Funding 

Bow Valley Non-Profit Grant Meetings

Would you like to learn more about grant opportunities? Join a local group, in person or virtually, on the second Thursday of each month from 10:15 am to 12:15 pm at the Canmore Public Library. Contact Elle West at the Town of Canmore for more details: [email protected].

• March 12th, 2026
• April 9th, 2026
• May 14th, 2026
• June 11th, 2026

These meetings focus on connecting to the Grant Connect Database and finding upcoming grant opportunities. The group discusses ways to develop partnership opportunities, collaborate on events, share resources & grants, and discuss grant writing best practices. Any Bow Valley organizations seeking funding or grant opportunities are welcome to join! Feel free to invite others who may benefit.

NEW Grant Funding Opportunities – Winter/Spring 2026

Organized by deadline date (soonest to latest)

Home Depot Canada Foundation

The Youth Opportunity Grants will consider applications from Canadian registered charities dedicated to preventing and ending youth homelessness in Canada through housing, prevention and employment programs. Including housing transformation, healthy pathways (prevention), and youth innovation, which include youth-led initiatives and education programs. Maximum Grant is up to $75,000.00.

*Application deadline is March 7, 2026

Enabling Accessibility Fund

This funding opportunity aims to make workplaces and communities across Canada more accessible. It will fund projects that create more opportunities for persons with disabilities to access and maintain employment. In addition, it will fund projects that remove accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities in Indigenous workplaces or Indigenous communities.

*Application deadline is March 12, 2026

Canadian Future-Ready Education Grant

This grant helps you bring engaging, real-world learning into your classroom or community.

With CFREG, your students will:

• Explore future-ready topics such as entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital literacy, public speaking, STEM and innovation.
• Develop over 70 essential soft skills like confidence, resilience, leadership, and critical thinking, self awareness, communication —skills that support both academic success and mental health.
• Connect learning to real life with hands-on experiences that are fun, memorable, and designed to integrate with your provincial mandated curriculum.

*Application deadline is March 12, 2026

Human Rights Internet

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human Rights Internet (HRI) has been a leader in supporting human rights since 1976, inspiring education, advocacy, dialogue, and action in Canada and beyond.

HRI believes small grass-roots actions can lead to meaningful positive changes in communities. Our Small Grants Competition supports initiatives of any kind that help promote or protect any human right. You may apply for a grant of up to $3,500 from anywhere in Canada.

*Application deadline is March 13, 2026

Rick Hansen Barrier Buster Fund

Empowering communities across the country to remove physical barriers and create spaces that welcome people of all ages and abilities.

Accessibility grants of up to $40,000 to complete an access-improvement project in your community, in honour of the 40th Anniversary of Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour, and in partnership with RBC and RBC Foundation.

*Application deadline is March 15, 2025

World Day of Prayer Grant

The World Day of Prayer (WDP) is celebrated in more than 170 countries around the world, typically on the first Friday in March. From the WDP offerings received in Canada, funds are made available to support registered charities supporting local or international initiatives with and on behalf of women in the following areas: violence against women, economic justice, health, education, racism, and peace.

*Application deadline is March 31, 2026

Access Copyright Foundation Professional Development Grant

Promoting excellence in Canadian content by supporting artistic and professional skills development for individuals and organizations engaged in the creation, production and publication of text and images.

*Application deadline is April 1, 2026

Conservation Alliance Member Collective Grants

Projects must seek to achieve one of the following goals:

• Establish long-term protection for land and/or water in their efforts to foster a planet where natural places, wildlife, and people thrive together. Protection efforts include private land acquisitions/easements, federal-level efforts to conserve land and water, and landscape scale restoration efforts.
• Support management processes and planning that promote the climate resiliency and biodiversity of protected areas.

*Open Inquiry/Recommendation Call deadline is April 10, 2026

National Tenant Organizing Fund

The NTOF is designed to fill a critical gap in Canada’s housing justice landscape: the absence of a national body to fund, coordinate, and strengthen tenant organizing. Although tenants across the country face similar struggles, their ability to respond collectively remains fragmented, underfunded, and unevenly supported. The NTOF aims to change that.

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a tenant union, tenant-led group, or tenant organizing collective
• Demonstrate active tenant organizing
• Operate independently of landlords, governments, or institutions
• Have a minimum of three active members

*Application deadline is April 12, 2026

Banff Community Grants

Town of Banff Community Grants were established to provide an annual distribution of funds to enhance the quality of life for residents and encourage positive environmental change.

Grant applications are reviewed by the municipal Community Grants Committee, using a scoring matrix. The Committee will provide recommendations to Banff Town Council for the distribution of funds.

*Application deadline is April 30, 2026

Canmore Community Grants

The Town of Canmore Community Grants Program provides funding to Canmore-based not-for profit societies and community organizations.

Funding will support local initiatives and local/regional events that promote environmental stewardship, a sense of belonging, community affordability, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

*Applications deadline is April 30, 2026

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage – Local Festivals

Local Festivals component provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, local artisans, local heritage performers or specialists, and local First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultural carriers. This includes the celebration of 2SLGBTQI+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations.

*Application deadline is April 30 for festivals starting January 1 – June 30 of the next calendar year

Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program – Events Component

Funding to community based events that:

• promote intercultural or interfaith understanding
• promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination
• celebrate a community’s history and culture such as heritage months recognized by Parliament

*Application deadline is June 10, 2026

Ongoing Funding Opportunities

Organized alphabetically

Allstate Community Foundation

The Allstate Foundation of Canada supports non-profit charities who are actively working to address and overcome the issues of domestic abuse and inclusive and accessible housing, as well as providing opportunities for Allstate Canada employees to create positive social change in their communities, mostly through volunteerism.

Assumption Life Foundation

Corporate sponsorships and donations are distributed with a preference for the health and education sectors, including initiatives that promote a healthy lifestyle among youth.

• Applications for $2,000 or more must be submitted on or before August 31 for consideration in the following year’s budget.
• Applications for less than $2,000 must be received at least three months prior to the event in question.

Chamandy Foundation

Funding supports emergency, transitional, and sustainable housing initiatives. Support goes beyond immediate shelter needs, focusing on sustainable, community-driven solutions that allow individuals and families to build lasting stability and a sense of belonging.

CIBC Community And Sponsorship

The CIBC Foundation serves multiple focus areas:

• Supporting Cancer Initiatives
• Cancer research, treatment, screening and diagnosis
• Wellness, survivorship and patient support programs
• Championing inclusive communities
• Projects increasing access to education and employment outcomes for underserved communities, with a focus on reskilling and upskilling
• Programming for children aged 13 and under that supports healthy active living, education and enrichment or help for children with disabilities
• Investing in financial education
• Financial education resources and learning opportunities

Alberta Innovate Strategic Networking and Development Program
This program supports members of Alberta post-secondaries and not-for-profits who are leading events that focus on emerging technologies that inspire innovation, foster collaboration, and drive progress in our province, with up to $25,000 in funding.

Alberta Wetland Replacement Program
Municipalities and non-profits can apply for funding to construct or restore wetlands. The mandate of the Wetland Replacement Program is to facilitate the replacement of wetlands within all municipalities and watersheds across Alberta, prioritizing:

• watersheds which have had the greatest loss of wetlands since 2015
• areas with the highest rates of loss historically

The Wetland Replacement Program focuses on fostering partnerships with municipalities and non-profit organizations that have a vested interest in wetland replacement.

Canada Council for the Arts – Sector Support, Innovation and Development

Funding for projects that encourage and support the ongoing growth, strengthening, and development of the arts sector. Includes projects by artists, arts professionals, cultural connectors, groups and organizations.

Canada Cultural Investment Fund – Limited Support to Endangered Arts Organizations

In specific circumstances, funding is available for the restructuring of an arts organization, so it can continue to contribute to the community it is serving. This component was established for those rare instances where a professional arts organization faces the prospect of closure, yet there is a high degree of support for its continuation and a viable business/restructuring plan.

Canadian Red Cross – Resilience Fund – Youth Leading Change

The Resilience Fund supports youth (aged 16 – 30) to create projects that help make their communities stronger.

To receive up to $5,000 in funding, your project must meet some criteria:

• Led by youth: The project should be planned and run by young people.
• Action-focused: It should include real activities, not just ideas.
• Safe and respectful: It should make sure everyone feels comfortable.
• Inclusive and helpful: It should welcome everyone and give back to the community.

Your project can be anything that helps your community! Here are some examples.

• Start a free community sports night
• Create a mural on truth and reconciliation
• Host a 2SLGBTQ+ arts and awareness workshop
• Plant a community garden
• Organize a newcomer welcome club
• Make emergency preparedness kits for families

Commemorative Partnership Program

The Commemorative Partnership Program (CPP) provides funding related to community engagement projects such as commemorative activities (e.g. events) and commemorative resources (e.g. learning materials).

Crowdfunding Alberta 

Non-profit organizations create their campaigns and invite supporters to share on social media and donate. The organization receives all of the donations raised, less third party payment processing fees and optional platform fees, whether they reach their funding goal or not. The Government of Alberta will match 30% of funds raised by an eligible campaign in its first 8 weeks on the platform.

Electronics Recycling Association

They collect used electronic equipment and repurpose them for charities/nonprofits: “The Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) is a non-profit organization committed to reducing unnecessary electronic waste by recycling and repurposing used electronics. We work with local companies to repurpose used electronics and IT equipment in a safe and secure manner. Our team works with community charities to provide repurposed computers and electronics to those in need.” 

Requests must be made by one of the following:

• Not-for-Profit Organizations
• Charitable Organization
• Care Facilities (ie: hospitals, seniors’ homes)
• Educational Institutions

Foyston Gordon and Payne Foundation

The Foundation’s mission is to support registered charities whose activities and programs benefit children anywhere in Canada. The focus is on smaller charities, where grants will result in noticeable changes and have a long-lasting impact, and on charities helping children locally. A minimum of one donation each year is provided to a charity serving Indigenous peoples of Canada.

The Georgina Foundation
The Foundation provides funding in the range of $200 – $2,000 per agency in order to be able to support as many charitable organizations as possible. Agencies must demonstrate that funding will make a difference to the service or program for which they are requesting support. Organizations chosen to receive funding typically have great financial need and receive limited funding from other sources.

Gloria Baylis Foundation

Grant programs fund three key areas:

• Health and Wellbeing
  • Integrated and innovative healthcare solutions
  • Food assurance and security
  • Mental Health and well-being
• Education and Development Opportunities
  • Education and learning opportunities
  • Skills and Career Development
  • Enrichment initiatives
• Community Support and Advancement
  • Community and safe spaces
  • Knowledge and awareness
  • Capacity and resilience

Government of Canada’s Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund

There are two priorities for this support fund:

1. Support for Official Language Minority Communities: Boost the supply of legal information and socio-legal support services for official language minority communities, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations within those communities.
2. Support for the Justice System: Strengthen the bilingual capacity of the justice system through language training, professional development and promotion of the language of law.

Government of Canada, Canadian Heritage Legacy Fund

Funding supports community-initiated capital projects that:
• commemorate a significant local historical event or pay tribute to a significant local historical personality;
• mark a 100th anniversary or greater, in increments of 25 years (e.g., 125th, 150th);
• involve the restoration, renovation, or transformation of existing buildings or exterior spaces with local community significance that are intended for community use;
• encourage arts and heritage activities in the local community that are intended for and accessible to the general public.

*Projects must be submitted before the anniversary date of the event or personality to be commemorated.

Government of Canada Community Economic Development Services Funding

Examples of eligible activities include:

• Community Development – includes activities to stimulate economic growth or diversification that capitalize on community capacity, strengths and opportunities.
• Community Adjustment – includes activities to support Prairie communities facing economic shocks, challenging economic circumstances and/or depressed economic conditions.
• Inclusiveness – includes activities that help women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, official language minority communities and other underrepresented groups participate in the economy

The CEDD program uses a 2-stage continuous intake approach:

• Expression of interest (EOI): This abbreviated online application form lets you describe the proposed project purpose, rationale, eligibility, activities and budget.
• Full application: If your project advances to the second stage, we invite you to provide more details about the project through our online portal. This may include financial statements, confirmation of other sources of funding and other project information

Health Care Policy and Strategies Program

Time-limited funding for projects to non-profit organizations and other levels of government for projects that aim to improve the accessibility, quality, sustainability and accountability of Canada’s health care system. The program supports the federal government’s commitment to maintain a strong and effective publicly funded health care system.

Health Canada supports project proposals from organizations based on the program’s 4 priority areas:

• mental health care
• home and community care
• palliative and end-of-life care
• other federal, provincial/territorial and emerging priorities

One-time funding through contribution agreements supports projects that:

• increase understanding, knowledge and research on data, policies, best practices, products, technologies and processes
• including identifying gaps, needs and trends
• identify, develop, implement, assess and promote new or modified tools, approaches and models that promote people-centred health care systems
• identify, develop, implement, assess and promote new learning opportunities, skills development, standards, products and technological solutions

 HJR Consulting

Granting priorities are focused on creating the individual and systemic conditions necessary for people to realize their full potential. Priorities focus on those with immediate needs and children, youth and families who are economically disadvantaged. Grants support organizations that deliver measurable impact in support of that vision.

The application process begins with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) found by clicking the New Application button in portal. LOIs can be submitted at any time.

Honda Canada Foundation

The Honda Canada Foundation was created to lend a hand to registered non-profit charities that strive to make the lives of Canadians better, with a focus on four pillars: Education, Environment, Mobility, Traffic Safety and Community.

Market Access Strategy for Official Language Minority Communities

This fund supports Canadian artists, arts workers, artistic groups and artistic organizations who self-identify as belonging to an OLMC (defined as groups of people whose maternal or chosen official language is not the majority language in their province or territory—in other words, Anglophones in Quebec and Francophones outside of Quebec).

Max Bell Foundation

Project based and development grants for registered charities. Eligible proposals are ones that are designed to inform public policy and align with priorities of Health & Wellness, Environment, Education or Civic Engagement and Democratic Institutions.

RBC Donations and Sponsorship

Sponsorships are an integral part of RBC’s marketing and promotional activities. Preferred – but not exclusive – areas of sponsorship are:

• Arts & Culture
• Olympics
• Golf
• Environment

Proposals in other categories are evaluated on how well they support the strategies of our various lines of business.

Silver Gummy

Funding for projects/organizations that are innovative and strive for achievement in the area of gender-based education. Applications are accepted from any registered charity in Canada that is focused on solutions to address gender-based violence. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed approximately every 6 weeks.

SPAR DONATION FUND PROGRAM

Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation (SPAR) Donation Fund Program encourages support for the development of sport, physical activity and recreation in Alberta. Eligible sport, physical activity and recreation development programs are those delivered directly or in partnership with the organizations enrolled in the Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Donation Fund Program.

Strategic Fund – Community Life

This fund enhances the vitality of official language minority communities through major projects and strategic initiatives designed to improve community living spaces (meeting places, cultural programs and events, community radio and others). Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to: costs to set up, deliver and monitor projects that help ensure the long-term development of official language minority communities in priority sectors.

The Tenaquip Foundation

This foundation assists registered charities in Canada and abroad, primarily in the areas of homelessness, poverty, abuse, caregiving, medical research, children’s welfare and humanitarian causes.
Funding requests from new applicants are reviewed continuously, and the donations committee meets in early October of each year to make final decisions on beneficiaries.

Totem Charitable Foundation

The intent of the Totem Charitable Foundation is to build healthy communities, inspire innovative thinking and encourage social progress. If your project benefits Albertans, is a registered charity and promotes education, community development, medical research, or the arts you are eligible to apply!

TransCanada Trail Catalyst Fund

The Trail Catalyst Fund is a comprehensive funding initiative designed to enhance the quality, connectivity, and sustainability of the national trail network. It supports strategic investments in trails and the trail sector, all with the goal of fostering a safe, inclusive and resilient Trans Canada Trail.

Groups or organizations that own or manage a section of the Trans Canada Trail are eligible for the Trail Catalyst Fund. The Fund may be extended to organizations within the broader trail sector for projects related to tree planting, youth employment subsidy, and trail work in Indigenous communities.

Volunteer Alberta Screening Development Grant

For nonprofit organizations currently operating in Alberta, with a sole mandate to provide publicly accessible programs and services to the broader community, who have more than 10 volunteers a year requiring vulnerable sector.

Alberta Government’s Online Grant Tool 

Alberta’s not-for-profit organizations and charities now have a one-stop shop to access the supports and services they need to start, manage and grow. To simplify access to these resources, the Department of Arts, Culture and Status of Women has launched a new online tool that allows workers or volunteers in these organizations to find and access services, funding and programs that can help them.

In 2021, the Red Tape Reduction Non-profit Industry Panel identified that Alberta non-profits had difficulty accessing supports and navigating information about services provided by Alberta’s government. The panel suggested that a one-window approach could assist the sector in identifying relevant services and funding opportunities. This new tool is the answer to navigation difficulties.

Click here to view the new online tool for Alberta non-profits

Alberta Arts Grants Calendar 

The Roza Foundation offers a grant calendar with upcoming grant deadlines for funding available to arts organizations and artists in Alberta. The list includes public funders at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, along with private foundations that support the arts in Alberta. –> Click here to view the grant calendar

• Alberta Government – Grant for Non-Profits – Financial assistance for non-profit organizations, including the Community Initiatives and Community Facility Enhancement programs.
• Community Initiatives Program (CIP) – Supports not-for-profit organizations by providing funds to enhance and enrich project-based initiatives throughout Alberta. Supports initiatives such as community services, seniors services, libraries, arts and culture, sports, educations, health and recreation.
• Crowdfunding Alberta | Investing in our future, together – Crowdfunding Alberta is a made-for-Alberta crowdfunding platform. It helps to connect Alberta’s non-profit organizations with supporters and donors for fundraising campaigns.
• Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) – Assists Alberta’s municipalities and not-for-profit organizations with the costs of planning, upgrading and developing a wide range of community-use facilities and places which enhance community life and citizen well-being.

• Funding – Canada.ca – Funding programs for jobs, training, and social development projects.
• Community Forward Fund – $12 million fund that provides innovative financing to community organizations throughout Canada.
• Government Funding Programs (CharityVillage) –  Curated this list of Canadian government grant programs to help. 

Top Fundraising Resources of 2023

1. Diversifying your nonprofit’s revenue: How you slice the pie matters
   (Nonprofit Hub)
2. On Collaboration, Communication, and the Future of Corporate Fundraising: An Interview with Crystal Daniel (Imagine Canada)
3. 7 red flags for funders in your grant proposal (Candid)
4. Let’s Imagine podcast Episode 7: How the lack of core funding is impacting 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations (Imagine Canada)
5. How to cultivate an abundance mindset (The Aesthetics of Joy)
6. A great frontline fundraiser won’t work 9-5 (Veritus Group)
7. Radical grantmaking: Shifting decision-making – and power – to communities (The Philanthropist)
8. Using “Thank You” as a donor retention strategy (Funraise)
9. Success stories: Nonprofits that nailed donor fatigue handling (Perfect Doc Studio)
10. 10 step guide to cultivating corporate sponsors (The Fundraising Authority)

You’re worth the investment: How to advocate for your professional development (Propper Fundraising)

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