Deadline: 31-Mar-23
The Halifax Regional Municipality is seeking applications from non-profit organizations and charities for its community grants program.
The Community Grants Program provides funding opportunities to support non-profit organizations and volunteers in providing a range of leisure, learning and recreational opportunities for residents and the provision of programs, services and amenities to enhance public safety and the well-being of individuals and families with special needs.
Types of Grants
- Project grants: The dollar value of a project grant ranges from $500 to $5,000.
- Capital grants: The dollar value of a capital grant ranges from over $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000.
Funding Categories
Eligible organizations can apply for funding under one of the following funding categories:
- Affordable housing: Enhance housing availability, suitability and affordability.
- Community Arts: Encourage residents’ engagement in the arts as a learning or leisure activity.
- Community Histories: Protect, interpret and present the region’s culturally diverse histories.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Address barriers to participation based on physical or cognitive disability, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity or income.
- Emergency Assistance and Public Safety: Community based support for individuals and families unable to meet their basic needs for daily living and projects that enhance public safety
- Environment & Climate Change: Prevent or remedy harm to the environment.
- Leisure: Strengthen social connections through access to group activities
- Recreation: Encourage physical activity and fitness
Ineligible Grant Expenditures
No portion of a grant awarded under this program shall be used for:
- An organization’s operating costs including but not limited to salaries, wages, insurance, utilities, rent, debt or registration fees;
- A stipend, bursary, scholarship, honoraria, prize, financial gift or item(s) for personal ownership;
- Leasehold improvements, repairs and/or fixed upgrades to a building, land or equipment that is not owned by the applicant(s);
- An exception may be made for improvements to land leased from the provincial or federal government (public property) if the tenant has a lease agreement of five years or more, the owner has provided their written consent for the work and application has been made for provincial or federal funding in support of the same project in an amount equal to or greater than the municipal funding requested. If a grant is awarded funds will be held pending confirmation of successful provincial or federal funds.
- Leasehold improvements to municipal or private property will not be considered;
- Housing or residential accommodations used for an institutional purpose, private ownership or any part of a dwelling provided as an employment related benefit;
- Costs associated with the purchase of surplus municipal property;
- Events including but not limited to a dinner, trade show, reunion, meeting, conference, festival, fundraising event or tournament;
- Consumables including but not limited to office supplies, travel, admission or membership fees, food, utilities or fuel;
- Academic or school-based projects or educational programs including preschool and childcare programs and facilities;
- Projects directly or indirectly serving the interests of a trade, profession, industry, commerce or business, including a sole proprietorship;
- Economic development or employment except for an inclusive employment project, program, service or amenity exclusively serving persons with a disability;
- A medical program, service, amenity, facility or equipment;
- International development;
- pre-paid expenses;
- A project, program, service or facility that advances a political or religious doctrine.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations eligible to apply to the program must be registered under one of the following legislative acts:
- A non-profit society incorporated pursuant to the Nova Scotia Societies Act;
- A non-profit association incorporated pursuant to the Nova Scotia Cooperatives Associations Act;
- A not-for-profit corporation incorporated pursuant to the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act;
- A non-profit organization otherwise incorporated under an act of the Nova Scotia Legislature or an act of the Parliament of Canada;
- A charitable organization registered pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) and registered with the Canada Revenue Agency;
- Only projects located within geographic boundary of the Halifax Regional Municipality are eligible for a grant.
For more information visit Halifax Regional Municipality.