RTP INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS 2026 PARTNERSHIP APPLICATIONS

Right To Play invests in partnerships with First Nations, Inuit, & Métis (FNIM) communities and Indigenous youth serving organizations to improve the wellbeing of children & youth across Turtle Island through play.

While funding is a component of these relationships, we see capacity building as our core support resource. Whether your group wants to pilot a short-term play-based project idea or enhance an existing community youth program, RTP offers a range of partnership options with different approaches to coaching and mentorship that may be the right fit for your group.

See below for a short description of each partnership, accompanied by links to their application guide, submission portal, and supporting documents. Groups may only apply for one partnership at a time.

Team Training Partnership (TTP)

This partnership is for groups that want to access 2 – 3 capacity building workshops to enhance staff skills, knowledge, and team dynamics.

2026 Applications are open from June 2, 2025 – August 19, 2025.

COMING SOON - Application Guide to submit a TTP Application

Click here to submit a TTP Application

Youth Project Partnership (YPP)

This partnership is for groups that want to delivery short-term community projects that aim to improve the wellbeing of Indigenous children & youth through play. Projects can either be youth-led or adult-led, but all applications must come from a FNIM community or registered non-profit organization, and youth-led projects must have an adult mentor employed by a community/organization signing off to support the application as a trustee.

Applicants participate in coaching sessions, select a capacity building workshop, and can opt into funding support for project activity costs.

2026 Applications open from June 2 – September 19, 2025.

COMING SOON - YPP Application Guide

Click here to download the Youth Project Monthly Work Plan Template

Click here to download the Youth Project Budget Template

Click here to submit a YPP Application

Program Development Partnership (PDP)

This partnership is for groups that want to co-design a play-based program for Indigenous children & youth that meets local needs & contributes toward community goals for holistic wellbeing. Applicants receive bi-weekly virtual coaching support, an in-community training visit, and can opt into funding support for program activity costs and staff salary contributions.

2026 Applications are open from August 8 – September 19, 2025.

COMING SOON - Link to the Application Guide

COMING SOON - Link to the Budget Template

COMING SOON - Link to 2026 PDP Application

Program Enhancement Partnership (PEP)

This partnership is for groups that have experience delivering direct programming to youth and want to enhance the impact of established child & youth programs. Applicants select

a specific focus area for the coaching spaces and can opt into funding support for program activity costs and staff salary contributions.

2026 Applications are open from August 8 – September 19, 2025.

COMING SOON - Link to the Application Guide

COMING SOON - Link to the Budget Template

COMING SOON - Link to the PEP Application

WHO CAN APPLY

Eligible groups include:

• First Nation, Inuit, Métis (FNIM) communities
• Schools & Boards of Education
• Registered charities (as recognized by the Canadian Revenue Agency) that serve Indigenous children & youth
• Incorporated non-profit organizations and associations that serve Indigenous children & youth
• Youth groups, councils or advisory boards working under an eligible trustee (First Nation, Inuit, Metis community, school, registered non-profit/charity) and mentored by an adult employee of the trustee community or organization.

Ineligible groups include:

• Individuals
• Communities, schools/school boards, non-profit organizations or charities operating outside of Canada
• Unincorporated and grassroots groups without a trustee from a registered Indigenous community or non-profit organization / charity

SUPPORTS

Right to Play, Indigenous Programs is happy to extend several different types of support to assist you in selecting and applying for a 2026 partnership.

Custom Support – Email questions or make requests for phone call to the Right To Play Indigenous Programs Admin Team @ playadmin@righttoplay.com

Live Information Sessions – Monthly information webinars with Q&As will be offered between June – September 2025. To register, email us @playadmin@righttoplay.com .

• June 24 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm (EST)
• July 14 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm (EST)
• August 21 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm (EST)
• September 11 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm (EST)

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

A friendly reminder that each partnership has its own separate application link and application period. After clicking on the application link, please read the description on the landing page to ensure you have correctly selected the link to your preferred partnership option.

2026 Applications are due by 11:59PM Friday, September 19, 2025. Partnership selection will be shared in early November 2025. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application.