Eligible Recipients: Organizations
Area: Yellowknife, Dettah, and N’Dilo areas
Activities: Pursuing community development and collective action activities
Amount Available: $12,000 (Please note that amounts may vary year by year.)
Area: Yellowknife, Dettah, and N’Dilo areas
Activities: Pursuing community development and collective action activities
Amount Available: $12,000 (Please note that amounts may vary year by year.)
Application Process
To apply, you must create a profile on our grant application portal. If your organization already exists in our portal, but you do not have a user account, contact grants@ykcf.ca. We will create an account for you and link it to your organization. Once you are logged in, click Apply in the navigation bar to access each grant application.
2025 key dates
31 May, 12.01am
Applications open.
31 July, 11.59pm
Applications close.
September
Funding distributed.
Please note that key dates vary year by year.
The Mary Beth Miller Memorial Fund and Chris Argue Memorial Fund have different key dates.
The Resilient Communities Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis as funds are available.
Check out their pages to learn more!
John H. Parker O.C., P.Eng, was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from 1979 to 1989. He also served as Mayor of Yellowknife from 1963 to 1967, and NWT Deputy Commissioner from 1968 to 1979. Mr. Parker was instrumental in the establishment of responsible government in the NWT. During their time in the north, Helen and John Parker were well known for their community work and for the development projects they undertook to help the Territory grow and prosper.
John, a geological engineer, arrived in Yellowknife in 1954 to work for N. W. Byrne, a consulting engineer, whose practice he bought in 1963. He was elected to Yellowknife Town Council in 1958. Helen Parker arrived in 1955, having just received her MSW from McGill University. She was immediately recruited as a volunteer worker with the Yellowknife Children’s Aid Society, which was the only welfare agency in the NWT caring for children in need of protection. It operated until the establishment of federal government welfare services in the early 1960’s. Her love of music and the arts drove Helen to help in the creation of the Overture Concert Society, a group that brought classical music to Yellowknife. An original trailblazer, Helen was one of the first women invited to join the Board of Directors of the Bank of Nova Scotia. Helen was the ultimate communicator, connector and networker. Together, the Parkers were active community volunteers including the building of the United Church and numerous other boards and committees.
In March of 2020, John passed away and Helen decided to work with the Yellowknife Community Foundation to establish a new fund in the family’s name. Helen and John understood the importance of strong communities. They worked together to strengthen communities, and in doing so learned that developing a community of friends was one of life’s best assets. The fund will hopefully help others learn that lesson, while filling the need for community development. Helen passed away in March of 2023 and it was her hope that the goals of the fund would resonate with other community supporters and donors. She looked forward to seeing the fund grow so that it can provide the most community support possible.
John, a geological engineer, arrived in Yellowknife in 1954 to work for N. W. Byrne, a consulting engineer, whose practice he bought in 1963. He was elected to Yellowknife Town Council in 1958. Helen Parker arrived in 1955, having just received her MSW from McGill University. She was immediately recruited as a volunteer worker with the Yellowknife Children’s Aid Society, which was the only welfare agency in the NWT caring for children in need of protection. It operated until the establishment of federal government welfare services in the early 1960’s. Her love of music and the arts drove Helen to help in the creation of the Overture Concert Society, a group that brought classical music to Yellowknife. An original trailblazer, Helen was one of the first women invited to join the Board of Directors of the Bank of Nova Scotia. Helen was the ultimate communicator, connector and networker. Together, the Parkers were active community volunteers including the building of the United Church and numerous other boards and committees.
In March of 2020, John passed away and Helen decided to work with the Yellowknife Community Foundation to establish a new fund in the family’s name. Helen and John understood the importance of strong communities. They worked together to strengthen communities, and in doing so learned that developing a community of friends was one of life’s best assets. The fund will hopefully help others learn that lesson, while filling the need for community development. Helen passed away in March of 2023 and it was her hope that the goals of the fund would resonate with other community supporters and donors. She looked forward to seeing the fund grow so that it can provide the most community support possible.
Organizations in Yellowknife, Dettah, and N’Dilo areas pursuing community development and collective action activities.
Grantees are eligible to re-apply for grants in successive years; however previous receipt does not guarantee future awards.
Grantees are eligible to re-apply for grants in successive years; however previous receipt does not guarantee future awards.
2025: $12,000
Please note that amounts may vary year by year.
Please note that amounts may vary year by year.
To apply, you must create a profile on our grant application portal. If your organization already exists in our portal, but you do not have a user account, contact grants@ykcf.ca. We will create an account for you and link it to your organization. Once you are logged in, click Apply in the navigation bar to access each grant application.
30 May 12:01AM: Applications open.
31 July 11:59PM: Applications due.
Please note that key dates vary year by year.
30 May 12:01AM: Applications open.
31 July 11:59PM: Applications due.
Please note that key dates vary year by year.
Applications are reviewed by our Grants Committee and Fund Advisors.
31 July 11:59PM: All applications due via grant portal.
August: Yellowknife Community Foundation staff conduct due diligence checks, and Grants Committee members undertake a review process. As a normal part of the review process, you may be contacted for further clarifying information.
September: Applicants are notified. Every applicant will receive notification regardless of funding decision.
August: Yellowknife Community Foundation staff conduct due diligence checks, and Grants Committee members undertake a review process. As a normal part of the review process, you may be contacted for further clarifying information.
September: Applicants are notified. Every applicant will receive notification regardless of funding decision.
- All successful grantees will be required to submit a final report through our online portal.
- We want to hear from you during the lifecycle of your grant! Please reach out anytime with an impact story, picture or video, or just to say “Hi!”.
- 2024: Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC 40th Anniversary – Volunteer and Artists Development)
- 2023: Home Base YK (Going M.I.L.E.S Conference)
- 2022: YWCA NWT (Good Food Box Program for Families)
- 2022: Foster Family Coalition of the Northwest Territories (Northern Stars)
- 2022: Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB NWT Mobile Hub)