Grants and Funding Options

Seniors-specific Initiatives

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects designed by and for seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others.

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.

Organizations are invited to apply for funding under the NHSP’s three national priorities: 1) preventing elder abuse and fraud, including measures to reduce crimes and harms against seniors 2) supporting healthy aging in community and addressing dementia, including community supports and intergenerational housing and 3) counteracting ageism in the workplace to promote labour market retention of seniors

The program has two funding streams:

• Pan-Canadian Projects provides funding for initiatives that will support the development and implementation of collaborative approaches to increase the social inclusion of seniors. Eligible organizations can apply for $500,000 to $5 million for a project consisting of a 3 to 5 year collective impact initiative.
• Community-Based Projects provides funding for projects that encourage seniors to play an important role in their communities by volunteering, participating in and leading community activities. The program also provides funds to help organizations make necessary modifications or repairs to their facilities, or to purchase replacement equipment and furnishings, to enable their continued use for programs and activities for seniors. Organizations can receive up to $25,000 per funding year in grant funding for projects that are up to 12 months in duration. Eligible organizations that have not received funding for the last 5 years can receive up to $5,000 per project.

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.

Health and Well-being

The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund supports projects that improve access to mental health care, supports and services for people in Canada.

The Aviva Community Fund is Canada’s longest running online charitable funding competition. Funds support initiatives that bring people together to create change within their community.

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 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. 

Community Inclusion grants strengthen municipal efforts to build inclusive communities.

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.

The Alberta Blue Cross Healthy Communities Grant program was created to help Albertans build spaces for active living in their community. Whether it be a skate park, playground, outdoor gym or arena, Alberta Blue Cross is helping Albertans young and old get and stay healthy.

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. Small funding stream (up to $125,000). Large funding stream ($125,001 and up to $1 million).

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 which supports partnerships that enhance public use facilities so people can thrive in an active and attractive city.

The Celebrations Grant assists with the production of one-day celebratory events and/or major parades within the City of Edmonton.

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority Community Investment Program 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 security.

Organizations interested in hosting events for Alberta’s Culture Days (last weekend of September) can apply for grants from the Alberta government to be Feature Celebration Site, a Host Celebration Site or a Pop-Up Celebration site.

If you are looking for funding to support the costs of goods and services needed to start, expand or repair a community garden site, consider applying for Sustainable Food Edmonton’s Community Garden Grant.

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 Muttart Foundation bursary programs 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.

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.

Community Organizations

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 helps charitable organizations strengthen the community through grants, initiatives, and social enterprise funding.

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.