Programs for Community Organizations
Business Training & Capacity Building
The Business Training & Capacity Building program supports organizations who wish to host business related training opportunities to Indigenous Peoples in their community. Training programs can include one time or multiple workshops and can be done on location or by online based webinar/workshop.
Eligible Applicants:
First Nations Bands
Community Economic Development based Organizations
Community Futures in BC
Aboriginal Financial Institution’s
Such training may include, but are not limited to:
Financial Literacy
Taxation
Bookkeeping
Cashflow
Accounting
Marketing
Branding
Management skills
Logo design
Website design
Social media marketing
Operational Planning
Workflow business planning
Office Software Training (Ex. Excel, Word etc.)
Leadership development
Staffing
Human Resource Management
Legal
Trademarks
Taxation
liabilities
Business Plan Development
Marketing
The IBDS Marketing Program supports (qualifying) organizations with developing their marketing strategy so they are better able to promote and expand the reach of their services.
Marketing initiatives may be new or pre-existing and must demonstrate that it will bring growth and benefits to the organization to promote business services to Indigenous entrepreneurs in their community. Organizations must demonstrate a business focus.
If your organization has a Marketing Initiative that is not listed below please contact us to see if it qualifies for funding by filling out the application form below.
Eligible Marketing Applicants:
First Nations Bands
First Nations Organizations
AFI’s (Aboriginal Financial Institution)
Some examples of Marketing Initiatives include:
Media Production - photography and/or filming and production of materials
Signage - facade of organization and other organizational signage
Cultural and Directional Signage - creating or upgrading cultural signage in Indigenous communities for directional or cultural purposes.
Promotional Marketing Materials - Pens, cups, business cards etc.
Advertising - Social media, print flyers, posters etc.
Trade Show Exhibit Design & Production - including banners, promotional materials (giveaways), design costs etc.
Branding Package - Supporting organizations to develop consistent branding throughout promotional materials including website, logo, SEO, poster templates etc.
Indigenous Internship
The IBDS Internship Program provides funding to eligible organizations to hire an Indigenous intern to work under their Business Development Officer (BDO), or similar position.
The intern is to establish/expand their business development skills through work and projects identified by the applicant and will have a mentor to shadow and ask questions. The work/projects for the intern will be developed with three main areas of focus identified by IBDS (see below). The mentor will guide the work environment, assign tasks and check on progress of the intern.
*Please note that it is up to the applicant to identify and provide work/project load for intern and measurable outcomes for their work.
Eligible Internship Applicants:
AFI’s (Aboriginal Financial Institution)
BC CF’s (Community Futures organizations based in BC)
Areas of Internship focus:
Path-Finding Service - Interns will aid clients of BDO in identifying business services or resources offered by other organizations that the client may need or benefit from. This is to be a primary activity of the intern to develop their knowledge and understanding or business resources for small business owners.
Shoulder Tapper - Interns are encouraged to develop their networking skills and will work to network possible opportunities for economic development or new individual business ideas in their community.
Business Development Mentoring - the intern will work directly under the organizations BDO to help mentor and build their capacity in business planning skills and development
Suggested work topics:
Develop a business plan from start to finish
Expand financial literacy skills