Neighbourhood Grants

Overview of the Neighbourhood Grants program:

The City of Calgary offers several grant programs under its Community Grants umbrella, designed to empower non-profit organizations and community groups that serve Calgarians. These programs aim to enhance the quality of life in Calgary by supporting initiatives that address social issues, promote equity, improve accessibility, and strengthen community capacity. The grants target a wide range of services, including community development, mental health, youth support, and neighborhood engagement. The funding is designed to address gaps, pilot innovative services, or expand proven initiatives that align with the city's strategic priorities. Key programs include the Change Can’t Wait! initiative, which provides short-term funding to test ideas that can address mental health and addictions; the Community Safety Investment Framework, which supports services that improve safety and reduce victimization; the Family & Community Support Services (FCSS), which funds preventive social services; and the Capital Conservation Grant, which helps non-profits with facility maintenance and upgrades. Most of these grants operate under guiding principles such as reconciliation, equity, and community resilience. Each grant stream has its own deadlines, eligibility criteria, and application procedures, but all serve to strengthen Calgary's social fabric by investing in grassroots and organizational-level improvements.

Benefits of the Neighbourhood Grants program:

• Financial support for preventive, innovative, or safety-focused community programs.
• Capital improvement funds for non-profit-operated city-owned facilities.
• Flexible funding streams: one-time, short-term, and multi-year options.
• Focus on upstream prevention and long-term community resilience.
• Encourages collaboration among agencies.
• Supports Truth and Reconciliation and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion goals.
• Offers capacity-building opportunities through partnership and project development.

Eligibility criteria of the Neighbourhood Grants program:

• Eligibility criteria depend on the grant stream, but generally include:
• Applicants must be registered non-profit organizations or charitable entities operating in Calgary.
• Must provide direct social, community, or preventive services to Calgarians.
• Must demonstrate alignment with Calgarys social priorities, such as community safety, youth development, mental health, addiction recovery, or equity.
• For capital grants: Organizations must manage or operate a City-owned facility and meet maintenance obligations.
• Some programs require collaborative projects between agencies or proof of community need.
• Applicants must have sound governance, financial stability, and the capacity to implement projects.