Competition

* Unless explicitly noted, all times indicated for deadlines are for the appropriate NL timezone (NST or NDT)

One important way that NWT CIMP generates cumulative impact monitoring and research information is by providing annual funding for both Science projects and Traditional Knowledge projects.

All projects must meet the following mandatory criteria:

• report on cumulative impacts of two or more human activity and/or natural stressors on the environment

• collect cumulative impacts information that decision-makers can use to better protect our land and water

• relate to caribou, water, and/or fish and addresses Blueprint Priorities

We encourage projects that:

• work with communities, Indigenous organizations, Elders and youth

• benefit our partners

• support or build on current research and collaborate with others

• meet our criteria and are well designed

Science projects must respond to the monitoring and research priorities listed in the monitoring and research Blueprint priorities for caribou, water and fish.

Application Process

An initial call for Letters of Intent (LOI) occurs in the fall and funding decisions are made in the spring. It is a competitive process in which reviewers and the NWT CIMP Steering Committee make funding recommendations to the program.

Information about the funding process (including instructions, templates, guidance and protocols) is available in the Science Project Funding Guide and the Traditional Knowledge Project Funding Guide

Key Dates for 2026-2027 Funding

• Call for Letters of Intent Opens: July 29, 2025

• Letter of Intent Deadline: October 7, 2025

• Proposals Invited: November 13, 2025 (successful LOI recipients only)

• Proposal Deadline: January 6, 2026

• Announcement of Project Funding: late April 2026

NOTE: Typcial HSS and RIS deadlines are disrupted by the holidays and the sponsor's Jan. 6, 2026 deadline. HSS deadline will therefore be 9 AM, Jan. 5, 2026 and RIS deadline will be 5:00 PM, Jan. 5, 2026, provided that the applicant submit a draft proposal and deadline to HSS and RIS prior to Dec. 19, 2025.

In addition to the external funding agency’s submission procedures, this opportunity must also be submitted for Departmental, HSS Faculty, and Research Initiatives and Services (RIS) institutional reviews and approvals via Memorial's Researcher Portal (RP). In order to facilitate the HSS Faculty’s administrative review, please ensure "Heather C. O'Brien (Grants Facilitator)" and “Matthew Milner (Grants Facilitator)” are added as "Team Members" on your RP file. 

In accordance with University-wide approval protocols, all tabs of the RP file must be completed, the completed application must be uploaded to the “Attachments” tab, all supporting documentation including support for cash and in-kind commitments and/or letters of support must also be uploaded, and “Submit” must be pressed prior to the HSS internal deadline listed below. HSS cannot guarantee completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete and/or are submitted after the HSS deadline. For more detailed submission instructions and information, please consult the HSS Research Support Services website.

If you plan to apply to this competition or other research funding opportunities (as either PI or CI), e-mail an HSS Grants Facilitator, Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca or 864-8603) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca or 864-8050), to notify the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of your intent to apply. E-mailing the intent to apply as early as possible will help to facilitate an efficient review. A Grants Facilitator can answer any questions you may have about internal or external submission procedures and may also be able to help with proposal development.