Community Impact Grants

Stage 1

1. Review these guidelines to ensure your organization is eligible for grant funding.
2. 2023 Grant Applications will be submitted through the CIP Grant Portal. Log in or register for your CIP Grant Portal account.
3. Complete and submit the application(s), including a detailed outline of budgeted costs, such as supplies and contracted services, and Financial Statements of the most recent fiscal year end (Year-end date must fall between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022). The CIP Grant Portal will accept applications until 4:30 p.m. on September 21, 2022. Late or incomplete applications will not be processed (Community Investment Program Policy FIN-220, Section 3.1.4).

• • applications for the New Events stream may be submitted at any time through joint presentations to Council (Administration and Applicant). Applications must be completed in full, with all supporting documents prior to presentation.

Stage 2

1. If clarification on the submitted application is required, you will receive an email notifying you that revisions have been requested. Please log in to the CIP Grant Portal to provide clarifications.
2. The Review Panel will review the applications and supporting documents in alignment with the evaluation criteria to ensure eligibility and make recommendations to Council. Applicants will be notified of the Review Panel’s recommendation to Council prior to the Council meeting.
3. Recommendations will be presented to Council as the final stage of the application process. The final decision will be made by Council during the Council meeting.
4. Applicants will be notified of Council’s decision following the Council meeting.

Organizations who received Multi-Year Funding are required to submit a 2023 grant application.

The Applicant must:

• be a registered non-profit organization or a community group in partnership with a registered non-profit organization
• have resided or have documented history of operating within the Regional Boundary for at least one year prior to applying
• have less than one year’s worth of operating expenses in their unrestricted net assets, as reflected in the financial statements of the most recent fiscal period prior to application or the total unrestricted net assets held by the Applicant is less than $50,000
• submit only one application per grant stream
• offer programs/services within the Regional Boundary
• have the program, project or event and the majority of its participants residing in the Regional Boundary
• have submitted all required reports, financial statements, or uncommitted grant proceeds from any previous Community Investment Program Grant

The Community Impact Grant will not fund:

• programs or facilities which are mandated or the responsibility of the Federal or Provincial governments, including but not limited to programs and facilities of health care, education, housing and childcare
• political or religious programs, projects and events
• organizations receiving a 2023 Sustaining Grant or Municipal Facility Operator Grant
• the items and costs highlighted under Ineligible Expenses
  
• programs, projects and events that only serve your organization’s members
• more than 75% of the budget of the program, project or event

Programs, projects or events must:

• have a positive overall impact and benefit the community-at-large (not only primarily serving the community group or organization’s membership)
• be delivered or hosted within the Regional Boundary
• have additional financial and non-financial resources being leveraged from other sources (e.g., registration fees, other grants, ticket sales, partner contributions, etc.)
• be either no cost or low-cost for individuals to participate
• be non-political and non-religious in nature

At least $300,000 of funding will be reserved for programs and projects that meet the Provincial Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Guidelines:

• Follow the guidelines of the Family and Community Support Services Act, Associated Regulations and FCSS Program Handbook.

Community Events and New Events must be:

• open and accessible to the public
• in relation to a national or provincial holiday or what may reasonably be seen as a community celebration
• sport focused (e.g., sports tournament) and show evidence that the event draws participants from outside the community and utilizes local facilities and businesses
• cultural focused (e.g., performing arts event, Treaty Day festivals)
  
  

New Events must be:

• new and innovative to the region and not a duplication of an existing event
• increasing participation in the community
• increasing skill building
• increasing volunteerism
• increasing cultural and economic development

The expansion of existing events is not eligible. 

Special consideration will be given to applicants whose planned programs, projects or events that support or inspire reconciliation as set out in the TRC’s Calls to Action Report. Programs, projects, and/or events in this regard should promote Indigenous community healing, language, and cultural restoration.

Applications must: 

• identify the Call to Action and explain how it will be addressed by the program activities or event
• demonstrate that the Indigenous community being served has expressed support for, and has been actively engaged in the discussion, planning, execution, participation and evaluation to the program, project, or event if an application pertaining to Truth and Reconciliation is submitted by a non-Indigenous organization
  
  

To learn more about Truth and Reconciliation in Wood Buffalo, please access the Indigenous and Rural Relations webpage.

Grants shall be used solely for the program, project or event as defined in the application and grant agreement.

The following expenses are ineligible:

• operating expenses that are not directly related to the program, project, or event for which the grant was awarded
• programs, projects, or events that are expected to be profitable/intended as a fundraiser
• providing a grant, donation, or scholarship to another person, group, or organization
• financial assistance to sustain an individual or family
• travel to attend events, conferences, or training courses outside of the Municipality
• sabbatical leaves or student exchange
• medical facilities or equipment
• publication of books
• land, building or other capital purchases

The Community Impact Grant will not fund activities that unnecessarily duplicate successful efforts that already exist in the community.

Grant funding may be requested up to a maximum amount that varies depending on the stream:

• Community Programs and Projects – maximum $80,000
• Community Events – maximum $20,000
• New Events – maximum $50,000, with declining proportion of funding, for a maximum of 3 years (following which, applicants may qualify for the Community Events stream).

Administrative Expenses of up to 15% of the total program, project or event costs are eligible, up to the grant stream maximum.

Multi-Year Funding

Multi-Year Funding is defined as grant funding provided to an organization with specific conditions where funding is approved for more than one fiscal year, providing longer term financial stability to the recipient. Organizations recommended for multi-year funding are identified and chosen based on a combination of past and current application/reporting history.
 

Organizations recommended for multi-year funding are expected to practice multi-year budgeting and long-term planning, however, financial statements and projected budget are required only for the fiscal year pertaining to the current grant cycle.

• Complete and/or upload the following in the CIP Grant Portal:
  • Certificate of Insurance within 30 calendar days of execution of grant agreement
  • Six-Month Report highlighting ongoing successes and challenges as well as progress of outcome measurement plan
  • Final Report demonstrating the positive impact of the funded programs, projects, and/or events through account of organization’s collected outcome measures
  • Attachments including examples of how the organization publicly recognized the funding considerations provided by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Refer to Logos and the Logo Standards Guide for usage.  
  • Financial statements. Specific financial reporting requirements are determined by the following grant thresholds:
    • < $100,000 – Summary of Revenue and Expenditures
    • $100,000 - $499,999 – Review Engagement Financial Statements

• During Call for Applications: Information Sessions with CIP Staff (contact PULSE to request a session)

• July 13, 2022: Call for Applications Opens

• September 21, 2022: Call for Applications Closes – deadline to submit your application is 4:30 p.m. MST.

• September 8-28, 2022: Clarification and Correspondence with CIP staff

• TBD: Council Meeting and Final Decisions

• TBD: Decision Letters and further information provided

• Within 30 days of CIP receiving signed Grant Agreement: Grant Distribution

• Within 30 days of execution of Grant Agreement: Certificate of Insurance submitted by Applicant 

• July 31, 2023: Recipient submits Six Month Report 

• February 28, 2024: Recipient submits Final Report 

Recipients are required to complete their program, project or event within the term January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023

Details of the Council Meeting will be provided at a later date.

Successful applicants are expected to participate in Outcome Measurement Training as provided by the Community and Protective Services Department, to support strengthening of impact reporting.

Where the program, project or event application is a partnership between one or more organizations or community groups, at least one organization must be a registered nonprofit, and must be the Applicant.

In these cases, the Applicant must:

• be accountable for all project deliverables and reporting requirements
• assume financial responsibility for the grant funds

Eligible Partners:

• registered non-profit organizations, registered charities, or community-based groups that work directly with the Applicant
• includes organizations or groups that would not qualify to apply on their own
• do not need to be a registered non-profit organization or registered charity

Information contained in the submitted application will be part of the public Council agenda and accessible through all methods that the Council agenda is available.

The granting of funds in any one Call for Applications does not presuppose a continuation of assistance in future years.

A condition of accepting funding is that the Municipality has the authority to examine recipients’ records at any time to ensure funds are being used in the manner originally agreed upon. Any funds not used for the project as described in the agreement may have to be returned.

Council reserves the right to allocate CIP grants in such a manner as deemed to be in the best interest of the Municipality (Community Investment Program Policy FIN-220, Section 2.1.2).