National Grants and Funding your Park Group Can Access
Here’s a list of the grants and funding options for park groups in cities across Canada.
Fundraising is a great way to build the capacity of your community park group. Below are some key national grants that could help fund your next awesome park project.
At the bottom of the resource are options for more specific provincial and municipal grants.
Environmental Grants and Funding
Catherine Donnelly Foundation
Funds projects that increase public support for fast and deep-reaching climate change solutions.
Learn moreClimate Action and Awareness Fund
Supports Canadian-made projects that help to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Learn moreCommunity Tree Grants Canada
Offers grants and technical support to community greening initiatives on publicly-accessible properties.
Learn moreEcoAction Community Funding Program
Provides financial support to non-profit and non-government organizations for Canadian communities to take on local action-based projects that produce measurable, positive effects on the environment and to build the capacity of communities to sustain these activities in the future.
Learn moreHonda Canada Foundation (HCF)
Offers grants to educational institutions, charitable non-profit organizations or any national institution in the fields of family, environment, engineering and education.
Learn morePatagonia Corporate Grants
Supports local groups that work to preserve the environment and protect local habitats and frontline communities.
Learn moreRichardson Foundation
Offers to fund registered Canadian charitable organizations that support youth initiatives and environmental issues.
Learn moreScotts Canada Gro For Good Grants
Offers grants to help community groups to develop sustainable gardens and green spaces in their communities.
Learn moreTD Friends of the Environment Foundation
Funds community work and park improvements projects through operating and capital grants.
Learn moreTD Park People Grant
Provides $2,000 grants to community groups hosting in-person and virtual activities. Each activity will foster environmental education, sustainability, and stewardship in Canada’s parks and green spaces.
Learn moreCommunity Building Grants and Funding
FCC AgriSpirit Fund
Supports projects by charities, non-profit groups, First Nations bands and Metis settlements in communities of less than 150,000 people, with a capital project that will enrich lives in rural communities.
Learn moreMeridian Good Neighbour Program
Seeks to support local place-based community initiatives.
Learn moreTakingItGlobal Rising Youth
Provides small grants to young changemakers (15-30). Three micro-grants are available, from $200 to $1,500 for youth-led community projects.
Learn moreTelus Community Grant
Delivers operating and capital funds to support community projects that focus on youth engagement and social well-being.
Learn morePublic Art Grants and Funding
Canadian Arts Council
Provides national funding to support professional art groups and non-profit organizations working in community parks and public spaces.
Learn moreHeritage Canada - Local Festivals – Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
Offers to fund local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans or heritage performers. This includes the celebration of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations.
Learn moreRichardson Foundation
Offers to fund registered Canadian charitable organizations that support visual and performing arts, education and youth initiatives issues.
Learn moreRecreation Grants and Funding
Canada Post Community Foundation
Supports organizations and groups in delivering and expanding child and youth programming, including sports and healthy living initiatives.
Learn moreCanadian Tire Jumpstart/Bon départ Community Development Grant
Offers two funding streams. The Operational stream assists organizations with operational and administrative costs, while the Programming stream helps organizations develop or sustain sports and recreational programming for kids aged 4-18 in financial need and youth with disabilities between the ages of 4-25.
Learn moreParticipACTION Community Better Challenge
is a national physical activity initiative that encourages Canadians to get active in search of Canada’s Most Active Community. Organizations, schools, sports groups, recreation centres and workplaces can participate in the challenge by tracking the group activities they organize as in-person or virtual group exercise classes, practices, events or even lunchtime walks.
Learn moreHealth Grants and Funding
Canada Post Community Foundation
Supports organizations and groups in delivering and expanding child and youth programming, including sports and healthy living initiatives.
Learn moreMedavie Health Foundation Grant
Partners with community-based initiatives that promote long-term lasting impacts in support of healthy living, adolescent mental health, and families impacted by post-traumatic stress. They mostly consider organizations that have a potential for positive change in the lives of individuals within a community.
Learn moreTelus Community Grant
Delivers operating and capital funds to support community projects that focus on health and social well-being.
Learn moreEquity and Social Justice Grants and Funding
Arc’Teryx Community Grant Program
Supports individuals and organizations that center the community in their work. They are seeking projects that listen deeply to the needs of the community to build programs that increase access to nature.
Learn moreCanada Roots Exchange CREation Community Grants Program
Supports strengths-based, community-focused and youth-led projects taking place in communities across Canada. Funding will be provided to projects/groups –especially grassroots youth groups/collectives (comprised of Indigenous youth ages 15-29)– that seek to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth.
Learn moreCRRF’s National Anti-Racism Fund
Seeks to support organizations to combat racism, promote events and education, and build a more anti-racist society.
Learn moreHeritage Canada - Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program
Provides funding to community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination, or celebrate a community’s history and culture such as heritage months recognized by Parliament.
Learn moreHydro Flask Parks for All
Supports nonprofit organizations focused on building, maintaining, restoring, and providing more equitable access to parks.
Learn moreNational Healing Forest
Seeks to support groups or organizations aiming at developing a healing forest in their community – a dedicated forest, garden, or green space – as a place for healing, learning, sharing, and reflection about Canada’s history and the legacy of Indian residential schools.
Learn moreProvincial and Municipal Grants and Funding
Community Foundation Funds
Community Foundations invest in local initiatives that help to make Canadian communities better places to live, work and play. Click here to find your local Foundation.British Columbia Grants & Funding
Explore the different grants and funding dedicated to groups and organizations located in B.C. Click here.Ontario Grants & Funding
Explore the different grants and funding available for groups and organizations located in Ontario. Click here.Grants & Funding in other Provinces
Alberta:
- Edmonton Arts Council
- Edmonton Community Foundation Environmental Operating Grants
- Edmonton Neighbourhood Park Development Program Funding
- Edmonton Neighbourhood Revitalization Matching Fund
- Calgary Foundation Stepping Stones Grant
- Calgary Foundation Neighbour Grants
- Parks Foundation Calgary Building Communities grant
Nova Scotia:- Community Recreation Capital Grant
- Halifax Neighbourhood Placemaking
- Recreation Facility Development Grant
Prince Edward Island:
Manitoba:
Atlantic Canada:Cover photo: Halifax Art Bikers Event at Glen Garden in 2021. Credit: Carolina Andrade
This resource was developed with support from