Apply Now: IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program (U.S. and Canada)

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program provides financial support to communities in the United States and Canada that are threatened or adversely affected by mining activities. The program is a collaborative initiative of the Western Mining Action Network (WMAN) and the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), with a strong focus on supporting Indigenous communities and grassroots organizations working to address mining-related impacts. Each successful organization can receive a $4,000 USD grant, with more than $200,000 distributed annually. At least half of the program’s funding is committed to Indigenous-led organizations.

About the IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program

Mining can have significant environmental, social and cultural impacts on communities and ecosystems. These impacts can be particularly serious for Indigenous Peoples whose traditional lands and communities may be directly affected by mining activities. The IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program was created to provide financial assistance to communities and grassroots organizations responding to these challenges. The program supports organizations working on mining-specific issues in the United States and Canada and prioritizes communities that are directly threatened or adversely affected by mining. Who Does the Program Prioritize? The program gives priority to organizations and communities with a direct connection to mining-related impacts.

Priority applicants include:

- Tribal communities in the United States. - First Nations communities in Canada. - Indigenous communities. - Indigenous-led organizations. - Non-profit grassroots groups directly affected by mining. - Regional or national organizations working specifically on mining-related issues in the U.S. and Canada. The program has a specific commitment to ensure that at least 50% of funding is awarded to Indigenous-led organizations. Funding Available

Each grant provides:

$4,000 USD per grant

The program distributes more than:

$200,000 USD annually The mini-grant structure is designed to provide relatively small but targeted financial support to eligible organizations working on mining-related community issues. Who Can Apply? The program is intended for eligible organizations and communities working on mining-specific issues in the United States and Canada.

Potentially eligible applicants include:

- Tribal organizations and communities. - First Nations organizations and communities. - Indigenous-led organizations. - Indigenous communities. - Non-profit grassroots organizations directly affected by mining. - Regional organizations addressing mining-specific issues. - National organizations addressing mining-specific issues. Regional and national organizations may also be considered, particularly when they have program budgets below $75,000 USD. Budget Requirements The program has specific restrictions related to organizational budgets. Organizations with budgets over $500,000 USD are generally not eligible. An exception applies to Indigenous communities. The program also gives consideration to smaller regional or national organizations, particularly those with program budgets below $75,000 USD. Applicants should therefore clearly understand how their organizational or program budget fits within the program’s eligibility requirements. What Types of Mining-Related Work Are Supported? The program is designed for work addressing issues specifically related to mining and communities affected by mining activities. Eligible applicants should demonstrate a clear connection between their proposed work and mining-related threats or impacts affecting communities, Indigenous Peoples, traditional lands or ecosystems. The program is particularly relevant for grassroots and Indigenous-led efforts responding directly to mining-related challenges. Who Is Not Eligible? The IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program does not support several categories of applicants and activities.

The program does not fund:

- Organizations with budgets over $500,000 USD, except Indigenous communities. - For-profit entities. - Individuals. - Work conducted outside the United States and Canada. - General operating expenses. - Staff salaries exceeding 10% of the grant. - Proposals focused on oil. - Proposals focused on gas. - Pipeline-related proposals. - Fracking-related proposals. - Tar sands-related proposals. - Aggregates-related proposals. - Quarry-related proposals. - Gravel-related proposals. - Sand-related proposals. - Cement-related proposals. Applicants should make sure that their proposed activities fall within the program’s mining-related focus and do not fall into one of these excluded categories. Geographic Eligibility

The program supports work in:

- United States - Canada Work outside these two countries is not eligible for support. Special Focus on Indigenous-Led Organizations One of the defining features of the program is its emphasis on Indigenous leadership. Mining activities can disproportionately affect Indigenous Peoples and their traditional lands. The program therefore seeks to ensure that Indigenous communities and Indigenous-led organizations have meaningful access to funding. At least half of the program’s funding is intended for Indigenous-led organizations. This makes the program particularly relevant for Tribal, First Nations and other Indigenous-led initiatives responding directly to mining impacts. Staff Salary Restrictions Although the program provides financial support for eligible projects, it does not allow unrestricted use of grant funds for staff compensation. Staff salaries may not exceed 10% of the grant. Because each grant is $4,000, applicants should carefully consider this restriction when developing their proposed budget. What the Grant Cannot Be Used For The program is not intended to provide general organizational operating support.

Grant funding cannot be used for:

- General operating expenses. - Staff salaries exceeding 10% of the grant. - Activitie