Process, Timelines & Budgets

• Approximately $500,000.00 is available for the limited ISI Fund Cycle 4: 2024-2025.
• Implementation of projects will take place over 1 to 2 years for Faculty- and Staff-led Projects and over 12-18 months for Student-led Projects.
• A clearly articulated budget with justification is expected to align specific activities with goals and expected outcomes.
• All Faculty- and Staff-led Project 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).

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.