Watch the Community Grants webinar
Grant request deadlines are 12:00pm on February 16th and September 16th each year.
Calgary Foundation is currently accepting grant requests for the Community Grants Program for the September 15th, 2019 deadline. Prior to submitting your request please consult the Community Grants Guidelines and contact Foundation staff to discuss eligibility. The 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. Contact Grants Staff to explore larger amounts that are available for highly collaborative projects.
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.
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.
Completing your application
Step 1 – Eligibility
In this step you will identify whether you have a profile on Calgary Foundation’s Community Knowledge Centre (CKC) and assess the eligibility of your application. You must complete Step 1 in order to move your application to Step 2. Step 1 must be completed by September 10th to give sufficient time to move your application to Step 2.
Step 2 – Application
In this step you will describe your initiative. Step 2 must be completed by September 16th at 12:00pm.
The Community Grants program now offers the option of submitting a video/multimedia application instead of the written application. You have two options for submitting your application and for both options you must submit through the Online Grant Portal.
Option 1: NEW – Video/Multimedia Application
For further information, read the Video Application Guidelines.
Option 2: Written Application
Complete your grant request submission through the Online Grant Portal.
If you have questions about applying for a Community Grant, please contact Djaka Blais-Amare.
Community Grants Application Questions List – Step 1
Community Grants Application Questions List – Step 2
Grant request process at a glance:
- February: Submit grant request by 11:59pm
- April: Grant requests are shortlisted
- May: Shortlisted applicants meet with a committee
- Late June: Program results are announced
- September: Submit grant request by 11:59pm
- October: Grant requests are shortlisted
- November: Shortlisted applicants meet with a committee
- Late December: Program results are announced
Grant request process at a glance:
- February: Submit grant request by 11:59pm
- April: Grant requests are shortlisted
- May: Shortlisted applicants meet with a committee
- Late June: Program results are announced
- September: Submit grant request by 11:59pm
- October: Grant requests are shortlisted
- November: Shortlisted applicants meet with a committee
- Late December: Program results are announced