Operating & Major Projects Grants

Who can apply:

• Community non-for-profit organizations registered under the Societies Act, Libraries Act or Agriculture Societies Act.
• Community First Nation and Métis organizations and associations.
• Foundations under Alberta’s Regional Health Authorities Act.
• Universities, colleges and institutes under Alberta’s Post-Secondary Learning Act.

Applicants must:

• be registered,
• be in good standing,
• have operated for more than 3 years as of the deadline date and
• demonstrate sound operations and fiscal responsibility.

Funding amounts and limits:

• Operating Grant: up to 100% of eligible expenses to a maximum amount of $50,000 per year
• Major Project Grant: up to 100% of eligible expenses to a maximum amount of $50,000 per year
• Where possible, applicant contributions are strongly encouraged.
• Applicants may request 1 operating grant and 1 major project grant together on the same application form per year, to a total maximum of $100,000 per year.
• Request funding for 1, 2 or 3 years.
• Applicants may receive full funding, partial funding or no funding.
• Funding, when awarded, will normally be awarded as a one-year, two-year or three-year commitment. Monies approved are for the next fiscal year(s).

What the funding supports:

Operating grants support for any combination of 4 types of operating expenses:

1. Basic organizational and administrative costs.
2. Facility operating expenses of an organization that operates their own building.
3. Costs to deliver recurring ongoing programming.
4. Costs to deliver a recurring established community event or festival.

Major project grants support a significant one-time project with a request for funding of over $10,000.

Payments and funding conditions:

• Applicants may not receive funding from more than one City grant program or funding stream for the same purpose, and must be within total funding limits
• Grant funds must be expended as specified in the application.
• A funding agreement is required, with funds then normally disbursed as follows:
  • $25,000 or less – 1 lump-sum payment
  • More than $25,000 – initial payment of 75%, final payment of remaining 25% when update and/or final report received
  • Same schedule for each year of multi-year funding agreements
• Funding may be revoked for failure to comply with the terms and conditions.

Other key details:

• One intake per year, with a 2-stage application process.
• This program is competitive: eligibility does not guarantee funding.
• Grants will be awarded based on the number of eligible applicants and available funding.

See the Application Guide for full details.