NYA Micro Grants

Northern Youth Abroad (NYA) is offering a number of small funding grants available to support northern-based activities, projects, and ideas that are youth led, or youth serving.

Applications now closed.

Who is eligible? What projects are eligible?

  • Anyone from Nunavut, the NWT, or Yukon can apply.
  • A “project” can be any idea, program, activity, or event that benefits the community.
  • Projects must be youth-led, or youth-serving (youth are aged 15-30 for this funding opportunity).
  • Projects that benefit the community as a whole will be prioritized.
  • Projects can be short term or ongoing, but must benefit your local community.
  • A project may get more than one grant, if it is led by more than one youth. For example, if two youth are working together, they can each apply for a grant.

Participants receive:

  • Up to $500 for their project expenses.

If I get the grant, what do I have to do?

If you are awarded a grant you will have 90 days to complete your project, and fill out a short online form letting us know how it went. We will also ask you to submit photos.

What kinds of activities are covered?

  • Activities, projects, or events that engage northern youth.
  • Examples of what you could use these grants for:
    • Materials for a sewing or art project,
    • Supplies to bring a youth group on the land,
    • Bring tea and fruit to elders,
    • food or drinks for an event.

What kinds of activities are NOT covered?

  • Cash prizes and gift cards are not covered. If you want to increase participation in an event, try offering food and drinks to participants!
  • Personal expenses and equipment– grants are meant to engage communities.
    • For example, a grant for one pair of skis may not be approved, but funds to start a ski program at your school may be approved.

NYA Spotlight program

  • In October, NYA with support from Apathy is Boring opened a number of spots in our Spotlight program. 16 youth were given the opportunity to access increased funds for their MicroGrant, and attend a training week in Ottawa. Applications for this program are now closed, but follow NYA on social media for further project-based leadership training opportunities.

Previously Awarded MicroGrants

Here are some of the projects that were funded through NYA Micro-Grants in 2021 and 2022.

Ice Fishing, Yellowknife, NT

Chantelle was able to use her #NYAMicroGrant to take a group of youth ice fishing. They spent an entire day on Walsh Lake, where the youth were able to learn more about how to ice fish.

“Any activity that brings youth outside of their routine day to day life and in nature is so beneficial. Learning new skills and being able to tell their family, friends, and other peers about it builds their confidence and helps place them in leadership positions.”

Canoeing, Fort McPherson NT


A group of students in Fort McPherson used an NYA Micro-Grant to support a canoe trip. The sessions focus on team building, water safety, paddle strokes, and communication.

“Each person learns something new when they go on the land. That is the beauty of the land, it always has something new to show us. When we go canoeing it involves skill-building, leadership, confidence, helps improve mental health, brings connection to culture and connects the students to one another which is community.”

Caribou Tufting, Rankin Inlet, NU

Haley White from Rankin Inlet used her Micro-Grant to teach caribou tufting and beading to others in her community. Haley is an NYA Alumna who completed the Canadian Phase in 2010. 

Inuvialuktun cards and stickers, Inuvik, NT

Artist Natkusiak (Kyle) Aleekuk and Jason Lau with Tusaayaksat Magazine were able to use the Micro Grants to help fund Piannat Inuvialuktun – playing cards and language stickers that were available to Inuvialuit Settlement Region members. Inuvialuit artists collaborated on the artwork, and the project organizers hope that these cards and stickers will be a fun way to promote the language.

Baking Bonanza, Iqaluit NU

Béatrice Allerton delivered more than 60 gift bags to Iqaluit elders for a community service project that’s part of the Iqaluit Skating Club’s off-ice training. Twelve skaters and some of the club’s board members prepared the gift bags with the help of baker Craig Borden.