An independent registry of Northern Ontario funding Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · CC-BY-4.0
Northern Ontario Grants
Open while funds last Partly repayable

NADF Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Program

by Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund

Also known as: IWE Program · Indigenous Women in Business (NADF)

NADF's Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship (IWE) Program funds Indigenous women aged 18+ who own at least 51% of a business in NADF's Northern Ontario service area. Support is up to $25,000 total project cost, structured as 45% grant, 50% repayable loan (5% interest, up to 5 years), and a 5% client contribution. Intake is continuous but funding is limited, NADF encourages applying early. It cannot be combined with NADF's Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship program.

Amount
Up to $25,000 Maximum $25,000 total project cost: 45% grant, 50% repayable loan (5% interest, up to 5 years), 5% client contribution This award range, $25,000, against every tracked amount from $1,000 to $500,000,000, on a logarithmic scale.

Against all tracked amounts, $1,000 to $500,000,000, logarithmic.

nadf.org · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Project support up to $25,000. 45% grant | 50% repayable loan | 5% client contribution

Instrument
Mixed instruments
Status
Open while funds last allocations can run out before the window closes; confirm before applying
Your share
5% matching required Applicant must provide the required 5% client contribution in cash

nadf.org · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Who qualifies
Businesses 51%+ Indigenous ownership
  • sole-proprietorship
  • partnership
  • corporation
  • Applicant must be an Indigenous woman over the age of 18
  • Must own at least 51% of the business
  • Must operate within NADF's service area (Treaty 9, Ontario portion of Treaty 5, Treaty 3, Robinson-Superior 1850); district mapping approximate
  • Cannot be combined with NADF's Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship (IYE) program

nadf.org · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

an Indigenous woman over the age of 18 ... own at least 51% of the business

Where
Kenora District · Rainy River District · Thunder Bay District · Cochrane District · Algoma District · Timiskaming District6 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program.Algoma District: eligibleCochrane District: eligibleGreater Sudbury (single-tier census division): not eligibleKenora District: eligibleManitoulin District: not eligibleNipissing District: not eligibleParry Sound District: not eligibleRainy River District: eligibleSudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury): not eligibleThunder Bay District: eligibleTimiskaming District: eligible

6 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program. A filled dot is eligible, an outline is not.

Built for
Indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses Startups & new entrepreneurs Small business, expansion

Do you have to pay this back?

Grant share: 45%. Repayable loan share: 50%. Client contribution: 5%. Loan terms: 5% interest, repayment up to 5 years.

nadf.org · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

How conditional contributions and repayable splits work

How do you apply?

Call first. This funder expects contact with a program officer before you apply.

  1. Contact NADF / book an appointment
  2. Business planning guidance, workshops and readiness support from NADF
  3. Submit application
  4. Approval: blended grant + loan disbursed

nadf.org · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Common questions

How much of the NADF IWE funding is a grant vs a loan?

Of a maximum $25,000 project: 45% is a non-repayable grant, 50% is a repayable loan at 5% interest over up to 5 years, and you contribute the remaining 5% yourself.

Who qualifies for NADF's Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Program?

Indigenous women over 18 who own at least 51% of the business, operate within NADF's service area, meet program requirements, and can provide the 5% client contribution.

Can I stack it with NADF's youth program?

No, NADF states the IWE Program cannot be combined with the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship (IYE) program.

Is there an application deadline?

No fixed deadline, but NADF encourages early applications because funding availability is limited.

Other streams of NACCA Indigenous Women's Entrepreneurship (IWE) initiative

Funders publish these as one program with several streams. The terms differ by stream.

Where else could this money come from?

Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.

  • NADF E-Commerce Grant Open, continuous intake
    same funder (NADF); both for indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses and startups & new entrepreneurs; nadf — Up to $8,000
  • NADF, Business Financing Program grants Open while funds last
    same funder (NADF); both for indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses — Up to $249,999
  • MVDF Business Financing Open, continuous intake
    both for indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses and startups & new entrepreneurs; loan — Up to $1,500,000
  • Indigenous Forestry Initiative Next intake not announced
    both for indigenous entrepreneurs & businesses; grant — Up to $45,000

Guides that cover this program

Notes on this record

All figures verified from the official page fetched 2026-08-17. NADF delivers this under the national Indigenous Women's Entrepreneurship initiative (NACCA-coordinated).

Apply

Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there:

www.nadf.org