We are currently in the process of redesigning our Community Grant program, scheduled to launch in 2025. This overhaul will include active collaboration with agencies and our community to ascertain the most effective ways to identify and address community needs while providing sustainable, long-term funding for our community partners. If you wish to participate in the conversation, kindly email us to let us know.

In the meantime, we have introduced the Community Grants Microgrant. Organizations are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 in unrestricted funding to meet the ever-evolving demands within their organization and the community.

An unrestricted microgrant program for the dynamic needs within Central Alberta organizations.

Through grants of up to $5,000, the Community Grants Microgrant program caters to the diverse and evolving needs of community organizations. These microgrants aid organizations in navigating a swiftly changing landscape, whether it involves developing responsive programming, maintaining vital programming, investing in technology, or addressing unforeseen expenses to meet the demands of the community.

Opens March 4, 2024.

Who is Eligible:

  • Applicants must be operating in and/or serving the Central Alberta region
  • Applicants must be must be registered charities and have a valid charitable number from Canada Revenue Agency or be a First Nations Band or municipality designated as a qualified donee by Canada Revenue Agency. If your organization does not have charitable status or is not a qualified donee, we can consider an application in partnership with another organization that is a registered charity or qualified donee with a mandate relevant to your proposal.
What is Eligible:
  • Innovative new projects
  • Short-term projects
  • Seed funding for long-term projects
  • Equipment based projects
  • Administrative/operational costs
What isn’t Eligible:
  • Partisan political or singular direct religious activities
  • Building an endowment
  • Fundraising expenses
  • Large capital campaigns
Grant funds may only be used for expenses incurred after the RDDCF’s final grant decision dates.

What We Prioritize:

  • Organizations that attentively listen to the perspectives of stakeholders and the community, making well-informed decisions for strategic goals to fulfill their mission
  • Organizations that incorporate and practice EID values
  • Contributes to a vibrant, healthy, caring community
  • Helps to fulfill the mission and mandate of your organization
  • Improves the services offered by your organization
  • Demonstrates a real need for funding that is not otherwise available
  • Demonstrates a search for funding from sources other than RDDCF
  • Demonstrates an investment in the project through contributions from your organization, the community, and/or support from other funding sources
  • Is achievable within the next year
  • Proposes an innovative and practical solution with specific strategies and outcomes
  • Strengthens your organizational capacity
  • Promotes collaboration and sharing among agencies

How it Works:

  • Organizations are welcome to apply for a grant of up to $5,000
  • Organizations have the option to either re-submit a previous application or submit a new one each quarter
  • Simply log into your account, or create one, with our online grant management system and apply by the deadline. Our intake will happen quarterly.
  • Late/incomplete applications will not be accepted
  • Grant decisions are finalized within approximately 4 weeks of the application deadline and notifications are made immediately after the board approval.  If requested, we are happy to provide feedback on submissions that were not approved for funding.
  • Each successful applicant will then be required to sign a formal Grant Agreement before disbursement.
  • Once the project is completed, or a year after the funding was received, Foundation staff will check in with a site visit and discussion about how the funding was used within your organization.
Deadlines:
March 1
June 1
September 1
December 1

Our Guiding Principles

RDDCF has six guiding principles to consider when developing your grant application.

See the Impact

With over $11 Million granted to charities in the last 31 years, the Red Deer & District Community Foundation has made tremendous impact throughout out Central Alberta.