Annauma Community Foundation announced Oct. 2 that the BHP Foundation is providing $5.5 million for community-led initiatives and long-term support for Nunavut’s nonprofit and charitable sector. Annauma says the money will support three areas: its consensus-granting model, the Pirujaq Fund endowment and its Pijunnaq sector-development strategy. The announcement follows a Sept. 22 event in Winnipeg. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

The commitment is a sizable new private funding source for Nunavut organizations. Annauma says its consensus-granting program has awarded 58 grants worth more than $4.3 million since 2024. The new money is intended to help both fund local initiatives and build longer-term capacity in a sector that often relies on short-term project funding. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

Annauma has not published a payment schedule, annual spending plan or a list of projects that will receive money from this investment. Its current Inuit Children & Youth cohort is accepting expressions of interest until Oct. 7, with cohort meetings scheduled for Dec. 1 and 3. That opportunity is listed separately from the BHP announcement, so it is not confirmed that the new investment will fund that specific cohort. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

Annauma says its consensus-granting process brings participating organizations together to decide how available funds are shared. Its Pijunnaq program is a multi-year funding model; Annauma says its first cohort collectively decides how to distribute $300,000 each year. The Pirujaq Fund is described as an endowment intended to support Nunavut nonprofit and charitable organizations over the long term. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗