Cycle 5 – Call for Applications

The ISI Fund is pleased to officially launch its fifth cycle of funding.

Applications will be accepted between October 13, 2026 – January 14, 2027. UBC students, staff and faculty members from any campus, unit, or level, are welcome to apply.

Please review information below for additional details regarding Cycle 5 of the ISI Fund.

Application and Adjudication Timeline

The Cycle 5 application process will occur over the 2026-2027 academic term with adjudication completing in Spring 2027.

Funding Streams

Cycle 5 applications may be submitted under one of the three funding streams. The table below provides a breakdown of each stream:

Stream 1: Innovative Stream 2: TransformativeStream 3: Student-led
Stream 1 provides funding for new projects or to build upon existing initiatives, that specifically contribute to the achievement of a faculty, unit, or team’s Indigenous-centred strategy or goals. Projects must also align with, and support the advancement of UBC’s ISP and/or UBCO’s Declaration of Truth and Reconciliation Commitments.Stream 2 provides funding for initiatives that aim to change policies, structures or systems at UBC and advance UBC’s ISP and/or UBCO’s Declaration of Truth and Reconciliation Commitments.Stream 3 provides funding for student-led initiatives that contribute to the advancement of UBC’s ISP and/or UBCO’s Declaration of Truth and Reconciliation Commitments at any level, including unit, faculty, department, institution or other.
Funding: $8,000 – $80,000Funding: $10,000 – $100,000Funding: Up to $25,000
Timeline:  One to two years.Timeline: Up to two and a half years.Timeline: 12 to 18 months.
Impact Level: Innovative projects will have an impact at the department, unit or faculty level and the potential to scale beyond the unit in the future.Impact Level: Transformative projects have the potential for wide-scale impact at the faculty, portfolio or institutional level, and can be sustained by the requesting unit after the funding period.Impact Level: Any level.
Application Requirements:
The Principal Applicant must be a UBCV/O faculty, staff or post-doc.
The project must be approved / signed-off by the Unit Head or Dean.
Completion of the ISP Self-Assessment is a pre-requisite for all applicants.
If the project intends to partner with an Indigenous community, group, or organization, applicants must demonstrate that there is, at minimum, reciprocal interest by the identified partner(s).
The application must demonstrate a plan for sustainability, including a commitment by the department, unit or faculty to review the merits of funding sustainment post-ISI Funding.		Application Requirements:
The Principal Applicant must be a UBCV/O faculty, staff or post-doc.
The project must be approved / signed-off by the Unit Head or Dean.
Completion of the ISP Self-Assessment is a pre-requisite for all applicants.
If the project intends to partner with an Indigenous community, group, or organization, applicants must demonstrate that there is, at minimum, reciprocal interest by the identified partner(s).
The application must demonstrate a plan for sustainability, including a commitment by the department, unit or faculty to provide in-kind support and to review the merits of funding sustainment post-ISI Funding.		Application Requirements:
The Principal Applicant must be a UBCV/O student.
The Principal Applicant must be supported by a Staff or Faculty Co-Applicant.
If the project intends to partner with an Indigenous community, group, or organization, applicants must demonstrate that there is, at minimum, reciprocal interest by the identified partner(s).

Application Process

The application process for Innovative (Stream 1) and Transformative projects (Stream 2) will occur over two parts:

  1. Stream 1 and 2 applicants will first submit a Letter of Interest (“LOI”).
  2. Successful LOI’s will then be invited to submit a full project application.

Conversely, the application process for Student-led (Stream 3) projects is a one-part process. Applicants are only required to submit a full project application to be reviewed by the Adjudication Committee.

Adjudication

Submitted LOIs (Streams 1 and 2 only) and applications (all streams) are reviewed by Indigenous-led adjudication committees comprised of student, staff, and faculty representatives from both campuses.

The input provided by adjudicators in this process is critical in ensuring the ISI Fund continues to operate in alignment with its governing principles.

The adjudicators’ review received LOIs and applications based on the following criteria:

Stream 1 Adjudication Criteria:Stream 2 Adjudication Criteria:Stream 3 Adjudication Criteria:
– Strategic alignment
– Relationality and collaboration
– Project impact
– Transformative potential
– Feasibility and clarity
– Measurement of outcomes
– Cost effectiveness
– Sustainability		– Strategic alignment
– Relationality and collaboration
– Transformative project impact
– Feasibility and clarity
– Measurement of outcomes
– Cost effectiveness
– Sustainability		– Strategic alignment
– Relationality and collaboration
– Project impact
– Feasibility and clarity
– Measurement of outcomes
– Cost effectiveness

Following adjudication of the full applications for each funding stream, the adjudicators will identify projects they recommend for approval and funding distributions. These recommended project applications are brought forward to the Indigenous Strategic Plan Executive Advisory Committee (“ISPEAC”) for first approval before final sign-off by the Indigenous Strategic Plan Coordinating Committee (“ISPCC”). Successful and Unsuccessful applicants will be subsequently notified.

Supports and Resources

Applicant Supports:

Additional Questions? Please check out our FAQ page or contact us at: isp.funding@ubc.ca