive lifestyle choices for youth; and
- Provide positive benefits to five (5) or more youth.
Examples of projects that would meet the above criteria include:
- Developmental activities of youth-serving organizations, including annual general meetings and conferences, and the development of plans for those organizations
- Traditional Indigenous cultural events
- Non-sporting extra-curricular activities and trips or youth trips sponsored by other organizations, and
- New and innovative projects to improve lifestyle choices for youth.
Projects submitted by NWT Schools, District Education Authorities or Divisional Education Councils are ineligible for this funding.
How to apply
Review the Youth Contributions Program funding guidelines
Email the completed application form to youth_and_volunteer@gov.nt.ca six weeks before the project start date.
Contact us by email if you have questions or need additional information.