The Annual Grants Program funds local projects that strengthen communities through financial resilience, employment, local food, accessibility and housing.
Funding amount: $5,000 to $20,000
Website: Libro Credit Union
Find external grant opportunities
Neighbourhood grants are for neighbour-led projects. If your project isn’t eligible, explore these external grants that support local events and projects.
Find the right grant
Make sure the grant fits your project:
- some grants require you to partner with a registered charity or non-profit
- read the grant details before applying or reaching out to a potential partner
- if you’re part of a non-profit, check out Waterloo Region APPLY for more funding opportunities
- new grants may open throughout the year — subscribe to the neighbourhoods newsletter for updates
Community-based grants
Annual Grants Program – Libro Credit Union
Community Conservation Grants – Grand River Conservation Authority
Community Conservation Grants support community and school projects that protect and improve the Grand River watershed.
Projects must be located in the watershed and open for the whole community to use and enjoy.
Funding amount: up to $1,000 for community groups and $750 for elementary schools
Website: Grand River Conservation Authority
Community Grants – Waterloo Region Community Foundation
Community Grants helps organizations focused on affordable housing or climate action.
Funding amount: Level 1: up to $10,000 and Level 2: $10,001 to $30,000
Website: Waterloo Region Community Foundation
General Community Fund – United Way Waterloo
The General Community Fund supports programs that meet basic needs, improve mental health or reduce social isolation.
Funding amount: up to $50,000
Website: United Way Waterloo
Upstream Fund — Region of Waterloo
The Upstream Fund supports community projects that make social and economic systems work better for everyone.
It’s open to all community groups and organizations, with priority given to grassroots groups that have been excluded from other funding opportunities.
Funding amount: varies
Website: Region of Waterloo
Youth-based grants
Community Development Grants – Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Grants are awarded to help organizations start or keep running sport or physical activity-based programs.
Programs must support children ages 4 to 18 in financial need or youth with disabilities up to age 25.
Funding amount: $1,000 to $100,000+
Website: Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Community-based Support Grants – Canada Post Community Foundation
This grant funds projects that create programs, resources, or activities for children and youth such as STEM learning, mentoring, or workshops for at-risk youth.
Eligible applicants include schools, school or parent organizations, libraries, daycares, Indigenous groups, recreation facilities, unregistered organizations and small municipalities.
Eligible projects include:
- playground equipment and upgrades to parks
- educational field trips
- technology such as Chromebooks or tablets
- sporting facility improvements
- special needs supplies and adaptive equipment
Funding amount: $5,000 to $25,000
Website: Canada Post Community Foundation
Youth Innovations Test Grant – Ontario Trillium Foundation
This grant supports youth-led projects (ages 12 to 29) that are created by young people with lived experience of the challenges their project aims to address.
Grassroots groups must partner with a registered non-profit, called an Organizational Mentor, to receive funding.
Funding Amount: up to $100,000 per year
Website: Ontario Trillium Foundation
