Neighbour Grants offers up to $10,000 for belonging-building projects that are led by people in their own neighbourhoods and communities.

A healthy, vibrant community is one where people feel they belong. That sense of belonging grows when people accomplish something together. Neighbour Grants helps projects designed and delivered by people in the communities they’re part of, in collaboration with local charities and nonprofits.

Since we started in 1999, Neighbour Grants has supported more than 784 projects run by community volunteers and their supporters in our region. These projects have helped build a sense of belonging by bringing people together through creative initiatives, cultural celebrations, learning opportunities, and more. Belonging-building activities help address loneliness by giving people meaningful ways to connect with their neighbours and take part in community life.

Eligibility

To qualify for a Neighbour Grant:

  • Registered charities must use a community development approach and have meaningful project leadership roles for grassroots people from the project community.
  • If your group is a nonprofit without charity status or an informal volunteer group, contact us to discuss grant options.
  • Be located in Calgary, Banff National Park, Canmore, Rocky View County, the Municipal Districts of Big Horn, Foothills, Kananaskis and Wheatland (including towns and hamlets), and the surrounding First Nations of Treaty 7 territory. View our granting boundaries.

Next grant intake

We look at applications about ten times a year. We do our best to respond to all applications according to these time frames. However, we reserve the right to occasionally move applications to a later deadline when necessary and feasible.

Next deadlines:

  • May 26 for results announced early June
  • July 7 for results announced end July
  • September 16 for results announced early October
  • October 13 for results announced early November
  • November 9 for results announced early December

Subsequent grant deadlines for 2027 will be announced in late Fall.

How to apply

  • Set up a time to discuss your idea with Julie.
  • Once you’ve determined your project is eligible by talking to us, use our online application portal to apply. 
Online Grant Portal

Downloads

Additional resources

  • If your work focuses on community development, you may want to explore the Community Development Learning Initiative (CDLI), a Calgary-based learning network that supports community-led initiatives.
  • If your project brings people together to transform public spaces through gardens, art, or other creative approaches, the Federation of Calgary Communities’ Good Places Project offers local inspiration, resources, and funding.

  • This initiative has provided a platform for seniors to showcase their talents and learn that it’s never too late to try something new. ElderSong has grown beyond our expectations thanks to the support of the Calgary Foundation. 

      Herb Coburn
      ElderSong

    Set up a time to discuss your project

    Book a conversation

    Check out some of our past projects 

    Get Inspired!