Community organizations operate for the greater good. Nonetheless, while community organizations do not exist to make money, they require funds to function. And, given the importance of their work, they must have constant access to cash.
Most organizations are adept at developing community development projects. However, very few people are skilled in obtaining grants for community organizations. This lack of financial knowledge frequently leaves many questions unanswered. However, one question: where can community organizations obtain the funds they require?
Many financing initiatives are available in Canada to assist community organizations in achieving their specific goals. The goal is to identify those for which your organization qualifies. Alternatively, you can seek the advice of a fund-raising expert.
The following are some government awards available in Canada.
Community Support Organizations Operating Funding
Operating Financing for Community Support Organizations provides annual funding to qualifying not-for-profit community organizations that provide arts programmes and services to communities, including those with limited arts options.
This financing is intended to assist your organization’s operations that are particular to its mandate, strategic and/or business plan, and activities as indicated in your application and/or reporting.
Eligible applicants: You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for Community Support Organizations operational funding:
- As specified in its incorporation statement, your organization’s primary mandate should be artist support and growth, training, or public participation in the arts.
Your business must:
- be a not-for-profit organization, be registered and in good standing under the applicable legislation, and have been in operation in Alberta for at least two years, with at least half of the organization’s board members residing in Alberta, and demonstrate the ability to operate using good governance principles, effective administration practises, and a commitment to fiscal responsibility while maintaining its mandate
- operate independently of municipalities, commercial companies, or organizations and institutions receiving annual operating money from the Government of Canada
Submission Deadline: March annually
Contact
- Contact Name: Cynthia Enzenhofer, Arts Development Consultant – Sector Support
- Phone Number: 780-415-0282
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Community Performing Arts Organizations Operating Funding
This grant gives annual financing to eligible non-profit community organizations that create and produce performing arts productions independently.
Eligible applicants: You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for Community Performing Arts Organizations operating funding:
- As the primary mission of your organization, engage in the creation and production of performing arts.
Your business must:
- Become a non-profit organization.
- Be registered and in good standing under the relevant legislation (e.g., Alberta Corporate Registry) and have been in business in Alberta for at least two years.
- Have at least half of the organization’s board members reside in Alberta.
- Demonstrate the capacity to balance good governance and fiscal responsibility while remaining true to their creative vocation.
- Operate independently of organizations and institutions that receive annual operational funds from the Alberta government, their affiliates, and/or commercial enterprises.
Please keep in mind the following information for first-time applicants:
- For a preliminary eligibility assessment, you must contact the AFA at least three months before the deadline.
- Your organization must provide approved financial statements demonstrating positive net assets for the two most recent fiscal years before application.
- legislation (for example, the Alberta Corporate Registry) and have been operating in Alberta for at least two years
Submission Deadline: Yearly: October 1
Contact
- Contact Name: Cynthia Enzenhofer, Arts Development Consultant – Sector Support
- Phone Number: 780-415-0282
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Emerging Immigrant and Refugee Communities Grant Program
The 2017 Emerging Immigrant and Refugee Community (EIRC) Grant Program supports immigrant and refugee communities who are new to Edmonton and are in the process of settling and integrating. EIRC Grants help the following organizations:
- Rent out space
- Organize community events
- Increase cultural identity and pride
- Collaborate with other community non-profit groups to fill gaps in existing programmes and services.
Community Event Grants help growing immigrant, and refugee community organizations bring together members of their communities to commemorate major milestones.
Applicants Who Are Eligible:
- Be an Edmonton-based immigrant or refugee community group suffering settlement and/or integration challenges.
- Be a non-profit organization for at least six months.
- There are no outstanding reports from past grants from the City of Edmonton.
The event must include:
- What is happening in Edmonton?
- Use the funds raised at the event to support Edmonton initiatives and services.
Ineligible events:
- Fundraisers for non-Edmonton initiatives
- Political or religious occurrences
- Personal weddings, burials, and events
Submission Deadline: Visit the link given below for more information.
Contact
- Contact Name: Community Grants Office
- Phone Number: 780-496-4933
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Community Initiatives Program (CIP)
The Community Initiatives Program (CIP) funds organizations that provide opportunities for Albertans to engage with and contribute to the development of their communities.
CIP outcomes include:
- promote community-driven goals with a public benefit through strengthening community groups’ leadership and organizational capabilities
Applicants Who Are Eligible:
CIP receives funding from three distinct sources. Please follow the links below to learn more about your eligibility:
Submission Deadline: Open and close.
Contact
- Contact Name: Community Initiatives Program – Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women
- Phone Number: 780-422-9598 or 1-800-642-3855 (toll-free)
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.alberta.ca
Regional Community Foundation Funds
A Regional Community Foundation Fund is a highly beneficial instrument for residents who want to enhance their communities. Regional Community Funds are a collaboration between local communities and our Community Foundation. They allow residents the opportunity to contribute back to their community and show their pride in their hometown. Like other Legacy funds, these funds are established on gifts of all kinds that are pooled together into a single fund that will support charitable causes in the local community for decades.
A Fund Advisory Committee comprises persons who either live in the local area or have a strong connection to it leads all Regional Community Foundation Funds. These hardworking individuals ensure that the fund supports their community’s current priorities, its rising needs and prospects.
The Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta hosts three regional funds in total.
- Peace River and the neighbouring areas are served by the North Peace Community Foundation Fund.
- Serving Sexsmith and the neighbouring communities through the Sexsmith Community Foundation Fund
- Beaverlodge, Elmsworth, Hythe, Wembley, and surrounding areas are served by the West County Community Foundation Fund.
Submission Deadline: Ongoing
Contact
- Contact Name: Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta
- Phone Number: (780) 538 2820
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Smart & Caring Community Grants Program
Smart and Caring Grants assist in making communities in Southeastern Alberta a better place to live for everyone by increasing citizens’ sense of belonging and strengthening the non-profit and voluntary sectors. We use a detailed method to assess the most critical community needs based on data and evidence-based practice when giving funding. Grants are then provided depending on the prospective impact and the availability of funds. Donors designate their investment income to certain charities or school divisions through Designated Endowment Funds (including Field of Interest, Donor-Advised, and Scholarships).
Eligible applicants:
- It is a non-profit organization that serves Southeastern Alberta (the area covered by the Foundation)
- It is a charitable organization with a charitable registration number from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- It is a qualified donee, according to the CRA website.
Submission Deadline: March 15 and September 15 annually
Contact
- Contact Name: Chris Christie
- Phone Number: (403) 527-9038
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Community Culture Grants by The City of Red Deer
The Community Culture Development Fund is a grant programme administered by the City of Red Deer that gives financial assistance to non-profit organizations offering arts, culture, and heritage programmes in our community. Grant funds are intended to assist organizations in developing their capacity to provide a service, managing a cultural facility, serving as an umbrella organization for other cultural organizations, developing new cultural programmes and services, and/or producing a community-based special event or festival.
Funding Sources:
- Culture Development Category: Helps service providers offset operational costs associated with delivering cultural activities and services in the community. The next three-year grant cycle will begin in the fall of 2022.
- Community Culture Category: Offers assistance to offset short-term and/or one-time costs associated with unforeseen cultural opportunities where longer-term planning was impossible. Applications for this category are accepted all year long until the funds are depleted, at which point intake will be closed. We are now accepting applications for the fiscal year 2022.
Community Public Art Grant Program: encourages the development of collaborative art projects with community groups and/or companies, artists, and The City of Red Deer, with the project sponsor and The City sharing financial assistance.
Applicants Who Are Eligible: Non-profit organizations that provide community arts, culture, and heritage initiatives
Submission Deadline: The next three-year cycle for grant intakes will be in the fall of 2022.
Contact
- Contact Name: Culture Services
- Phone Number: 403-406-8820
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Syncrude Community Investment Program
Syncrude is pleased to support organizations and initiatives that advance education, the environment, health and safety, science and technology, Aboriginal and community development, arts and culture, and recreation. For initiatives that fall into the following categories, we may provide support in the form of finances, materials/equipment, or employee time and expertise:
- Projects in education and lifetime learning that cannot be sponsored by local school boards and/or institutes of higher learning
- Environment, health, and safety-related organizations or events
- Projects for community development that improve community amenities and activities. In the future, projects must be autonomous and reflect the needs and interests of a diverse group of people (within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo only)
- Theatre, concerts, film, and exhibitions that advance the arts, entertain, or inform are examples of arts and culture enterprises or organizations (within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo only)
- Amateur sports organizations and recreational programmes that promote health and fitness (within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo only)
- Projects or organizations in science and technology that foster collaboration and promote oil sands technology
Applicants Who Are Eligible: Organizations in the Wood Buffalo Regional Municipality and the City of Edmonton.
Submission Deadline: Ongoing
Contact
- Contact Name: Joanne Hulan
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Community Improvement Grant
The Community Improvement Grant allows community groups to undertake improvements in the City of Grande Prairie. Grants will assist citizens in collaborating to improve the community as a whole. These kinds of projects promote civic pride and establish friendships. Previous grants include the following:
- Orchards and edible landscaping
- Picnic tables, benches, and bike racks can be found in neighbourhood parks.
- Park for outdoor fitness
- Hotels for bees
- Murals in public places
- Banners in the neighbourhood
This grant is intended to replace the Neighbourhood Enhancement Matching Grant, Parks Improvement Grant, and Community Enhancement Grant. This will simplify the application procedure and make it easier for organizations to apply for funding.
Eligible applicants:
- Not-for-profit organizations, Businesses, individuals, and schools will be considered for projects that benefit the community.
- Projects that are open to all inhabitants
- Previous projects have been completed satisfactorily.
Submission Deadline: Applications are due October 1 of each year.
Contact
- Contact Name: Administrative Coordinator – Sports Development, Wellness and Culture, City of Grande Prairie
- Phone Number: 780-538-0453
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program
The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) programme intends to develop more community buildings and enhance existing ones, particularly in areas with higher needs, while making the buildings more energy-efficient, low-carbon, resilient, and high-performing. This $1.5 billion five-year programme will finance green and accessible retrofits, repairs or renovations to existing public community facilities, and the construction of new publicly-accessible community buildings that serve high-needs, underserved areas across Canada.
Applicants Who Are Eligible: Small and medium retrofit applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Consider the following:
- All provincial, territorial, and municipal governments are included.
- Organizations in the public sector
- Not-for-profit organizations and registered charities that are federally or provincially incorporated
- Indigenous governance structures
- Native American non-profit groups
Large retrofits and new construction are not currently accepting proposals.
Submission Deadline: Rolling Intake
Contact
- Contact Name: Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC)
- Phone Number: 1-877-997-9926
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Conclusion
The Canadian government and many other community founnon-profitkes grants to Canadian schools, charities, and community organizations that help children and youth (up to age 21). Since its inception in 2012, the Community Foundations has awarded over $11 million to over 1000 projects across Canada.
The majority of the awards they give fall under this category. Instead of preserving existing services, eligible initiatives should boost an organization’s capabilities and establish or expand services. For example, buying new equipment or starting new programmes.
Grants for Community Organizations aim at providing funding to projects that help children have better futures, such as social services and arts and culture.
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