Neighbourhood Connections Grant

Learn more about funding opportunities to enhance neighbourhood liveability through partnerships.

Neighbourhood Connections Grants between $501- $2500 are available to support larger neighbourhood-wide projects, initiatives and events in which multiple community stakeholders collaborate to plan, implement and participate.

A 25% matching component of the total requested funding amount is required. Applicants must demonstrate a partnership with at least 1 other organization that extends beyond financial support.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include:

Registered organizations (i.e. community leagues, condo boards, homeowner associations)

Registered charities

Businesses and Business Improvement Areas (BIA’s)

Event organizers who partner with a fiscal agent (registered organization)

Note: If you are in one of the following Revitalization Neighbourhoods which include Balwin, Belvedere, Queen Mary Park, Central McDougall, Inglewood and McCauley, we invite you to apply on the Revitalization Macro Grant

Funding Program Outcomes

Applications for Neighbourhood Connections Grants will be required to demonstrate how the initiative will increase community connections and address at least 2 of the following program outcomes:

Empower and engage citizens to become community leaders, and to strengthen existing community leadership

Enhance community safety

Increase inclusion opportunities

Celebrate Indigenous culture

Deepen multi-cultural connections

Create and promote beautiful and clean spaces

Advance arts in the community

Animate City of Edmonton parkland

Eligible Projects & Expenses

Projects, initiatives and events that are open to the public and are free or low cost (cost recovery only)
Expenses directly tied to planning, implementation or evaluation of outcomes
Honorariums for persons or groups where fees are not legally or traditionally required (for example: indigenous elders, presenters, non-vendor licensed service providers) Note: Honorariums are limited to $200/person
Gifts for indigenous protocol, knowledge keepers and Elders
Consumable expenses such as craft/program/event supplies
Fees for performers or other service providers
Non-consumable expenses that are maintained by the group but available for community use at free or low cost-recovery fees
Food and non-alcoholic beverages for volunteers or event attendees to a maximum of 50% of budgeted expenses
- For example, if you are applying for the maximum $2,500 in grant funding, up to $1,250 may be allocated to food and beverage in the budget
Types of eligible projects or events may include but are not limited to block parties, neighbourhood art, social, cultural or recreational activities
Projects, initiatives and events must serve the geographic neighbourhood or community.

Ineligible Projects & Expenses

Projects, initiatives and events that are private or charge entrance fees to generate revenue unless it is a cost recovery model
Projects that conflict with the City Plan Intentions, ConnectEdmonton Strategy, or do not meet 2 or more Neighbourhood Services Funding Program outcomes noted above
Capital/Infrastructure projects or expenditures (examples: salaries, operating expenses, facility maintenance)
Ongoing operating expenses (examples: staff salaries, insurance, legal/accounting fees, facility operating expenses, facility maintenance)
Payment for preparation of funding application
Projects that are completed or retroactive expenses incurred prior to application submission date. Note: reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to receiving notice of grant approval cannot be guaranteed
Projects, events, or initiatives that are deemed to be a high risk for illegal activity or are illegal by virtue of the planned activities or programming
Gift cards, gratuities and prizes
Alcohol, cannabis or associated items
Food and non-alcoholic beverages for volunteers or event attendees exceeding 50% of budgeted expenses
Food and non-alcoholic beverages for City staff or paid employees of the lead organization(s) that is (are) supporting the initiative
Non-consumable expenses that are for commercial use, rented out or private property
Facility rental expenses
Projects, initiatives and events with a City-wide focus that do not serve a specific geographic neighbourhood/community
Projects, initiatives and events with a start date outside of the specified date range for the intake period

Note: Multi-year projects or recurring annual events will only be considered on a sliding scale of 100/75/50/25% if they can demonstrate growth and meet the criteria outlined in the Funding Conditions and Reporting Requirements.

Important Information

The Application Process

Apply: Complete the online application form
Review: Applications are reviewed by the City Grants Office and Neighbourhood Services staff. Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible for funding.
Note: If you are in a Revitalization Neighbourhood we invite you to apply on the Revitalization Project Macro Grant
Approval: For each intake, applicants will be notified via email of the final decision on or after the dates specified in the Application Schedule.
Agreement: Successful applicants will enter a funding agreement with terms and conditions.
Funding Payment: The applicant or fiscal agent will be issued payment after the funding confirmation email has been sent.
Reporting: Applicants will be required to complete the Final Report Google Form and submit an Expense Sheet (Financial Report) with proof of receipts. This is due 60 days after the project completion date.

Please note: Incorrect financial or organizational contact information can result in a delay or inability to process your grant request. Your organization can avoid delays by:

Updating your Electronic Transfer Information through the Vendor EFT Registration Form. Email the form to vendormaintenance@edmonton.ca. and cc: grants@edmonton.ca.
To update your account information:
- Completing the Account Update Form
- Contact the grants office 780-496-4933
- Email grants@edmonton.ca.

Assessment Criteria

The City of Edmonton assesses the Neighbourhood Connections Grant applications on the following criteria. All applicants will be contacted with a grant decision.

The project aligns to the organization’s mandate
The leading organization demonstrates a capacity to complete the project
The project aligns with two or more of the Neighbourhood Funding Program outcomes by demonstrating benefit to or connection within the neighbourhood(s).
Project expenses and activities are feasible for the timelines given and an expense sheet (budget) is provided.
The organization or event planner demonstrates they will engage with individuals and groups beyond direct membership.
The organization or event planner demonstrates they are engaged with other partners and neighbourhood stakeholders in the strategic direction, planning and implementation for the project. A partner has a shared interest in the outcome of the work and invests more than money to help support the event, project and initiative.
A 25% matching component is identified in the Expense Sheet (Budget) of the application

The amount of funds requested must be matched by 25% of the total funding amount of cash, in-kind donation and/or volunteer labour. For example, if requesting $2,000 to carry out a project, the applicant must have $500 from other sources of funding, in-kind donations and/or volunteer labour.

As of March 15, 2020, the City of Edmonton Neighbourhood Services recognizes the general volunteer rate at $20 per hour for non-professional labour and $40 per hr for professional/technical labour (including qualified trades and professional services specific to components of the project, such as artists, photographers, or Elders/knowledge keepers, cultural brokers)

Note: Meeting assessment requirements does not guarantee funding. Applicants may receive full, partial or no funding for their projects.

Funding Conditions & Reporting Requirements

The following conditions apply to all Neighbourhood Connections Grant applications:

General Conditions

Projects must be completed within a 12-month time frame unless otherwise granted in the funding approval letter.
The funding amount will not exceed $2500 and is dependent on project scope and criteria. Applicants can apply for only one City of Edmonton grant for a particular element of their project or initiative.
Applicants may not resubmit or appeal an application for the same project until they have received written notification of approval or denial of their current funding application.
Multi-year projects or large recurring annual events will only be considered if they meet the following criteria:
- Projects broken into phases must apply for each phase separately.
- Subsequent phases must demonstrate growth or have distinct elements for each phase.
- Phases demonstrate sustainability and resiliency of the organization. Therefore the organization is only eligible to receive funding on a sliding scale of 100/75/50/25% in subsequent years.
- Funding is not guaranteed for each phase. Applicants may receive full, partial or no funding for each phase.
Recipients of Program funds are to acknowledge the City of Edmonton wherever possible and appropriate. The City of Edmonton visual identity standards are available upon request and recognition of funding can be achieved in a variety of ways:

News release or submitted article to local/regional media
Social media channels such as X, Facebook, blog postings, etc.
Organization’s website or newsletter
Signage, either temporary or permanent

Reporting Requirements

All applicants are required to submit a Final Report Form due 60 days after project completion date.
All applicants are required to submit a Reconciled Expense Sheet with proof of receipts.

Terms of Use and Right to Audit

The funds received shall not be used for a purpose beyond the objectives outlined by this grant. The Applicant must demonstrate fiscal responsibility and manage its finances.

Should an applicant make false representations or otherwise fail to meet any of the requirements of the grant to the City’s satisfaction, they may be subject to fund repayment. The applicant may also be ineligible for future funding or other procurement with the City of Edmonton until the outstanding dispute has been resolved.

Start Your Application

Neighbourhood Connections Grant Application

Submit Your Final Report

All Neighbourhood Connections fund recipients must submit a Final Report within 60 days of the completion of the Project. Your Final Report will state how the funds were used. Fund recipients must demonstrate how the initiative met one or more of the Neighbourhood Services Funding Program Outcomes.

Note: Fund recipient eligibility for future funding through the City of Edmonton is dependent on a complete Final Report verified as received by the Grants Office.

Neighbourhood Connections Grant Final Report

To prepare for filling out the Final Report Form please gather:

Information on how your initiative met the goals for your neighbourhood
Examples of your advertising/marketing material and posts that shared your findings or learnings
Have your copy of the Expense Sheet (budget) ready to include actual revenue and expenses. This is the budget you submitted with either your Neighbourhood Micro Grant or Revitalization Micro Grant.
Copies of receipts
Your Expense Sheet (Final Report)
Number of initiative attendees
Photos *Optional - ensure you have permission to share identifiable photos prior to submission. The following form must be used for City informational and promotional purposes: Model Release Form

Note: If you do not have a copy of the Financial Report (budget) submitted with your application, please call the Grants Office for assistance at 780-496-4933. Otherwise, you can create a new sheet with the actual expense portion completed.

Neighbourhood Connections Grant

Who Can Apply

Funding Program Outcomes

Eligible Projects & Expenses

Ineligible Projects & Expenses

Important Information

General Conditions

Reporting Requirements

Terms of Use and Right to Audit

Grant Forms

Application Form

Final Report Form

Neighbourhood(s) Micro-Grant

Neighbourhood Revitalization

Revitalization Project Macro-Grant

Revitalization Micro-Grant

Revitalization Extensive Project Fund