What New Relationship Trust does

New Relationship Trust (NRT) is a nonprofit funding organization established in 2006 under the New Relationship Trust Act to deliver grant programs to First Nations communities across British Columbia. The organization is governed by a 100% Indigenous board, operates from a headquarters in North Vancouver with a satellite office in Prince George, and works with every First Nation in BC across all regions. Since inception, NRT has distributed over $260 million across 9,132 projects, supported by a perpetual fund model that has generated a 7.83% average annual return on its investment portfolio.

NRT's product portfolio comprises 20+ distinct grant programs organized into core streams: governance and nation building (Nation Building, Elders, Youth, Language, K-12 Education, Declaration Act Engagement), economic development (BC Indigenous Cannabis Business Fund, Equity Matching for Entrepreneurs, Indigenous Co-operative Initiative), clean energy (BCICEI, CEDR, First Nations Electricity Program), social support (Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Fund, Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion Fund, Indigenous Labour Market Fund, Guardians and Stewardship Training Initiative), and student funding (BC First Nations Student Scholarship and Bursaries). The organization supplements direct grant-making with a digital grant portal (grants.newrelationshiptrust.ca) for application and reporting workflow.

NRT operates under a donations and charitable giving model, pooling contributions into a perpetual fund and distributing grants to eligible communities. The organization administers third-party government and foundation programs (BC government, Vancouver Foundation, United Way BC, Coast Funds, Columbia Basin Trust) with zero or minimal administration fees. Distribution is driven by direct community engagement and trust-based relationships rather than transactional outreach, with the Seven Generation Principle guiding funding decisions. Key partners include the Province of British Columbia, Vancouver Foundation, United Way BC, Coast Funds, and Columbia Basin Trust.

Name

New Relationship Trust

Legal name

New Relationship Trust

Website

https://newrelationshiptrust.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Relationship Trust is a 100% Indigenous-led nonprofit, established under the New Relationship Trust Act (2006), that distributes grants from a perpetual fund to every First Nation in British Columbia across 20+ funding programs covering governance, culture, education, food security, clean energy, and economic development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Community Development Funding

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Trust Funds & Multi-Donor Pooled Funds (BPADAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Indigenous grant funding
• First Nations funding
• Community capacity building
• Clean energy grants
• Cultural revitalization programs

Headquarters

HQ city

North Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: NRT generates revenue through donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government partners. The organization operates a perpetual fund model where contributions are pooled, invested, and used in perpetuity to fund First Nations-led programs across BC. Donations can be directed to specific communities or program areas.
2. Grant Administration: NRT administers various government and foundation funding programs including CleanBC/CEDR, Vancouver Foundation partnerships, and BC government initiatives. They distribute funds to First Nations communities while maintaining minimal administration fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

New Relationship Trust is an Indigenous-led nonprofit funding organization that administers a portfolio of 20+ grant programs to BC First Nations communities and tribal councils. Its offerings cover nation building, governance, youth, elders, language, K-12 education, clean energy, food security, cannabis business, labour market, poverty reduction, and student scholarships. The organization is funded by donations and through the administration of government and foundation programs, with funds distributed via an online grant portal and direct community engagement.

Product overview

New Relationship Trust operates as a nonprofit funding organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of grant programs to BC First Nations. Rather than a unified software platform, NRT offers 20+ distinct funding programs organized into categories including governance and nation building, education, food security and sovereignty, clean energy, economic development, and social inclusion. The portfolio includes core grant programs (Nation Building Grant, Youth Grant, Language Grant, K-12 Education Grant), economic development initiatives (BC Indigenous Cannabis Business Fund, Equity Matching for Entrepreneurs), clean energy programs (BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative, Community Energy Diesel Reduction Program, First Nations Electricity Program), and social support funds (Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Fund, Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion Fund, Indigenous Labour Market Fund). NRT also maintains a digital Grant Portal for application management. All programs are designed to support self-determination and community-led initiatives for First Nations across British Columbia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NRT: Abbreviated name for New Relationship Trust used throughout the organization's communications and branding.

Products and services

• Nation Building Grant Multi-year funding to First Nation communities and Tribal Councils in BC supporting self-determined governance projects, including leadership development, policy creation, strategic planning, youth engagement, and community-led initiatives.
• Youth Grant Funding supporting BC First Nations in building opportunities that foster cultural learning, leadership, and long-term community wellbeing for youth.
• Elders Grant Grant program supporting First Nations communities in creating opportunities for Elders' wellness, cultural connection, and community engagement.
• Language Grant Funding supporting BC First Nations in revitalizing their languages through community-driven projects including intergenerational learning, immersive programs, and land-based approaches.
• K-12 Education Grant Funding to First Nation communities and organizations in BC supporting Indigenous Kindergarten to Grade 12 students through cultural programming, academic support, and community involvement.
• Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Fund Non-repayable funding to First Nation communities, Indigenous organizations, and entrepreneurs in BC working to strengthen Indigenous food systems through training, land-based learning, food production, harvesting, preservation, and infrastructure development.
• BC Indigenous Cannabis Business Fund (ICBF) Non-repayable funding to First Nation communities, Indigenous businesses, and entrepreneurs in BC participating in the regulated cannabis sector, supporting planning, retail, cultivation, production, marketing, and infrastructure.
• BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI) Funding and capacity-building support to BC First Nations developing clean energy projects, from early-stage planning to implementation, supporting solar, hydro, wind, biomass, and energy efficiency.
• Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) Program Non-repayable funding helping remote First Nations reduce diesel use, build renewable energy systems, and strengthen community infrastructure through planning, energy efficiency, and clean energy development.
• First Nations Electricity Program Program supporting First Nations in developing electricity infrastructure and clean energy solutions for community use.
• Equity Matching - Entrepreneurs Economic development funding providing equity matching for Indigenous entrepreneurs in BC to support business development and growth.
• Declaration Act Engagement Grant Funding supporting First Nations in engagement activities related to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).
• Indigenous Labour Market Fund Funding advancing Indigenous employment, training, and skills development for long-term career and workforce growth in BC First Nations communities.
• Guardians and Stewardship Training Initiative (GSTI) Funding supporting Indigenous Guardians programs and land stewardship training for environmental protection and traditional territory monitoring.
• Indigenous Co-operative Initiative Funding supporting the development of Indigenous co-operatives and collective economic development models in BC.
• BC First Nations Student Scholarship and Bursaries Scholarship and bursary funding supporting BC First Nations students pursuing post-secondary education and career development.
• Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion Fund Fund supporting First Nation communities and organizations in BC with initiatives that reduce poverty and strengthen social inclusion through culturally relevant, community-led wellness and healing programs.
• Indigenous Resilience and Recovery Grant Legacy program supporting Indigenous communities in resilience and recovery initiatives.
• AED Indigenous Initiative Program supporting AED (Automated External Defibrillator) access and training in Indigenous communities.
• NRT Grant Portal Online portal for First Nations to access and manage NRT funding applications, grant reporting, and program information.

Quantifiable outcome

• $260+ million distributed across 9,132 projects over 19 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Columbia Basin TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbia Basin Trust partners with NRT to fund solar energy projects in First Nation communities in the Columbia Basin. The Trust provides $483,000 for solar panels, fibre and training while NRT provides $126,000 for solar panels across three communities.
• Tŝilhqot'in National GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTŝilhqot'in National Government collaborated with NRT to support the Esdilagh First Nation's Sturgeon River Law development, combining NRT's Nation-Building Grant funding with TNG's governance support.
• Royal BC MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal BC Museum hosted the book launch for Samantha Beynon's 'Celebrating Potlatches', a project supported by NRT's BC First Nations Student Scholarship and Bursaries program.
• Ocean WiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKwiakah Nation is negotiating with Ocean Wise to establish an industry standard for seaweed cultivation, a project stemming from NRT's Nation Building Grant support for their seaweed farming feasibility study.
• Research Foundations and Post-Secondary InstitutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKwiakah Nation is in discussions with research foundations and post-secondary institutions about setting up a research station to study carbon sequestration potential of native kelp species, as part of their NRT-funded seaweed cultivation project.
• Seafood Business AcceleratorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Seafood Business Accelerator is funded through NRT's Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Grant, supporting Indigenous seafood business development across BC through tailored training and mentorship.
• ACCESS (Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACCESS receives funding through NRT's Indigenous Labour Market Fund to provide culturally grounded career training programs for Indigenous individuals in Greater Vancouver.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights12 records

Direct peers

• First Nations Health Authority: Indigenous-led health organization serving BC First Nations through program funding, transfer agreements, and governance structures. Comparable as another 100% Indigenous-governed organization delivering province-wide programs to the same BC First Nations community base.
• Columbia Basin Trust: Regional trust established by BC legislation delivering programs and grants in the Columbia Basin; an active NRT partner funding solar and training projects. Highly comparable statutory trust model and community grantmaking focus.
• Coast Funds: Indigenous-led conservation finance organization supporting First Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii with pooled fund and grant administration. Most direct peer given shared perpetual fund model, BC focus, and existing partnership on CEDR.
• First Peoples Cultural Council: BC-based First Nations-led organization providing grants and programs for language revitalization, arts, and cultural heritage—directly overlapping NRT's Language Grant and cultural programs. Comparable mandate, BC First Nations audience, and grant administration model.

Emerging players

• Mastercard Foundation (Indigenous Youth Education): Large international foundation with a dedicated Indigenous youth and education initiative in Canada (Eleven Twenty-Two initiative). Comparable as a major funder of Indigenous post-secondary and economic inclusion, but operates at a much larger global scale than NRT.

Broad incumbents

• Vancouver Foundation: One of Canada's largest community foundations; an active NRT partner via the Recovery and Resiliency Fund and a major grantmaker in BC. Comparable as a pooled-fund foundation administering donor capital to community causes, though broader in scope than Indigenous-specific.
• Indigenous Services Canada: Federal department administering transfer payments and program funding to Indigenous communities nationally. Comparable as the dominant funder to First Nations but operating as government rather than Indigenous-led intermediary.
• United Way British Columbia: Province-wide funder and NRT partner on the Recovery and Resiliency Fund, distributing grants to nonprofits including Indigenous organizations. Comparable grant administration and BC-wide footprint, though serving broader populations.
• Community Foundations of Canada: National network of 191 community foundations; an indirect peer given NRT functions similarly to a community foundation with perpetual pooled capital, but operates at community foundation scale across Canada.
• Real Estate Foundation of BC: BC-based perpetual foundation funding land, housing, and sustainability initiatives—overlapping with NRT's clean energy, housing, and stewardship programs. Comparable perpetual fund structure and BC community grantmaking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NewRelationshipTrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/NewRelationshipTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-relationship-trust-bc
• Instagraminstagram.com/newrelationshiptrust
• Xx.com/nrt_bc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Relationship Trust