The Community Grants program supports initiatives that engage citizens and that strengthen charities.
Grants come in a variety of sizes depending on the scope and scale of activities—lists of past Community Grants are available below.
Eligibility:
The Community Grants program can only accept applications from registered charities and other qualified donees. Go to the Canada Revenue Agency’s Charities Listings website to determine whether your organization is a qualified donee. If you are not a registered charity but wish to apply for funding, you can consider the following options:
- Make a formal application to CRA to become a registered charity.
- Establish a written partnership with a registered charity that would apply for funds for the proposed project. Charities and non-charities will often partner to increase their impact in community. It is important to note that the partnership between charities and non-charities is a legal relationship. Under CRA guidelines, the charity must monitor, regulate and control the funds. The charity must retain direction and control of the charitable funds and the activities of the non-charity must align with the charity’s mandate and contribute to the achievement of that mandate. Note that the opportunity to apply with a charitable partner is not meant to allow groups to circumvent CRA rules, but rather to support genuine partnerships between charities and non-profits. For further information please consult Better Together: A Guide for Charity/Non-Charity Partnerships.
The proposed initiative must significantly benefit Calgary and area communities, which includes Calgary, Banff National Park, Canmore, Rocky View County, the Municipal Districts of Big Horn, Foothills, Kananaskis and Wheatland, and the surrounding First Nations of Treaty 7 territory.
Next Grant Intake:
The next intake will be in Fall 2021. Please check this webpage over the summer for information.
Prior to reopening the program, we will post a link to Community Grants Guidelines and the application process here.
How to apply:
First, contact grants staff a month before the deadline to discuss the initiative.
Applications are accepted through our Online Grant Portal. You can access the portal by clicking on the Online Grant Portal button below. Grants staff are available to assist you through the application process.
You have the option of providing more detail about your work in writing or through a video. If you choose video, you will record a video, create a link and link it through the Online Grant Portal. You will still complete the other sections (Organization Information, Overview and Budget) in writing.
In both options you must submit through the Online Grant Portal.
Option 1: Video Application
Further information, read the Video Application Guidelines.
Option 2: Written Application
Complete your grant request submission through the Online Grant Portal.
To honour oral practices, we also accept oral applications from Indigenous-led organizations. Please contact us to make arrangements.
Contact:
If you have questions about applying for a Community Grant, please contact Djaka Blais-Amare.