1. Research & Sector-Building Grants (up to $50,000)

Research Grants provide support for research that bridges knowledge gaps and builds capacity to advance narrative power. Projects should identify policy and practice solutions to equity barriers, as well as opportunities for knowledge mobilization and advocacy that promote systemic change. 

Examples of eligible research:  

• A study on racial identity data collection practices in the media sector in which the research is led by racialized communities  
• An evidence-informed analysis of disproportionate funding for Muslim arts and/or media organizations 

Sector-building Grants provide support for events that bring arts and media practitioners together to develop networks, capacity, and strategies to strengthen advocacy efforts that help redistribute access and power. We prioritize newer projects that fill gaps in the current landscape. 

Examples of sector-building projects: 

• A conference focused on engaging and connecting Muslim creatives across sectors
• A short series of virtual gatherings focused on sharing knowledge or developing advocacy strategies

2. Project Grants ($10,000–$100,000; multi-year funding available)

Project Grants support emerging and innovative initiatives or programs that help communities build narrative power. Grants include Seed Grants and Major Project Grants.

Seed Grants are flexible, smaller grants (maximum $50,000), that support fledgling initiatives or early-stage organizations that are developing new models for industry interventions. We generally fund in the following areas: screen-based industries, such as film and television; digital, community-led and public-interest journalism, and audio storytelling. We emphasize initiatives that have the potential to scale, engage, and influence industry decision-makers, and attract additional partners.  

Examples of Seed Grant projects: 

• A development grant for an emerging media or arts advocacy organization to develop governance models, strategic direction, and revenue streams 
• A collaborative journalism project that focuses on identifying solutions to increase access to justice 

Major Project Grants are larger grants ($50,000-100,000 per year) that support more extensive, collaborative projects that build infrastructure, skills, capacity, and resources for communities to increase long-term leadership development or challenge systemic barriers within narrative ecosystems.  

Major Projects include initiatives that create robust career pathways for racialized communities in the arts and media, as well as media-based projects that address issues of systemic discrimination and are grounded in the perspectives and editorial framing of racialized communities. 

Although Inspirit may be the initial funder for a Major Project, the latter often involves additional funders. We work with grantees to maximize funding and partnership opportunities. 

Examples of eligible Major Projects: 

• An Indigenous language media program that supports Indigenous broadcasters in creating and distributing programming that address broader community needs, cultural expression, and sector development  
• Training course focused on building advocacy and policy skills for senior leaders in arts and media industries

Grants over $50,000 require approval by Inspirit’s Board-level Programming Committee. Grants totaling over $100,000 require approval from Inspirit’s full Board of Directors.   

3. Organizational Grants (multi-year grants starting at $50,000 per year) 

Organizational Grants are unrestricted, general operating grants that support the development of organizations that advance narrative power within communities and provide solutions to address systemic barriers. 

For Organizational Grants, we generally partner with organizations that have an annual budget between $250,000 –- $1 million and are: 

• Attractors and drivers whose work has influence within and beyond their geographic community 
• Focused on building infrastructure and platforms to support communities to build collective narrative power and shift resources 
• Grounded in their communities and work with an array of partners and audiences to influence new cultural norms, behaviours, or policies in their field 
• Clear about their strategic opportunities to advance narrative and/or systemic change 
• Able to identify how Inspirit funding will be used to support their work; (although funding is unrestricted, we do want to understand an organization’s priorities and approach)  

Impact Investing Grants 

Grants related to impact investing are by invitation-only. For more information, please contact us directly.

Building Equitable Narrative Ecosystems 

We partner with organizations and initiatives that work to redistribute access and power within the arts and media sectors. These organizations build industry-specific infrastructure to support narratives led by underrepresented communities. This infrastructure supports ecosystems that increase access, opportunities, and power for a broad range of communities. We prioritize working with organizations led or deeply shaped by Indigenous, Muslim, Black, and racialized voices. 

While racial, ethnic, and religious diversity and representation are slowly increasing in the arts and media sectors, there are still funding disparities, gaps at the leadership level, and discriminatory practices and policies that perpetuate inequity.  

We currently focus on the following: 

• Screen-based industries, such as film and television   
• Digital, community-led and public-interest journalism 

Indigenous Narrative Sovereignty & Advancing Reconciliation 

Inspirit is committed to building relationships and trust with Indigenous communities to support Indigenous voices, leadership, and right to self-determination.   

We understand reconciliation to be an ongoing process grounded in principles of reciprocity and equity. We also recognize that reconciliation is a contested term that requires listening, learning, and adapting our practices to address ongoing legacies of colonization that adversely impact Indigenous communities.   

We prioritize funding to Indigenous-led organizations and initiatives that advance control over intellectual and cultural property and heritage and shift narrative power. 

We partner with Indigenous organizations across several industries, including:  

• Screen-based industries, such as film and television  
• Digital, community-led and public-interest journalism   
• Fashion and cultural industries  
• Visual arts   

In 2024, Inspirit is re-imagining granting to Indigenous-focused arts and media sectors, with the aim of moving more decision-making to Indigenous organizations. Our ongoing relationship with the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund, which included a capital transfer of Inspirit’s financial assets in 2021, has inspired us to address the continued lack of Indigenous-led arts and media funding in Canada.

Challenging Islamophobia

Ending Islamophobia requires a variety of approaches and tactics. We focus on the narratives, ideas, and cultural norms that shape worldviews and behaviors, especially in pop culture. 

The majority of Inspirit’s grants in this area fall under our Narrative Change Lab. We work with Muslim-led arts and media organizations and research partners who address missing narratives and help develop industry infrastructure for Muslims to connect and tell their stories on their own terms.  

We focus on:  

• Screen-based industries, such as film and television  
• Material culture and related arts fields