The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo offers grants to support the wellbeing of residents of the Wood Buffalo region. Grants support social, cultural, and recreational programs, amateur sport, artist development and the strategic priorities of the RMWB Strategic Plan.
2024 Community Investment Program
The Community Investment Program is accepting applications until November 1, 2023, 4:30 p.m. for the following grants:
- Community Impact Grant
- Community Sustaining Grant
- Community Capital Grant
- Games Legacy Grant
Late applications will not be accepted.
Changes to the program: At the July 11, 2023 Council Meeting, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) Council approved the updated Community Investment Program Policy FIN-220. Click here to learn more.
Apply for grants online
Arts, Culture and Heritage Grant
For individuals or groups to support arts, culture and heritage-related projects that contribute to achieving priorities of Wood Buffalo Culture Plan.
Community Impact Grant
For registered non-profit organizations to deliver programs, projects and events that improve quality of life for residents in the region.
Games Legacy Grant
Supporting development in amateur sport, cultural activities and the arts, and residents competing at a provincial, national or international level.
Sustaining Grant
For registered non-profit organizations to support programs and services that align with the goals identified by the Municipality.
Downtown Revitalization Incentives Program
For commercial property/business owners and non-profit organizations to improve their premises, and to create interest and vibrancy in the downtown.
Community Plan on Homelessness
For agencies delivering intensive case management, housing support, assertive community treatment, outreach and permanent housing programs.
Community Capital Grant
Grants that support the construction, expansion or renovation of recreational, social and cultural facilities in the region.
Municipal Facility Operator's Grant
Provides funding to registered non-profit organizations that operate and maintain municipally owned facilities.
Key changes to the Community Investment Program + Background
With the approval of Community Investment Program Policy FIN-220, the program will include a number of changes. Key changes to the policy and the background of how we got here is included below for your reference. The CIP team remains committed to working alongside the social profit sector to navigate the changes to the CIP grant program. New grant guidelines and timelines will be shared in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Pulse.
| Changes to Council’s role. |
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Council will appoint a Grant Approval Committee, set strategic funding priorities, and approve CIP funding amounts in the budget cycle for the Community Sustaining Grant, Community Capital Grant, Community Impact Grant and Games Legacy Grant. |
| Changes to administration’s role. |
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Administration will prepare and present finalized grant recommendations to the Grant Approval Committee. |
| Changes to timelines. |
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The CIP grants will accept applications from September 15 to November 1, 2023. Council will approve the annual operating and capital budget in early December, setting a budget for the Grant Approval Committee. The Grant Approval Committee will review scored applications and approve grants in early January with decision letters and grant agreements shared with applicants by end of January. |
| Changes to appeal process. |
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Under the updated policy, there is no appeal of the Grant Approval Committee’s decision. Applicants may request disclosure of evaluations of their application and may submit a complaint under the Whistleblower Policy LEG-150. |
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Background |
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On Feb. 8, 2022, Council directed administration to bring forward a bylaw to create a Community Investment Program Committee to review the Community Investment Program and provide recommendations to Council. |
| Community Investment Program Approval Committee established |
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On March 29, 2022, Council approved Bylaw No. 22/003 to establish the Community Investment Program Approval Committee (CIPAC) with the following mandate: To review the Municipality's Community Investment Program and make recommendations to Council on improvements and enhancements including, but not limited to: 1. Increasing efficiencies within and creating synergies between the Program and the Social Profit community and funding received from other levels of government. 2. Eliminating duplicative services within the Social Profit sector as well as services provided by the Municipality. 3. The granting process for Municipal Controlled Organizations. 4. Clarifying Program eligibility criteria; monitoring and evaluating applications; and establishing or determining grant deliverables (for any of the above, including financial reporting, benchmarking, outcome measurements and similar metrics). 5. Recommending the future role of this Committee, including but not limited to consideration of future grant application reviews, alignment with Council policies, the Municipal Development Plan or other Council strategic priorities. |
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Review of the Community Investment Program |
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On November 23, 2022, RMWB administration began working with Deloitte as the consulting firm to review the Community Investment Program. Deloitte completed a thorough review of the program which included the following:
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