Alberta Ethnocultural Grant 2025-2026

Eligibility

The University of Calgary cannot apply as primary applicant unless the application is in partnership with an Indigenous and/or ethnocultural organization(s).

You are strongly encouraged to apply with the Indigenous or ethnocultural partner organization as the primary applicant (i.e., lead organization on the application) rather than the university.

The university is limited to one (1) application as primary applicant per intake cycle (see Submission Process below). An internal selection committee will be formed if multiple projects are put forward.

Higher priority for program funding will be given to:

• Projects submitted by applicants with an annual operating budget of less than $500,000.
• Projects submitted by Indigenous or ethnocultural organizations.
• Projects that are new or an expansion of an existing project.

Summary

Alberta’s Ethnocultural Grant has a focus on multiculturalism activities and initiatives and will support community organizations to implement cross cultural initiatives that build diverse, inclusive, and welcoming multicultural communities and advance intercultural understanding between diverse ethnocultural groups to help ensure that people from diverse ethnocultural backgrounds want to live and work in Alberta. The grant will also support Indigenous communities to celebrate and build on their rich historical heritage. The grant provides funding for projects that encourage people to share, learn, appreciate, and respect cultural diversity. The program funds are not designed to address access to affordable housing, job opportunities or healthcare. Rather, the funds are intended to educate about cultural diversity and inclusion in Alberta. The program will also support smaller grassroots Indigenous and/or ethnocultural groups to deliver programs and services through partnerships with larger organizations

There are two (2) funding streams:

• Stream 1: Intercultural Connections - Create opportunities for intercultural connections with ethnocultural and Indigenous groups; and
• Stream 2: Celebrating Diversity - Create opportunities to celebrate diversity.

See the Ethnocultural Grant program page for eligibility criteria, application guidelines, and templates.

Submission Process

Research Services administers the Alberta.ca Account for Organizations required to apply for this grant. Do not attempt to create a new account or a new organization.

1. No later than November 19, 2025: Notify Research Services of your intent to apply by sending an email to Katie Cupello, Senior Specialist, Strategic Research Grants (katie.cupello@ucalgary.ca). In your email, please specify:
   • your name, faculty, and department;
   • name of the partner organization;
   • project title;
   • chosen stream (Stream 1 or 2)
2. The application must be initiated, completed, and submitted within the central application portal account administered by Research Services. Further instructions will be provided upon receipt of the notification in Step 1 above.
3. No later than December 8, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.: Applications must be submitted to Research Services through the Research Management System (RMS).
   • Complete a Pre-Award/Application record in RMS and “Submit for academic approvals” (Under Save & Progress) in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the deadline.
     • Research Services must receive the completed grant application package by this deadline. A completed grant application includes the final version of the grant application, including all forms, letters of support, CVs, and other materials as required by the funding sponsor (please note that a draft copy is acceptable for co-applicants on externally-led applications).

Overhead

15%

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application