The Community Grants program supports initiatives that engage citizens and that strengthen charities.
In 2020-2021, Calgary Foundation shifted our semi-annual grant program Community Grants to focus on helping charities and other qualified donees with their pandemic needs. This fall, we return to the broader scope of our regular Community Grants program aimed at strengthening the charitable sector and engaging citizens. However, we also made some adaptations that reflect the ongoing effects of the pandemic, our commitment to Reconciliation, and our belief in the value of partnerships and collaboratives for advancing equity and systemic change. We anticipate that the demand on the program will remain as high as it was throughout 2020-2021.
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 application deadline is September 15, 2021 at 4pm.
Is your organization interested in applying for the fall Community Grants cycle? Join us to learn more on August 12 from 1pm – 3pm or August 17 from 10am – 12pm.
How to apply:
Review the program guidelines carefully.
It’s best to contact grants staff a month before the deadline to discuss your initiative. Please click here to schedule a Community Grant conversation before September 8th.
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 short video or audio recording. If you choose video or audio, you will record, 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. Detailed instructions are listed in the application.
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 or Ingrid Wasylyshen.