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In partnership with the Federal Government, the City of Edmonton is offering the Building Safer Communities Fund Grant. The grant supports new community-led prevention and intervention programming specifically targeting gang violence.
The City has $1.5 million to distribute in 2024. This is one-time funding that can cover programs of up to 2 years, to a maximum of $250,000 annually.
Programs must be completed by December 31, 2025 and program budgets should reflect the program length.
The main priorities of this grant is to:
Priority in all funding streams will be given to program proposals focused on those disproportionately impacted by gang violence within Edmonton which includes culturally diverse communities and Indigenous communities.
See examples of other successful projects across the country.
January 31, 2024
Grant deadline
January 31-February 28, 2024
Review/evaluate applications
March 2024
Community organizations are informed whether their grant request will receive funding
March 2024
Funding agreement signed
April/May 2024
Funding payments processed
Priority in all funding streams will be given to program proposals focused on people disproportionately impacted by gang violence within Edmonton, which includes culturally diverse communities and Indigenous communities. A minimum of 50 per cent of funding will be given to programs delivered by Indigenous-led organizations or groups and culturally diverse-led organizations and groups.
The Building Safer Communities Fund Grant has 2 funding streams:
To be used by communities, organizations and groups to:
Programming should address specific risk factors being targeted.
To be used by communities, organizations and groups to:
Proposals are expected to address specific risk factors, strategies to address the cyclical nature of gang exiting, and/or barriers to exiting gangs.
Grant applicants are encouraged to consider:
Visit Building Safer Communities for more information including reports that will help you with your application.
Examples of eligible expenses include:
Ineligible expenses include, but are not limited to:
Applicants working on pre-existing prevention and intervention programs are encouraged to consider the grant programs under the City’s Community Safety and Well-being (CSWB) Strategy: the Early Intervention/Intervention Grant and the Collaboration Grant programs.
The City of Edmonton offers grant funding under the CSWB Strategy, the goal of which is to create a more inclusive and compassionate city by supporting initiatives that work to:
Application intake is now closed!
If you have any questions, contact grants@edmonton.ca
The following 11 organizations were selected to receive funding:
Project Name: ACB Youth Stabilization Program
Funding Amount: $250,000
African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (ACCEC) will deliver culturally responsive community support stabilization programs for Black youth to address unique needs and foster positive outcomes through tailored support
For more information, visit ACB Youth Stabilization.
Project Name: Taking Back our Kids: Gang Prevention and Intervention Awareness and Strategies
Funding Amount: $33,000
Asum Lifestyle Centre will host guided presentations to:
Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers will be engaged, as well as other relevant resources to provide cultural guidance and recommendations.
Program Name: Guardians Program
Funding Amount: $250,000
The Guardians Program will offer a range of activities designed to address the diverse needs of at-risk youth. Activities include martial arts classes, guest speakers, and regular therapy sessions facilitated by trained psychologists. Cultural activities and engagement are integrated into the program through partnerships with the Alwijdaan Institute of Canada and Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha.
For more information, visit Guardians of Tomorrow.
Project Name: Project Badbaadin Youth Gang Prevention
Funding Amount: $62,177
Badbaadin means “saving youth”. The goal for Project Badbaadin Youth Gang Prevention is to find remedies for the problem of Somali youth homicides in Alberta. This project will seek to address the fundamentals of chronic crime and gang-related activities to curb and reduce barriers and threats to community safety, in particular towards the Somali Community in Edmonton.
For more information, visit Council of Somali We Care.
Project Name: The All Starz Zine Project
Funding Amount: $127,357
The All Starz Zine Project will have participants contribute towards the development and publication of a magazine. In this creative outlet, participants will learn writing and storytelling, guided by an experienced editor. Through a mentorship program, select youth will have the opportunity to transition into mentorship roles, to reinforce positive development of participants and ensure continuity of the project's goals.
For more information, visit Zine and HEARD.
Project Name: Welcome Back Program
Funding Amount: $91,445
Youth who accept responsibility for their actions at pilot recreation centre sites, will be provided the option to participate in the Welcome Back Program. Eligible youth include: those in the appeal process, youth facing bans, property damage, disrespectful to staff, requests to leave, and incident reports. The program seeks to involve youth in a restorative justice circle process, whose focus is on repairing harm and providing a meaningful resolution to all people involved.
Program Name: Ohe Dream Builder Program
Funding Amount: $200,000
This after school program will place a strong emphasis on the essential skills of effective communication, active listening, empathy and problem-solving techniques to equip youth with tools needed to navigate challenging situations and resolve conflicts with ease. The program's goal is to empower individuals to build harmonious relationships, foster deep understanding and promote a culture of collaboration and mutual respect.
Project Name: Let’s Face It – Integrated Youth Gang-Crime Prevention Program
Funding Amount: $133,714
This program takes a multi-faceted approach to youth gang and crime prevention. Through a variety of activities, the Hope for Tomorrow's Shade Association Canada (HT-SACA) will conduct a community gang crime problem assessment overseen by an advisory committee.
Programming offered will include:
For more information, visit Hope for Tomorrow's Shade Association.
Project Name: The Sierra Leone Community: Prevention and Intervention Measures on Gun and Gang Violence
Funding Amount: $66,660
Sierra Leone Association of Alberta will organize counselling sessions and weekly sermons/motivational speeches by pastors and imams. The counselling sessions will be by appointment only, and on a one-on-one basis. Sermons will be recorded and published on social media, to the association’s website and newsletter.
Email Sierra Leone Association of Alberta for more information.
Project Name: Seeds of Hope
Funding Amount: $246,097
This program is a combination of facilitated sessions, conversations, knowledge, and experience sharing with youth to create an environment where every participant is involved and engaged.
An advisory committee for the program will include a psychologist, a former gang member, and partners from Horn Youth Services Foundation and Foundation for Oromian Culture Education and Art Services (FOCAS).
For more information, visit Sinkunia Community Development Organization.
Project Name: GAP19 - Living Skills Portion
Funding Amount: $84,800
YMCA of Northern Alberta will work alongside various justice system partners to help organize life-skill workshops to youth who attend GAP19.
These workshops add to the existing infrastructure of GAP19, specifically, to provide one-to-one support for youth in the creation of a plan to move their life in a positive direction.
For more information, visit The Young Men’s Christian Association of Edmonton (YMCA of Northern Alberta).
The grant has both 1 year and 2 year (just shy of) funding options:
The $250,000 per year refers to the maximum per year. So if you applied for the 2 year option, the maximum you could apply for would be $437,500 ($250,000 for the 1st year plus $187,500 ($250 000 prorated for 9 months).
Yes, a faith based organization may apply as many culturally diverse-led communities are faith based.
Culturally diverse-led is defined as:
Indigenous-led is defined as: