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

On Sep 3, 2026

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:

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.
Activities unrelated to mining.
Activities outside the U.S. and Canada.
Proposals concerning excluded sectors such as oil, gas, pipelines, fracking, tar sands, aggregates, quarries, gravel, sand or cement.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Organizations interested in the program should make the connection between their work and mining impacts very clear.

A strong proposal should clearly communicate:

How the community is threatened or adversely affected by mining.
The specific mining-related issue being addressed.
Who in the community will benefit.
Why the proposed work is important.
How the $4,000 grant will support the proposed activities.
How the applicant fits the program’s community and organizational priorities.

Indigenous-led and directly affected grassroots organizations should clearly describe their community connection and leadership role.

Key Facts About the IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program

Program: IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program.
Organizers: Western Mining Action Network and Indigenous Environmental Network.
Geographic focus: United States and Canada.
Grant amount: $4,000 USD per grant.
Annual funding: More than $200,000 USD.
Priority applicants: Tribal, First Nations and Indigenous communities and directly affected grassroots organizations.
Indigenous funding commitment: At least 50% of funding.
Regional/national organizations: May be considered, particularly those with program budgets under $75,000 USD.
General budget restriction: Organizations with budgets over $500,000 USD are not funded, except Indigenous communities.
For-profit organizations: Not eligible.
Individuals: Not eligible.
General operating expenses: Not funded.
Staff salary limit: No more than 10% of the grant.
Geographic restriction: Activities must be in the U.S. or Canada.
Excluded topics: Oil, gas, pipelines, fracking, tar sands, aggregates, quarries, gravel, sand and cement.

Frequently Asked Questions About the IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program

What is the IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program?

It is a grant program supporting communities and eligible organizations in the United States and Canada that are threatened or adversely affected by mining.

Who operates the IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program?

The program is a collaborative initiative between the Western Mining Action Network and the Indigenous Environmental Network.

How much funding does each grant provide?

Each grant provides $4,000 USD.

How much funding is distributed annually?

More than $200,000 USD is distributed through the program each year.

Are Indigenous communities prioritized?

Yes. Tribal, First Nations and Indigenous communities and Indigenous-led organizations receive priority, and the program commits to awarding at least half of its funding to Indigenous-led organizations.

Can grassroots organizations apply?

Yes. Non-profit grassroots groups that are directly affected by mining can be considered for funding.

Can regional or national organizations apply?

Regional or national organizations working on mining-specific issues in the United States and Canada may be considered, particularly organizations with program budgets under $75,000 USD.

Can organizations with budgets above $500,000 apply?

Generally, no. Organizations with budgets over $500,000 USD are not funded, although Indigenous communities are an exception.

Can for-profit businesses apply?

No. For-profit entities are not eligible.

Can individuals apply?

No. The program does not provide grants to individuals.

Can the grant support general operating expenses?

No. General operating expenses are excluded from funding.

How much of the grant can be used for staff salaries?

Staff salaries cannot exceed 10% of the grant.

Does the program fund projects outside the United States and Canada?

No. The program is focused on communities and work in the U.S. and Canada.

Does the program fund oil and gas projects?

No. Proposals related to oil, gas, pipelines, fracking, tar sands and several other excluded sectors are not eligible.

Are quarry and aggregate projects eligible?

No. Proposals related to aggregates, quarries, gravel, sand or cement are excluded.

Conclusion

The IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program provides targeted financial assistance to communities and grassroots organizations dealing with the impacts and threats associated with mining in the United States and Canada.

With $4,000 grants and more than $200,000 distributed annually, the program offers an opportunity for eligible organizations to strengthen community-led responses to mining-related challenges. Its strong emphasis on Tribal, First Nations and Indigenous communities, together with the commitment to direct at least half of funding to Indigenous-led organizations, makes Indigenous leadership a central component of the program.

Organizations considering this funding should ensure that their work is directly connected to mining, benefits an affected community, falls within the geographic scope of the program and complies with the program’s budget and funding restrictions.

For more information, visit Western Mining Action Network.

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