Grants and Funding Options
Targeted Initiatives
The New Horizons for Seniors Program has multiple funding streams:
Pan-Canadian Projects test and share best practices across the country, and replicate interventions that have worked well in addressing seniors’ issues. Projects may be funded up to $750,000 for a maximum of three years.
Community-Based Projects
Community-based projects that enable seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others, and help communities increase their capacity to address local issues, are eligible to receive up to $25,000 per year, per organization. Projects must be led by seniors, or seniors must play a meaningful role in the project planning and/or delivery.
Projects must address one or more of the program's five objectives: 1) promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations; 2) engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others; 3) expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse; 4) supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors; and 5) providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.
For 2018, three new national level priorities have also been introduced: 1) projects that would benefit vulnerable seniors populations; 2) projects focusing on the diversity of Canada’s seniors; and 3) projects that would use volunteerism to increase an organization’s capacity.
Small Grants Initiative Pilot up to $5,000
In 2018, NHSP is testing new ways to expand support to seniors organizations that have projects for their vulnerable population. Priority will be given to projects for seniors and meet at least one of the three national priorities (listed above). There are three funding options: 1) IT equipment upgrade: to purchase computers or tablets 2) Capital assets for current or new activities and 3) Projects that increase volunteerism, mentoring, and social inclusion.
The goal of the Alberta Community Injury Control Fund is to improve the well-being of individuals, increase individual and community safety, and reduce unintentional injuries by assisting communities with resources to undertake solutions to local injury problems. It is intended for specific, time-limited projects that address unmet, unintentional primary injury prevention needs.
The Covenant Health Network of Excellence in Seniors’ Health and Wellness provides seed-funding for initiatives through their Innovation Fund. The innovation fund focuses on projects and initiatives that enable high-impact change in the seniors' health and wellness system.
The Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund supports community projects that foster equality and reduce discrimination. Human Rights Project grants are for projects that advance change and address specific human rights issues. Experience Human Rights grants are for experiences that raise awareness, encourage engagement or stimulate future interest or action in and contributions for human rights and diversity. Deadlines for both grants are May 1 and October 1.
The Heritage Preservation Partnership Program provides financial assistance to initiatives that preserve and interpret Alberta's heritage including development of publications, research and oral history projects.
The Edmonton Community Foundation supports requests from charities representing arts, culture and heritage; education and learning; community and social services; health and wellness; recreation and leisure; and the environment through its Community Grants Program.
The Allstate Foundation of Canada provides grants to charities and not-for-profit organizations to fund activities and educational initiatives related to crime prevention, road safety or home safety. Learn more.
The Taking Action Against Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response Grant Program supports the creation, enhancement and implementation of coordinated community responses to elder abuse in communities/regions throughout Alberta through improved coordination among service providers.
The Laurel Awards established by Duncan Craig LLP recognize the achievements of non-profit groups in Edmonton and area which further their objectives through exceptional creativity and innovation. Four awards with a value of between $1000-5000 are given each year. The application deadline is typically the end of May.
The Aviva Community Fund (ACF) is Canada’s longest running online charitable funding competition. There are three project categories: Community Resilience, Community Health, and Community Development. Funding is offered in two levels: $50,000 and under for small ideas, and $50,000 to $100,000 for large ideas. Winners of the competition will also receive free services from CanadaHelps.
Organizations interested in hosting events for Alberta’s Culture Days (last weekend of September) can apply for grants from the Alberta government. Up to $10,000 is available to communities that want to be designated a Feature Celebration Site for three days of programming. Up to $5,000 is available for communities interested in being a Host Celebration Site for two days of programming. Up to $1,000 is available for groups wishing to host a one-day Pop-Up event. The deadline to apply is usually June.
Anti-Racism Community Grant
The Anti-Racism Community Grant supports initiatives that raise awareness and understanding of racism and its impact on Albertans. The grant will be divided into two streams: a general community stream and a stream directed at supporting anti-racism projects and initiatives that affect Alberta’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. The application intake deadlines for 2018-19 are: Intake 1 – Aug.1, Intake 2 – Nov. 1, Intake 3 – Jan. 1
Alberta Status of Women Community Grant Program
The Alberta Status of Women Community Grant Program provides one-time funding to not-for-profit and charitable organizations for projects and activities that improve the lives of women and girls in Alberta and relate to one or more priority areas.
Operations
The Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) provides funding for eligible capital projects that increase accessibility for people with disabilities in Canadian communities and workplaces, creating more opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in community activities, programs and services, or access employment opportunities. Not-for-profit organizations could receive up to $1 million for the retrofit, renovation or new construction of accessible facilities or venues through the EAF call for concepts (CFC) for mid-sized projects.
The Alberta Community Facility Enhancement Program provides financial assistance to acquire, build, purchase, repair, renovate, upgrade or expand sports, recreational, cultural or other related public-use community facilities.
The City of Edmonton offers a broad range of grants and funding opportunities each year. Seniors organizations may be interested in the Community Investment Operating Grant program which provides operating assistance to non-profits whose activities benefit citizens of Edmonton and the Community Facility Partner Capital Grant Program (CFPCG) which supports partnerships that enhance public use facilities so people can thrive in an active and attractive city
The Community Investment Program Celebrations Grant is intended to assist, through limited financial support, with the production of one-day celebratory events within the City of Edmonton. Applicants must be the organization producing the one-day event, have not-for-profit status and be incorporated for at least one year prior to applying for a celebrations grant. Refer to the application guidelines for event eligibility.
The Community Investment Program offered by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority funds innovative community projects to build a stronger, safer and more accessible Internet for all Canadians. Some examples of projects that may be considered for funding include: Community access to the Internet, Internet tools, and devices, online services for vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, digital literacy and/or web safety, and infrastructure and Internet securityasdf
Staffing and Staff Development
The Canada-Alberta Job Grant supports employee training that increases the skills and competencies of current and future employees. The program is available to private and not-for-profit sector employers of all sizes across the province. To be eligible, Alberta employers must have a current or potential employee who needs training to fill current or future positions. Employers contribute one-third of the total training costs and government contributes two-thirds of the cost to a maximum of $10,000 per trainee. If hiring and training an unemployed Albertan, up to 100% of training costs could be covered to a maximum of $15,000 per trainee.
The PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada Foundation Leadership Grants Program provides funding for professional development opportunities for staff and volunteers who work at small to medium-sized registered charitable organizations in Canada. Grants are available in two categories: Individual Leadership Grants ($2,500) and Team Leadership Grants ($5,000).
ATB Financial’s Time to Think Grants are designed to give staff, board and members of non-profits time to build skills or develop strategies that will help their organizations to change and improve. Grants will be given in the areas of social innovation, business development and/or people and culture (human resources). ATB will give up to two grants a year to a maximum of $20,000 per applicant.
Devon Canada's Investing in People grant encourages innovative projects and activities that help to build organizational capacity. Initiatives that align with the goals of the grant include employee and volunteer training, organizational strategic planning, team building activities, and development of benefits/compensation programs. Applicant organizations must be registered charities or non-profits and have an impact in one or more of the Canadian communities in which Devon operates which includes Edmonton.
The Serving Communities Internship Program (SCiP) brings Alberta’s nonprofit organizations and post-secondary students together to make a difference in their communities. SCiP internships are meaningful, skill-based opportunities providing mutual benefit to both nonprofit organizations and post-secondary students. There is no cost to organizations. Students receive a $1000 bursary. The program year runs August 1 to July 31.
The Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP) provides a wage subsidy of $7/hour for eligible employers to hire high school or post-secondary students to work summer jobs from May to August. Eligibility requirements, application forms and program guidelines can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/step.aspx.
The Canada Summer Jobs program provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for students between the ages of 15 and 30. Not-for-profit employers are eligible to receive funding for up to 100 per cent of the provincial adult minimum hourly wage. Review the eligibility requirements and application details.
The Muttart Foundation offers two bursary programs that help build organizational capacity of charities through staff and key volunteer professional development.The Muttart Bursary Program and the Muttart Leadership Program cover the tuition or registration costs of courses, programs, conferences or other training opportunities offered by a non-profit entity or a publicly-funded post-secondary institution. .