The City’s Community Priorities Grant Program supports the work of local not-for-profits, charities, and grassroots groups that address the Community Investment Strategy (CIS) priorities.
- Equity, Anti-Racism, and Reconciliation: Work that reduces systemic inequities, discrimination, and hate. It also includes work that advances Indigenous rights, reconciliation, and cultural safety, and initiatives led by equity-deserving communities.
- Connection, Expression, and Belonging: Focused on social connection, belonging, participation, creative expression through arts, sport, physical activity, neighbourhood activation that foster dialogue, and storytelling.
- Community Resilience: Initiatives that strengthen health, climate, safety, and access to basic needs, including income, food, housing, supports and services, upstream and prevention, and collaborative initiatives.
The program provides eligible organization with the opportunity to apply for multi-year operational funding – up to three years and a maximum of $20,000 for each year. Operational funding is designed to support an eligible organization’s core expenses (i.e. rent, staff wages, etc.) towards delivering on the CIS priorities.
Should Your Organization Apply?
You may be eligible if your organization:
- Is a registered not-for-profit or charity (or if as a grassroots organization you have a fiscal sponsor that meets this criteria)
- Serves the Guelph community
- Has been operational for at least a year upon date of application submission
- Has a volunteer board of directors
- Is non-political and in good standing with the City
- Adheres to the Ontario Human Rights Code
Apply for a Community Priorities Grant in Five Easy Steps:
- Read the following materials to understand the Community Priorities Program:
- Community Investment Strategy
- Community Priorities Grant Policy
- Community Priorities Grant Measurement Framework
- Set up a DecisionHub account using your preferred link below
- Choose which grant to apply for and complete the appropriate application
- When prompted, you will need to attach a copy of a cover letter and budget form found below
- Submit completed applications by Monday, November 9 at 4 p.m.
Get Support
This grant cycle, the City is providing a variety of resources to support eligible organizations with completing their applications.
Oral Application Option
Oral Applications are available to all eligible organizations for either application type. If your organization is interested in completing an oral application, please reach out to [email protected] to discuss.
Information Sessions
Community Investment will be hosting three information sessions for the Community Priorities Grant. The sessions will provide an overview of the program, a walkthrough of the applications, and provide a chance for applicants to ask questions.
If you are interested in attending a session, please see below:
- Virtual: Wednesday October 21 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. For details on how to attend, visit the registration page
- In-Person: Thursday October 22 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Marg MacKinnon Room, City Hall)
- In-Person: Thursday October 29 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Marg MacKinnon Room, City Hall
Application Consultations
15-minute consultations are also available to applicants. Consultations are a great option for organizations who are unclear about:
- If they are eligible for the grant
- Which measurement indicators are best suited to select for their application
- Specific sections of the application
Consultations can be booked through this link. Completing a consultation is optional.
Community Priorities Grant Measurement Framework and Resources
As part of the Community Priorities Grant, the City has developed a measurement framework. The framework helps show how Community Priorities Grant recipients are making a difference and contributing to the Community Investment Strategy Priorities. It also supports better decision-making by City Staff, Council, and local organizations by bringing together data and insights from funded programs across the community.
All applicants must select two indicators from a pre-determined list of short- and-medium-term indicators which they will measure during their grant funding. Further details are found in the application.
Click here to access the measurement framework
Measurement Resource Guide
The City recognizes that organizations are at different stages with their measurement journey. Some may have established practices while others may have none.
A measurement resource guide has been developed to support organizations applying for a Community Priorities Grant in understanding the Community Priorities Grant Measurement Framework and in turn how to prepare, collect, and use measurement data.
You can access the guide by clicking here
2026 Community Grant Recipients – Annual Reports
If you received a 2026 Community Grant, your organization will be required to report on how the grant was used and what it helped achieve for the community. Reporting forms will be available for download soon.
Reports for 2026 Community Grants are due December 15
Alternative formats (including oral reporting) will be available upon request.