Apply for Support

Guidelines for RAVEN Partnerships

RAVEN works to raise legal defence funds to assist First Nations to have equitable access to the justice system. 

RAVEN is not a granting organization; it is a fundraising organization. We do not outright award financial support to any Nation(s), instead we form partnerships with Nations to jointly fundraise for legal costs. 

 

Criteria for Selecting New Campaigns

 

RAVEN selects campaigns based on the following six criteria: 

  1. Legal Precedent – The proposed legal action would ideally have the potential to set a legal precedent for future cases or advance legal rights and title of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. RAVEN’s legal Advisory Panel - a body composed of Aboriginal Law experts - screens every new application for this criterion.
  2. Environmental Legacy – The proposed legal action, if successful, must create a significant, positive environmental impact for all individuals living in Canada. Examples of this include, but are not limited to: contributing to slowing climate change, maintaining biological diversity, and/or improving or maintaining access to clean water and food security.
  3. Aligns with RAVEN’s Mission – The proposed legal action must align and contribute to RAVEN’s vision, mission, values and goals. The proposal may incorporate, or allow for, the co-development of an educational aspect of the campaign with the potential to highlight how the legal action will support the Nation’s values, spirituality, and culture.
  4. Feasibility – The fundraising goal must be achievable for the organizational capacity of RAVEN.
  5. *Community Support – The proposal must demonstrate community support for the legal action and for the proposed fundraising campaign. This can include letters of interest from the Nation(s), letters of support from the community, neighbouring Nations or Indigenous organizations, and/or a General Membership Resolution.
  6. Joint fundraising protocol – The Nation(s) requesting funding agrees to work with RAVEN staff to draft and sign an agreement that  will outline and establish:
  •  Fundraising targets and timelines; and
  • Protocol for jointly creating a communications strategy and for approval of communications content. RAVEN is also open to including other elements in the agreement, as proposed by the requesting Nation(s), to foster and strengthen the relationship between RAVEN and the Nation(s). 

 

 

*Please note: RAVEN reserves the right to decline any project proposal.  The organization has a limited capacity and therefore the Board of Directors can turn down proposals, even if they meet all six criteria, if they exceed the organization’s capacity. RAVEN strives to balance our capacity and strategic direction with our desire to fundraise for many crucial projects. If you feel your project meets the above criteria and you wish to apply for a partnership with RAVEN for fundraising, please download and fill out this PDF, and send to info@raventrust.com. 

 

How to Apply

Fill out the following form and submit to RAVEN. Our Legal Advisory Panel will review and we'll return a detailed summary of their findings — whether RAVEN has the capacity to take on your Nations' case or not. Please allow 30 days from receipt of your application for RAVEN to return a response.