Deadline: 07-Jul-2026
Neighbour Grants is a small grant programme that supports volunteer-led and community-designed projects that strengthen belonging, connection, and participation within local communities. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for projects delivered in collaboration with charities and nonprofits using a community development approach. Supported projects must take place within the designated region covering Calgary, Banff National Park, Canmore, Rocky View County, surrounding municipal districts, and First Nations communities within Treaty 7 territory.
Overview
Neighbour Grants supports community-led projects that help people build stronger relationships, create shared spaces, and take active roles in improving their neighbourhoods.
The programme is designed for initiatives created by people within their own communities, with support from charities, nonprofits, or qualified partners.
It aims to strengthen social connection and belonging by funding practical, creative, and locally driven projects that reflect community needs and shared interests.
Key Focus Areas
Neighbour Grants focuses on belonging, grassroots leadership, and community participation.
Key focus areas include:
- Community-led belonging initiatives
- Volunteer-led projects
- Community development
- Shared gathering spaces
- Community gardens
- Naturalized areas
- Participatory street murals
- Anti-racism arts festivals
- Non-partisan civic discussions
- Cultural sharing events
- Recognition of youth achievements
- Recognition of seniors’ achievements
- Tool sharing libraries
- Book sharing libraries
- Skill-sharing activities
- Traffic calming projects
- Reconciliation-focused learning initiatives
- Grassroots leadership
- Local community change
Purpose of the Programme
The purpose of Neighbour Grants is to help residents design and lead projects that strengthen belonging in their communities.
The programme supports people who want to come together around shared concerns, creative ideas, cultural exchange, learning, or practical neighbourhood improvements.
It encourages communities to take ownership of local change and build stronger social connections through collaborative action.
Grant Amount
Neighbour Grants provides small grants of up to $10,000.
Funding is intended to support community-designed projects that are practical, locally relevant, and focused on strengthening belonging.
Applicants should prepare a clear budget that explains how the requested funds will support project activities and community participation.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include registered charities and other qualified donees.
Eligible organisations should:
- Use a community development approach
- Support meaningful leadership roles for community members
- Work with people from the communities they serve
- Deliver projects within the designated eligible region
- Support volunteer-led or community-designed activities
Organisations without charitable status, including nonprofits and informal volunteer groups, may explore partnership-based funding arrangements by contacting programme staff.
Partnership-Based Applications
Neighbour Grants allows organisations without charitable status to explore partnership options.
This may include:
- Nonprofits working with a registered charity
- Informal volunteer groups partnering with a qualified donee
- Community groups seeking support from an eligible organisation
- Resident-led groups working with a nonprofit or charity
Partnerships should ensure that community members remain meaningfully involved in project design and leadership.
Eligible Project Locations
Projects must take place within the designated Neighbour Grants region.
Eligible areas include:
- Calgary
- Banff National Park
- Canmore
- Rocky View County
- Municipal District of Big Horn
- Municipal District of Foothills
- Kananaskis
- Wheatland
- Surrounding First Nations communities within Treaty 7 territory
Applicants should clearly show where the project will take place and how it will benefit people in the eligible region.
What the Grants Can Support
Neighbour Grants can support a wide range of community-led activities that build belonging and participation.
Supported projects may include:
- Community gardens
- Naturalized gathering spaces
- Participatory street murals
- Anti-racism arts festivals
- Non-partisan civic discussions
- Cultural sharing events
- Youth recognition activities
- Seniors’ recognition events
- Tool libraries
- Book sharing libraries
- Skill-sharing workshops
- Traffic calming projects
- Reconciliation-focused learning initiatives
- Creative community engagement activities
- Neighbourhood-based projects that address shared concerns
Projects should be designed by community members and should create opportunities for people to connect, collaborate, and participate.
Community Development Approach
Neighbour Grants places strong emphasis on community development.
This means projects should not be designed only for communities, but with communities.
A strong community development approach includes:
- Community members helping shape the idea
- Local people taking leadership roles
- Activities responding to shared needs or interests
- Inclusive participation
- Collaboration among residents, volunteers, nonprofits, and charities
- Strengthening long-term relationships and belonging
Types of Belonging-Building Projects
The programme supports projects that bring people together in meaningful ways.
Examples of belonging-building activities may include:
- Creating shared outdoor spaces
- Hosting cultural exchange events
- Supporting creative public art
- Building intergenerational connections
- Encouraging neighbourhood conversations
- Sharing tools, books, or skills
- Supporting learning around reconciliation
- Helping residents address shared local concerns
The strongest projects are those that help people feel connected, included, and active in community life.
Why It Matters
Strong communities are built when residents have opportunities to connect, collaborate, and lead local change.
Many neighbourhoods need small amounts of flexible funding to create spaces, events, and activities that bring people together.
Neighbour Grants matters because it supports grassroots ideas that strengthen belonging, inclusion, and community participation.
By funding volunteer-led and community-designed projects, the programme helps residents build trust, share skills, celebrate culture, and respond creatively to local needs.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear project idea that explains the community need, local leadership, planned activities, expected benefits, and budget.
Step 1: Confirm Location Eligibility
Applicants should first confirm that the project will take place within the eligible Neighbour Grants region.
The application should clearly identify the project location and the community that will benefit.
Step 2: Confirm Applicant Eligibility
Registered charities and qualified donees may apply directly.
Nonprofits and informal volunteer groups without charitable status should explore partnership-based arrangements with an eligible organisation or contact programme staff to discuss suitable options.
Step 3: Show Community Leadership
A strong application should show that the project is designed and led by people from the community.
Applicants should explain:
- Who developed the idea
- Who will lead the project
- How residents will participate
- How community members will make decisions
- How volunteers will be involved
Step 4: Explain the Belonging Impact
Applicants should describe how the project will strengthen belonging and connection.
This may include:
- Bringing neighbours together
- Reducing isolation
- Supporting cultural sharing
- Encouraging dialogue
- Creating shared spaces
- Building trust
- Improving inclusion
- Supporting community pride
Step 5: Describe the Activities
The proposal should clearly explain what will happen.
Applicants should include:
- Project activities
- Timeline
- Location
- Target participants
- Community partners
- Volunteer roles
- Expected outcomes
- How the project will be delivered
Step 6: Prepare a Realistic Budget
Applicants may request up to $10,000.
The budget should be simple, clear, and directly connected to project activities.
It should show how funds will support community participation, materials, gatherings, facilitation, outreach, or other eligible project needs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting applications that are unclear or not community-led.
Common mistakes include:
- Not showing how the project builds belonging
- Designing the project without meaningful community leadership
- Applying for a project outside the eligible region
- Not explaining how residents will participate
- Providing a vague activity plan
- Requesting funding without a clear budget
- Treating the project as a service delivered to people instead of a project created with people
- Not exploring partnership options when the group lacks charitable status
- Failing to show community benefit
- Not using a community development approach
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should be local, practical, inclusive, and community-led.
Useful tips include:
- Clearly explain the community need or opportunity.
- Show how residents helped design the project.
- Highlight volunteer and grassroots leadership.
- Explain how the project will create belonging.
- Include activities that bring people together.
- Use a simple and realistic budget.
- Identify partners that will support delivery.
- Show how diverse community members will participate.
- Keep the project achievable within the grant amount.
- Make sure the project takes place in the eligible region.
FAQ
1. What are Neighbour Grants?
Neighbour Grants are small grants that support volunteer-led and community-designed projects that strengthen belonging and social connection.
2. How much funding is available?
Neighbour Grants provide funding of up to $10,000.
3. Who can apply?
Registered charities and other qualified donees may apply. Nonprofits and informal volunteer groups without charitable status may explore partnership-based arrangements.
4. What types of projects are supported?
Supported projects may include community gardens, naturalized gathering spaces, participatory murals, anti-racism arts festivals, cultural sharing events, tool and book libraries, skill-sharing activities, traffic calming projects, and reconciliation-focused learning initiatives.
5. Where must projects take place?
Projects must take place within the designated region, including Calgary, Banff National Park, Canmore, Rocky View County, the Municipal Districts of Big Horn, Foothills, Kananaskis, Wheatland, and surrounding First Nations communities within Treaty 7 territory.
6. Can informal volunteer groups apply?
Informal volunteer groups may explore partnership-based options with eligible organisations or contact programme staff to discuss suitable funding arrangements.
7. What makes a strong project?
A strong project is community-led, inclusive, practical, and focused on strengthening belonging through shared activities, local leadership, and meaningful participation.
Conclusion
Neighbour Grants provide valuable support for grassroots projects that help people build stronger, more connected, and more inclusive communities.
With grants of up to $10,000, the programme supports community-designed activities such as shared gathering spaces, cultural events, creative engagement, skill-sharing, and reconciliation-focused learning. Strong applications should demonstrate local leadership, community participation, clear belonging-building outcomes, realistic budgeting, and delivery within the eligible region.
For more information, visit Calgary Foundation.
