Strengthening the Anti-Poverty and NGO Stabilization Funds

INTRODUCTION

The Department of the Executive and Indigenous Affairs is committed to strengthening NGO, Indigenous Government and Indigenous organization anti-poverty and stabilization work through a whole-of-government approach. To support this work, the department undertook a review of the Anti-Poverty Fund and the Non-Government Organization (NGO) Stabilization Fund. A component of the review was engagement with key partners through participation in an online survey. The review findings will help ensure programming aligns with mandate commitments and fiscal sustainability goals while maintaining or enhancing critical services.

The What We Heard Report presents information gathered through the survey.

METHODOLOGY

An online survey was used to gather information from key partners. The survey was comprised of both closed- and open-ended questions that focused on topics such as: eligibility requirements, administrative processes, funding amounts, priority populations and services, and areas requiring improvement. The survey was open from June 10 to July 11, 2025.

A total of 78 respondents participated, with 56 representing NGOs and 22 representing Indigenous Governments and Indigenous organizations. The majority of respondents have applied for funding through the Anti-Poverty Fund (74%) and/or the NGO Stabilization Fund (55%).

PROGRAM OVERVIEWS

Anti-Poverty Fund

The Anti-Poverty Fund provides funding for anti-poverty initiatives in the Northwest Territories that show concrete action towards reducing poverty. The Anti-Poverty fund supports projects: providing a tangible service or support at the community level; demonstrating the potential to improve social outcomes for residents in a tangible and measurable fashion; proposing to develop or implement a new approach to program or service delivery at the community level; and demonstrating the ability to develop meaningful partnerships with other organizations and support an integrated approach in responding to multiple social issues.

NGO Stabilization Fund

The NGO Stabilization Fund helps stabilize or develop the capacity of NGOs who deliver essential GNWT funded programs or services to NWT residents. The funds cover items including general management, governance, organizational development, and extraordinary operations costs.

WHAT WE HEARD

Anti-Poverty Fund

Key survey findings included:

  • The majority of Anti-Poverty Fund applicants had projects that aligned with the Sustainable Communities (76%) and Healthy Living and Reaching our Potential (67%) pillars.
  • 62% of respondents who applied, reported receiving funding.
  • There has been an increasing trend in the number of projects funding since its inception, with three (3) projects funded in 2014/15 and 19 projects funded in 2025/26.
  • The majority of respondents (69%) are very satisfied or satisfied with the organizations eligible for funding. While recognizing the importance of partnerships with Indigenous Governments or community governing authorities, respondents commented that establishing and maintaining relationships is time consuming and challenging. Some respondents felt that the selection of organizations for funding did not always demonstrate the practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
  • The majority of respondents (77%) are very satisfied or satisfied with the projects eligible for the Anti-Poverty Fund. Some respondents felt that existing projects with demonstratable success should be prioritized for selection while others felt longer-term projects that required more time to reveal intended outcomes and impacts should be highlighted. Some respondents also indicated that projects focused on underrepresented and underserved populations (e.g., racialized groups, Elders/seniors, homeless men, and skills development) should be the primary focus.
  • While the majority of respondents (71%) are very satisfied or satisfied with the eligibility exceptions, some questioned the exclusion of research as a fundable activity since research is key to properly understanding existing issues and identifying new problems.
  • Respondents satisfaction with prioritization of competing projects – based on partnerships, integrated case management, and sustainability - varied, with 57% being very satisfied or satisfied and 21% being very dissatisfied or dissatisfied. Respondents commented on: the challenge of establishing partnerships in small communities with limited partner options; the uncertainty regarding the meaning of integrated case management and difficulty finding someone in the community with the skill set to carry this out; and that sustainability was an unrealistic criteria for most NGOs that are struggling with the fragmented approach to funding projects. Respondent satisfaction levels with the Anti-Poverty Fund administrative processes and requirements varied with many being very satisfied or satisfied with the financial statement submissions (71%) and reporting requirements (61%) while a number reported being very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the requirement for annual applications for multi-year projects (29%) and the timeliness of funding disbursements (25%). Additionally, respondents commented that there was a need for more transparency surrounding the external advisory committee applicant selection process and more support needed from GNWT staff to complete the applications.
  • 41% of respondents are very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the funding amounts. Some commented on the fact that while they had been funded previously, they did not receive funds in 2025/26.

NGO Stabilization Fund

Key survey findings included:

  • Organizations applied for funds across all four areas: management costs; governance costs; organizational development costs; and extraordinary general operation costs.
  • 63% of respondent organizations who applied, reported receiving funding from the NGO Stabilization Fund.
  • There has been an increasing trend in the number of projects funding since its inception, with no projects funded in 2009/10 to 14 projects funded in 2025/26.
  • Two-thirds of respondents (66%) are either very satisfied or satisfied with the NGO Stabilization Fund screening criteria. That being said, a number of respondents questioned the criteria requiring NGOs to be delivering critical GNWT funded services and to be receiving funds from the GNWT stating that there are many organizations delivering essential services to NWT residents that do not meet one or both of those criteria. Respondents also noted that the term ‘critical services’ needed to be clarified.
  • Respondents’ satisfaction with prioritization of competing projects was mixed, with high rates of satisfaction for the criteria that focused on management and governance and development costs (77%) and critical programs and services (70%). There were lower rates of satisfaction for the collaboration (56%) and new projects (60%) criteria. More generally, respondents questioned why they had received no funding when they met one or more of the prioritization criteria.
  • Respondent satisfaction levels with the NGO Stabilization Fund administrative processes and requirements varied with many being very satisfied or satisfied with the reporting requirements (66%) and the submission of financial statements (65%) while a number reported being very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the requirement for annual applications for multi-year projects (29%). Similar to the Anti-Poverty Fund, respondents commented that there was a need for more transparency surrounding the applicant selection process and more support needed from GNWT staff to clarify the policy and complete the applications.

Moving Forward

Key survey findings included:

  • Respondents indicated that there are many different populations in the NWT that should be prioritized for future funding. The populations identified most frequently included: Indigenous Peoples (75%); people living with low or no income (64%); people experiencing food insecurity (64%); people experiencing precarious housing/people experiencing homelessness (56%); and people living with mental health conditions (55%).
  • Respondents indicated that many different services and supports are critical for partners to deliver. When asked to select the top five (5), respondents listed: mental health and wellbeing (77%); housing and homelessness (73%); food security (71%); child and family health and wellness (52%); and substance use (43%).
  • When asked to what extent changes to specific administrative processes and requirements would reduce the burden on organizations, 68% of respondents reported that multi-year funding would greatly reduce the burden and improve predictability, staff retention and enable better planning. Access to lists of available funding (59%) and simplified application forms (57%) were also identified as substantially decreasing the workload. There were concerns that a single application form/single funding program would be problematic because of differing program mandates and priorities.
  • Some respondents recommended that GNWT institute a ‘one stop shop’ for government funding and that departments pool similar funds to make it easier for organizations to access larger pots of money.

NEXT STEPS

The feedback gathered from partners and presented in this report, along with an analysis of historical data related to applications and administration and oversight of the programs will used to identify a more responsive approach to implementing these programs.

Updated: Sep 22, 2025