For over 60 years, Northwestel has been committed to the well-being of the communities we serve. As a corporation and as employees, we work actively to improve the quality of life in the North. Our Community Investment Program is an expression of this commitment.

In the past year, Northwestel contributed more than $670,000 in cash and in-kind donations to non-profit groups throughout the North. There are three areas that Northwestel primarily supports with sponsorships and donations: arts and cultural programs, recreation and sport activities, and issues of community concern, with priority given in all three areas to programs focused on youth.

In addition to its ongoing community investment, Northwestel has also been a supporter of the biannual Arctic Winter Games since they were first held in Yellowknife, NT in 1970.

Funding Guidelines

Northwestel’s Community Investment Program is an expression of our long-standing commitment to the well-being of the communities we serve.

If your northern non-profit group is intending to request financial assistance, please familiarize yourself with the funding guidelines before submitting a proposal.

Eligibility Guidelines

Northwestel’s objective is to support responsible, northern non-profit and charitable organizations whose services benefit the community at large. Through our community investment program, we provide support in the following areas:

• Programs and activities targeted at youth, or with a youth focus.
• Arts and cultural events and programs.
• Civic, recreation and sport activities.
• Programs, causes and activities that address social issues of special interest or concern to northerners and their community leaders, with a particular emphasis on programs that benefit or assist youth.

The program is unable to support:

• Religious or sectarian organizations.
• Political parties, candidates or activities.
• Individual applicants.
• Research projects.
• Advocacy or lobbying groups/activities.
• Travel, trips or tour expenses.
• Activities or organizations operating wholly outside our operating area that do not extend services to northerners.

Evaluation Criteria

Northwestel receives hundreds of requests for sponsorships and donations every year. As it is impossible for us to support every group that requests funding, all proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Must be a charitable group or registered non-profit society
• Must be a northern-based organization (i.e. within Northwestel's operating area) whose projects or activities are for the benefit of northerners or northern communities
• Where possible, request resources other than traditional cash payments, such as our technology and expertise
• Must request project-specific support (financial or in-kind), and not general administrative purposes (e.g. wages, operating expenses)
• Must have the general respect and support of the community
• Must complement Northwestel's interests and values
• May provide opportunities for Northwestel employees to be involved as volunteers
• May offer Northwestel an ownership, title or leadership status with the event, project or organization

Application Process

All requests must be in writing. Because of the large number of requests that we receive, please allow a minimum of ten weeks for your request to be considered. Funding allocations in amounts over $1,000 are determined annually in the fall, for disbursement in the next calendar year.

Your written proposal should provide us with all the information we need to make a decision. Please make sure that you include the following information:

• Contact name, daytime phone number, fax number (if applicable), email address (if applicable) and mailing address.
• Date when the proposal was written.
• Detailed description of your event, program or project.
• Date of the event or commencement of the program.
• Detailed description of how Northwestel’s contribution would be used.
• Financial details, such as a proposed budget.
• Description of how you plan to publicly recognize Northwestel’s support.

Also, please indicate whether or not you are a charitable group registered with Revenue Canada. If you intend to produce materials that would require our logo, be sure to indicate the production dates.

Requests can be submitted by:

1. Mail:
   Northwestel
   Attention: Community Investment Program
   P.O. Box 2727
   Whitehorse, YT
   Y1A 4Y4
2. Email: information@nwtel.ca
3. Fax: 1-867-668-7079