Indigenous Youth Roots is a 4-star charity. It has a B Results Reporting grade, which is above average. It holds reserves within Ci's reasonable range. For every dollar donated to the charity, 75 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci's reasonable range.

Founded in 2008, Indigenous Youth Roots (IYR), formerly known as Canadian Roots Exchange, runs programs to support Indigenous youth across Canada. In F2024, the charity rebranded from Canadian Roots Exchange to Indigenous Youth Roots. IYR's vision is a future where Indigenous youth are empowered and connected as dynamic leaders in vibrant and thriving communities. IYR runs four programs: Centre for Indigenous Policy and Research, Creation, Community Relations and Solidarity, and Strategy. In F2024, it spent $8.3m on its programs and grants. The charity did not provide a breakdown of its program spending. IYR reached 3,483 people through its programs in F2024, of which 91% were Indigenous youth, 4% were non-Indigenous youth, 3% were Indigenous adults, 1% were non-Indigenous adults, and 1% were “other”.

The Centre for Indigenous Policy and Research (CIPR) runs policy and advocacy programs to create spaces for Indigenous youth to lead policy conversations on the issues that affect them. In F2024, the CIPR program had 1,185 participants and six advisory circle members. IYR reports it spent 530 program hours with participants in F2024. The charity’s Youth Policy School has no tuition fees and is for people aged 18-29. The program has a flexible curriculum and is designed to meet the needs of each student’s strengths. In F2024, 27 people graduated and 30 people entered the school. IYR’s Barometer is a research project focused on how Indigenous youth, aged 18-29, envision their futures. In F2024, CIPR reached 1,125 youth through seven in-person sharing circles and three online sharing circles.

Creation runs programs and provides grants to support small and large businesses that seek to create community change with Indigenous youth. The Creation program reached 633 people in F2024. In F2024, IYR sent $2.2 million across 112 grants to 292 youth leaders. Of the grants sent, 58 were urban, 11 were rural, 10 were remote, and 33 were on reserve. IYR has three grant streams. General grants: recipients determine their own project areas, based on their community needs; emerging needs: IYR determines one to four emerging needs each year and finds organizations that fulfill these needs; and partnership: businesses partner with IYR to fund grants to support Indigenous youth in communities that matter to them. The charity also ran 43 capacity building and relationship building workshops that reached 599 Indigenous youths.

The Community Relations and Solidarity (CRS) program builds and maintains relationships with the IYR community. In F2024, CRS reached 645 people. The charity’s Wellness Series provided 59 hours of programming to 400 youths in F2024. Its 2 Spirit Digital Constellations Mentorship program ran five session and reached ten youths in F2024.

The Strategy program supports IYR’s outreach, engagement, and strengthens internal processes. The Strategy program reached 1,020 people in F2024. The charity held an Indigenous Youth gathering, which reached 95 Indigenous youth in F2024. In October 2023, IYR rebranded from Canadian Roots Exchange to Indigenous Youth Roots. 

Indigenous Youth Roots’ audited financial statements do not use activity-based costing, which is a best practice. Ci used the charity’s T3010 filing with the CRA to report program, fundraising, and administrative costs.

Indigenous Youth Roots received $1.1m in donations in F2024, a 101% increase compared to $531k in F2023. The charity also received $6.5m in government funding, representing 79% of revenue. IYR spent $8.3m on its programs and grants, which is 101% of revenue. The charity recorded a deficit of $1.1m in F2024.

IYR spent $140k on fundraising, which is 13% of donations, and $947k on administration, which is 12% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 25%. For every dollar donated to Indigenous Youth Roots, 75 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

IYR has $2.6m in reserve funds (cash and investments). These reserves can cover annual program costs for three months, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Indigenous Youth Roots for review.

Updated on June 18, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.