Deadline: 15-Oct-2025
The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta is now accepting applications for its Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life.
The fund is dedicated to enhancing and sustaining a high quality of life in the rural communities of Southwestern Alberta, with a focus on projects that uplift and strengthen these often underserved areas.
This funding opportunity is specifically for rural regions and does not support projects within the City of Lethbridge, which serves as the urban center of the region. The program is designed to support initiatives that benefit residents living outside urban boundaries and that address the unique challenges faced by rural communities.
The Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life is particularly interested in projects that demonstrate one or more of the following categories: innovation through new approaches and models that create meaningful change for individuals; community collaboration that brings together local groups to address shared issues; education and training initiatives that develop and enhance the skills of organizations supporting rural communities; and information or research initiatives that provide insights to improve rural life and the well-being of its citizens.
The Rural Life Grants Committee, made up of directors and volunteers from the Community Foundation and local rural areas, evaluates all applications. Recommendations are then made to the Foundation’s Board of Directors, who are responsible for final funding decisions. The review process emphasizes community collaboration, project equity, responsiveness to emerging needs, and the overall impact a project has on the region.
Eligible applicants must be federally registered charities or qualified donees with a valid business number. Furthermore, the organization or project must be located within the designated region, which stretches from the U.S. border in the south to Arrowwood in the north, and from the B.C. border in the west to Grassy Lake in the east.
While the fund supports a broad range of community-based projects, it does not provide funding for capital-intensive initiatives such as new construction, major renovations, or large equipment purchases. Proposals of that nature are better suited for the Community Priorities Grants Program. Additionally, the Rural Life Fund does not support retroactive expenses, deficit reduction, or activities that serve primarily religious or political interests.
By focusing on non-capital, community-driven projects that create meaningful and equitable change, the Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life continues to play a vital role in nurturing the social fabric and well-being of rural Southwestern Alberta.
For more information, visit CFLSA.
