Community Grants
Applications for the Community Grants Program are open. The deadline for applications is noon on April 28, 2023.
The Town of Canmore Community Grants Program provides funding to Canmore-based not-for profit societies and community organizations. Funding will support local initiatives and local/regional events that promote a circular economy, a sense of belonging, community affordability, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.
For more information on the 2023 community grant program, join us for the Community Grant workshop on Wednesday, April 12 at 3 p.m. by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please note that the Community Grants Program does not support larger international events. For more information about Canmore's Major Events Grants, click here.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply by submitting a completed community grant application form or by submitting a video outlining how your project will promote circular economy activities, create a sense of belonging, increase community affordability, and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Eligible applications are reviewed and ranked by the Community Grant Selection Committee. A portion of the council-approved community grant budget will be awarded based on this ranking.
Applications that incorporate circular economy activities, that create a sense of belonging, that increase community affordability, and that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion will be ranked higher.
pdf Click here to download the application form (315 KB)
Eligible applications are reviewed and ranked by the Community Grant Selection Committee. A portion of the council-approved community grant budget will be awarded based on this ranking.
Applications that incorporate circular economy activities, that create a sense of belonging, that increase community affordability, and that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion will be ranked higher.
pdf Click here to download the application form (315 KB)
Eligibility Criteria
Community organizations and not-for-profit events and societies that promote a circular economy, a sense of belonging, community affordability, and equity, inclusion, and diversity are eligible for funding.
Applications will be considered eligible if:
· The application adheres to relevant Town of Canmore policies Town of Canmore - Policies
· The application is complete
· Application documentation is submitted before the posted deadline
· The Organization is a community organization or not-for-profit event/ society that promote a circular economy, a sense of belonging, community affordability, and equity, inclusion, and diversity
· The Community Organization includes four or more committee members (or project volunteers)
· The event is not considered a major event
· The organization has met the responsibilities of a previously provided grant
· Organizations must demonstrate good financial standing
Applications will not be considered eligible if:
· The application does not adhere to relevant Town of Canmore policies Town of Canmore - Policies
· The application is incomplete
· Application documentation is submitted after the posted deadline
· The Organization is a for-profit business and/or event
· The Community Organization includes three or fewer committee members (or project volunteers)
· The event is considered a Major event
· The organization has not met the responsibilities of a previously provided grant
Applications will be considered eligible if:
· The application adheres to relevant Town of Canmore policies Town of Canmore - Policies
· The application is complete
· Application documentation is submitted before the posted deadline
· The Organization is a community organization or not-for-profit event/ society that promote a circular economy, a sense of belonging, community affordability, and equity, inclusion, and diversity
· The Community Organization includes four or more committee members (or project volunteers)
· The event is not considered a major event
· The organization has met the responsibilities of a previously provided grant
· Organizations must demonstrate good financial standing
Applications will not be considered eligible if:
· The application does not adhere to relevant Town of Canmore policies Town of Canmore - Policies
· The application is incomplete
· Application documentation is submitted after the posted deadline
· The Organization is a for-profit business and/or event
· The Community Organization includes three or fewer committee members (or project volunteers)
· The event is considered a Major event
· The organization has not met the responsibilities of a previously provided grant
Events Eligible for Community Grant Program Funding
Local and Regional events are eligible for funding.
Regional Events are defined as events that draw provincial and/or national participants and audiences. These events typically increase economic activity and community vibrancy during the event. Regional events have limited international participation and limited international and national media coverage.
Local Events are defined as events that are organized by local community members, for local community members. Local events increase community vibrancy and create a sense of belonging.
Regional Events are defined as events that draw provincial and/or national participants and audiences. These events typically increase economic activity and community vibrancy during the event. Regional events have limited international participation and limited international and national media coverage.
Local Events are defined as events that are organized by local community members, for local community members. Local events increase community vibrancy and create a sense of belonging.
Examples of circular economy activities that are eligible for funding
To be eligible for funding organizations must demonstrate that the initiative or event promotes circular economy principles by incorporating waste-limiting activities. Examples of circular economy activities include:
Product Life Extension – extending the life of products through repair, upcycling, re-selling, redistributing, or repurposing. Examples may include product repair workshops and services, thrift or consignment stores, clothing swaps, construction and demolition re-use centres, food rescue or recovery programs.
Sharing Platforms – sharing of goods and spaces rather than individuals owning their own items. Examples may include libraries, car sharing, bike sharing, tool or household item lending libraries, game and toy lending libraries, re-usable coffee cup or take-out container share programs, shared work or studio spaces.
Product as a Service – offering a service rather than ownership of a material or item. Examples may include laundromats, high-end clothing rental, outdoor gear rental, bear spray rental, reusable dish rentals.
Resource Recovery - obtaining additional uses and value from resources. Examples may include diverting food waste to produce compost, spent grain from breweries used for animal feed, reusing recovered building supplies, or upcycled clothing.
Product Life Extension – extending the life of products through repair, upcycling, re-selling, redistributing, or repurposing. Examples may include product repair workshops and services, thrift or consignment stores, clothing swaps, construction and demolition re-use centres, food rescue or recovery programs.
Sharing Platforms – sharing of goods and spaces rather than individuals owning their own items. Examples may include libraries, car sharing, bike sharing, tool or household item lending libraries, game and toy lending libraries, re-usable coffee cup or take-out container share programs, shared work or studio spaces.
Product as a Service – offering a service rather than ownership of a material or item. Examples may include laundromats, high-end clothing rental, outdoor gear rental, bear spray rental, reusable dish rentals.
Resource Recovery - obtaining additional uses and value from resources. Examples may include diverting food waste to produce compost, spent grain from breweries used for animal feed, reusing recovered building supplies, or upcycled clothing.
Can community groups that do not have society status apply for funding?
Yes. A group of individuals with a shared interest who come together to further a mission are eligible to apply for funding. Community organizations are not society, non-profit, or for-profit organization. To be considered a community organization, the group must contain at least three community members and/or project volunteers.
Funding Allocation
Eligible applications will be reviewed and ranked by the Community Grant Selection Committee. A portion of the council-approved community grant budget will be awarded based on this ranking.
Applications that incorporate circular economy activities, that create a sense of belonging, that increase community affordability, and that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion will be ranked higher.
Applications that incorporate circular economy activities, that create a sense of belonging, that increase community affordability, and that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion will be ranked higher.
Reporting Requirements for the Community Grant Program
Successful applicants are required to complete and submit a final summary on or before Jan. 31, 2024, that includes:
· Description of grant allocation
· Statement of impact: a brief synopsis of how the organization served community (500 words or less)
· Picture describing initiative/event that can be publicly shared
· Approximate number of community members who participated in, or benefitted from, the event/initiative
· Description of grant allocation
· Statement of impact: a brief synopsis of how the organization served community (500 words or less)
· Picture describing initiative/event that can be publicly shared
· Approximate number of community members who participated in, or benefitted from, the event/initiative
Contact Information
If you require more information on the community grant program, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and include Community Grant in the subject header. Please allow two business days for a response.
