At the direction of Edmonton City Council, from motions made on September 13, 2023 and March 5, 2025, the City of Edmonton, in collaboration with key partners, created the Blueprint for Violence Prevention.

The Blueprint for Violence Prevention (BVP) is the City of Edmonton’s strategic plan
for reducing and preventing violence. It adopts a public health approach that views violence as preventable by addressing the root causes of violence, considering underlying risk factors and building on protective factors.

As part of this work, in 2025, $1,000,000 will be invested in community grants to support community organizations working to address and prevent violence in our city.
 

Application Intake Open

Applications are now open for the Blueprint for Violence Prevention Grant. Deadline is September 24 at 11:59pm.

Learn How to Apply for the Violence Prevention Grant

Grant Information Session

An information session will be offered online (virtual) on August 27, from noon-1pm, to learn more about the Blueprint for Violence Prevention Grant and the application process. There will be a question and answer session, so you will have the opportunity to ask questions.

If you are interested in attending, please completed the BVP Grant Information Session Registration Form. You will receive a link to join the virtual session prior to the session date.

The Focus of the Strategic Plan

The strategic plan focuses on multisectoral collaboration, leveraging the strengths of the City, system partners and community-based organizations. As part of this collaboration, a sustainable governance structure, the Violence Reduction Network (VRN), continues to be developed to guide long-term violence prevention in our city. 

The VRN will help implement tailored, place-based and people-based interventions to reduce violence happening in the near term and address systemic inequities through upstream solutions that prevent future violence.

Grant Priorities

The Blueprint sets out measurable and tangible goals to address violence. The grant intake will focus on advancing the following goals of the strategic plan:

  • Prevent Violence in the Near Term
    Address violence that is already occurring through strategies that interrupt violence.
  • Move Upstream
    Tackle structural and social determinants to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors.

Focus Areas

Project focus areas must include 1 or both of the following:

  • Youth: refers to people aged 24 and younger
  • Place-based: refers to strategies or responses that are tailored to specific geographic areas (such as neighbourhoods, housing sites and schools)

To be considered for funding, successful applications must demonstrate that their projects and programs address 1 or more of the grant priorities.

Grant Timelines - 2025

Grant Timeline
DateAction
August 11Grant opens
September 24 at 11:59pmApplication deadline
October/NovemberApplication review
NovemberApplicants will be notified of funding decisions

Note: These timelines are subject to change.

Grant Eligibility

  • Organizations and fiscal agents must be based in Edmonton and serve Edmontonians.
  • Applicants approved for funding will be required to sign a funding agreement or funding letter with the City before funding will be provided.
  • Applicants currently receiving other City grants or funding must be in good standing with the City in terms of reporting requirements.

To be eligible for the grant, the applicant is 1 of the following:

Non-profit Organization

The non-profit organization must be  registered for at least 1 year and in good standing with the incorporating body (Alberta Society, Non-profit Private Company, Non-Profit Public Company, Extra-Provincial Non-profit Company).

Local Grassroots Group

The Local grassroots group must have a fiscal agent that meets 1 of the eligible categories. If the applicant is awarded funding through this grant program, the fiscal agent must agree to act on the applicant’s behalf to sign a funding agreement with the City and to receive, administer and report on the grant.

Business Improvement Area

A Business Improvement Area is a specific geographic area of the city in which businesses pool resources and work together, through a formal association, to enhance the economic development of their area.
 

Eligible Projects and Programs

The applicant needs to demonstrate the need for 1 of the following:

Enhancement of existing evidence-based programs or projects:

Enhancing coordination and collaboration refers to working together across multiple sectors, agencies and grassroots groups towards a common vision, such as violence prevention. It involves sharing responsibilities, aligning efforts, and leveraging unique capacities and resources to achieve substantial reductions in violence and address systemic inequities.

Scaling up of existing evidence-based projects or programs:

Refers to building upon strategies and resources that are based on research, data and best practices that have proven to be effective. Evidence can encompass both quantitative research, and the stories and experiences of people.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses must contribute to the establishment of new collaborative efforts or enhance existing collaborative work. Examples of eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to:

  • Staffing costs
  • Training expenses
  • Planning, research and evaluation expenses specific to the development and/or enhancement of the project or program
  • Space
  • Printing and communications
  • Travel expenses within Edmonton
  • Evaluation expenses
  • Short-term rental of space for projects/program considered
  • Food associated with program delivery, up to 10% of proposed budget (exceptions may be considered)
  • Administrative costs and fees up to 15% of the total project costs (for example: legal fees, accounting/booking fees, bank/financing related charges, ongoing operational expenses such as rent/lease payments and facility maintenance, insurance, fiscal agents)

Ineligible Expenses

Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to: 

  • Time and labour provided towards preparation of funding applications, fundraising including costs for fundraising campaigns and websites for fundraising purposes
  • Endowments, charitable donations, bursaries, developing business cases or proposals for funding, donor recognition and gifts (with the exception of gifts for Indigenous protocols)
  • Project expenses that are incurred before the application has been approved
  • Capital and facility upgrades, renovations and construction
  • Debt reduction, financing charges and/or interest payments on loans

Application Process

Required Documents

The following required documents must be attached with the online application. If you are using a fiscal agent please include their documents:

  • Project Budget Form (template link available in grant portal)
  • 2024 audited year-end financial statements, signed by 2 Board members, or  
  • 2024 internally generated financial statements (those that are not presented either as a notice to the reader, a review or an audit) signed by 2 Board members and must include a bank reconciliation and bank statement as at the fiscal year-end

For more information, including examples and templates of audited financial statements, internally generated financial statements, and more, please see Financial Information Resources.

Grant Program Guide

This guide provides information about the Blueprint for Violence Prevention Grant and the application process.

Download Grant Program Guide

Apply for Grant

To apply for the grant, please register for an account through the Community Investment Grant Portal.

Remember to:

  • Review the application guide
  • Submit your completed application with the required documents

Applications close on September 24, 2025 at 11:59pm. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted.

Please note: This grant program uses the new Community Investment Grant Portal for application intake and reporting. For questions or additional support, please contact grants@edmonton.ca.

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:

  • Alignment with the grant priorities and City priorities
  • Demonstrate project need and benefit to the community - existing programs and projects that can share the data and evidence from an existing program or initiative
  • Organizational commitment and capacity:
    • A clear implementation plan - with defined timelines, activities, roles and responsibilities and resources, ensuring readiness for execution
    • A balanced budget -  proportional to the project's scope and expected outcomes, has been developed to support the project’s successful delivery
    • A clear evaluation plan
  • Priority may be given to collaboratives that partner with grassroots groups (Partnership Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) are strongly encouraged)

Project Reporting

Successful applicants will be responsible for reporting on the progress of their work, including:

  • A final financial report detailing overall grant expenditures
  • A final report outlining project activities, outputs and outcomes achieved and how the partners within the collaboration have been strengthened as organizations (due within 90 days of project completion)
  • For 2-year projects, an interim report outlining progress regarding activities, outputs and outcomes achieved, including expenditures and supporting documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What are common reasons that an application is unsuccessful?
  • Incomplete application and documentation
  • Organization and/or project/program is not eligible
  • Not in alignment with grant priorities and outcomes
  • Project is not in Edmonton or does not serve Edmontonians
Are there other funding opportunities available?

While the Blueprint for Violence Prevention grant prioritizes scale-up projects, future calls are expected to include the opportunity for pilot projects in 2026.