Local Leadership Grant

About the Local Leadership Grant

Local Leadership Grant

As a part of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS), the Local Leadership Grant supports resident-led projects that support local activation and focus on the five domains of TSNS – economic opportunities, healthy lives, participation in civic-decision making, physical surroundings, and social development – across all neighbourhoods. The Local Leadership Grant prioritizes the leadership and participation of Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving groups within Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, Emerging Neighbourhoods, and other communities of focus.

Applicants must be a resident-led group consisting of at least 3 members who do not live in the same household. Groups with 3 or more members are eligible to apply. Group members must be residents of Toronto. Group Leads must determine which TSNS Community Network they live in – visit the interactive map for TSNS Community Networks Ambassadors.

What activities can be funded through the Local Leadership Grant? 

The Local Leadership Grant (LLG) supports place-based, resident-led projects that focuses on the five domains of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy. A funding amount of $5000 is available per group. Projects must offer community-based activities related to at least one of the five domains of TSNS:

• Economic Opportunities (e.g. job skills workshop)
• Healthy Lives (e.g. wellness day)
• Participation in Civic Decision-Making (e.g. community speak out event)
• Physical Surroundings (e.g. community beautification event)
• Social Development (e.g. neighbourhood festival)

New Changes to Local Leadership Grant 

• Sports-related projects are eligible for the 2026 grant cycle in celebration of the FIFA World Cup 26™
• Applicants must register for a Toronto Rebates, Incentives and Grants Portal (TGRIP) Account to apply for the Local Leadership Grant. Submissions will only be accepted through TGRIP.

Applications for the Local Leadership Grant opens September 15 and closes November 24. 

Group Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Applicants must be a resident-led group consisting of at least 3 members and group members cannot reside in the same household. Groups with 3 or more members are eligible to apply. All group members must live in Toronto and will need to provide an email address, phone number and postal code.
2. The Group Lead must be a resident of Toronto and must identify which Toronto Strong Neighbourhood Strategy (TSNS) Community Network they live in. Find out what TSNS Community Network you live in.
3. Group projects must offer community-based activities that demonstrate alignment with at least one the five domains of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhood Strategy
4. If you are serving food, one group member must have a Food Handler Certificate or be willing to participate in training to receive a Food Handler Certificate. A free training session will be offered for eligible groups.
5. All groups must be in good standing and eligible to receive a grant from the City of Toronto. All groups must comply with the Grants Policy. Your group must not be in debt to the City of Toronto or be part of an active investigation.

Ineligible applicants include:

1. Individuals
2. Groups with all members living in the same household
3. Groups without 3 members who reside in Toronto
4. Non-profit organizations, self-employed Individuals, registered businesses, for-profit businesses, landlord/tenant and condominium boards, corporations, political parties, BIAs, staff of the City of Toronto, members of City of Toronto Council
5. Social enterprises or ventures
6. Grant-making organizations, industry or trade associations
7. Religious organizations with mandates that cannot show a clear separation between religious and community service functions
8. 2025 Local Leadership Grant funded groups that have not submitted their 2025 completion report
9. Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO) and Multi-Sport Organizations (MSO) and groups affiliated with a Recognized PSO or MSO
10. Organizations with mandates and activities covered under provincial or federal legislation such as schools and universities, day-cares, group homes, hospitals

Local Leadership Grant groups can only submit one application. The first application that is submitted will be the application that is reviewed.

Project Costs

Eligible Project Costs

Application budgets can include projects costs for:

• Project supplies and materials
• Space rental
• Project Coordination to support planning, organizing and implementing your project. Compensation for the project team can be a maximum of $1,500.
• Compensation for Elders and honoraria for People with Lived/Living Experience and volunteers
• Transportation
• Planning and development
• Developing and supporting partnerships
• Delivery materials and participant-related costs
• Evaluation
• Interpretation and translation for events and communications
• Childminding
• Small Capital costs

Ineligible Project Costs

Requests for the following purposes are not eligible for consideration:

• Fundraising events
• Subsidies for individuals (e.g., scholarships or educational bursaries)
• Donations to Charitable causes
• Reserve Funds
• Major capital costs
• Debt repayment or deficit funding
• Political or religious activities
• Projects and activities outside of Toronto Unless specifically for Indigenous-based cultural activities outside of Toronto as per the City of Toronto Grants Policy
• Ongoing multi-year program funding
• Electronic equipment (e.g. computers, printers, phones, cameras) is not permitted

Contact communityfunding@toronto.ca  about any capital cost items prior to submitting your budget request. Major capital costs are not eligible for funding. Minor capital expenses, such as equipment to support virtual activities or paint supplies for a beautification project, may be eligible with City approval and are conditional on an incorporated non-profit owning the equipment after the project is completed.

Grant Priorities and Activities

Project events/activities must be:

• Held within the TSNS Community Network geographic area of the Group Lead
• Open and free for residents
• Held in a public and accessible space
• A one-time event or series of events that are completed with 30-day period
• Held between May 1st, 2026 – December 31st, 2026

Space permits are not required to be booked to be eligible to apply for the Local Leadership Grant. Groups are encouraged to contact the relevant community or City of Toronto space to inquire about their permit processing timeline. Understanding these details will help ensure your project timeline accounts for necessary processing time. Trustees can work with successful groups to finalize event/activity locations.

Grant projects cannot:

• Have a cost to participate and/or have a fundraising component
• Be connected to a pre-existing agency or City-run program
• Be a reoccurring, established or annual project
• Be private or invitation only

If you are unsure about the purpose of your event/activity, please contact your Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy Community Development Officer.

How to Apply

Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives Portal (TGRIP) Account

If your group already has a TGRIP account, you can log into your TGRIP account to access the LLG grant application, found under “My Funding Opportunities”.  Please make sure to update your organizational profile if any information has changed since you last logged on.

If your group does not have a TGRIP account, you will need to sign-up / register your group on the Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives (TGRIP) Portal  . Review the instructions on How to Register for a TGRIP Account   or watch the TGRIP video before you begin your applications.

If your group is a grassroots group or unincorporated non-profit, please select “community group” when registering your account for the first time and select “resident led-group” when completing the organization profile.

How do I complete and submit the organization profile if we do not have documents to upload (i.e. we are a youth-led grassroots or unincorporated non-profit group)?

• When setting up your organization profile in TGRIP, answer “Yes” to the question, “Is your group a resident-led group leading a project in your neighbourhood?”
• You do not need to sign and complete the Declaration of Compliance with Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Legislation & City Policy. This will need to be completed by groups once they are approved for funding. To bypass this step, click “Save”. Then log out and then log back on.

Finding the LLG application in TGRIP after I have registered an account and completed the organization profile.

• Once you have completed registering and setting-up your organizational profile, log out and then log back in.
• Once you have logged back in you can then access the LLG application form by clicking on “My Funding Opportunities” and finding the LLG application listed there.

Note: Only one application per group is permitted. Only eligible and complete applications will be considered for funding.

2025 Grant Recipients

2025 Local Leadership Grant Recipients

Group Name	Project Name	Community Coordination Plan Cluster Area
2nd Gen Chefs	Cultural Cooking with International Neighbours	Black Creek Downsview
Blackcreek Rising	Summer Safety BBQ	Black Creek Downsview
Chimneystack Homework Club	Level Up	Black Creek Downsview
Conexiones de Oro – Golden Connections	Hi ic Seniors’ Mental Health & Wellness Day	Black Creek Downsview
Growing Together Community Builders – Jane Finch	Roots to Riches: A Community Entrepreneur Exhibition & Space Activation	Black Creek Downsview
Humber Summit Seniors Group	Senior's Wellness, A Circle of Care	Black Creek Downsview
Jane Finch Community Empowerment Group	Digital Wellness for Seniors	Black Creek Downsview
Jane Finch Neighbourhood African Group	Healthy Lives: Nutrition Workshop	Black Creek Downsview
Mission of Peace	Frames of change, hope & peace	Black Creek Downsview
Odo Women	Sankofa Rooted Retreat	Black Creek Downsview
700 Ontario Tenant's Association	Tenant Association Workshop and Barbecue	Downtown
Artofsilkscreen	Art of Silkscreen	Downtown
Colour in Mind	Shared Being - Community Wellness Gatherings Centered in Co-Regulation and Co-Creation	Downtown
Four Winds: Chinatown Chapter	Four Winds Toronto’s Giant Mahjong	Downtown
Green Liberty Village	Family Fair	Downtown
Inside the Rhythm	Summer Pulse: Dance the Vibe	Downtown
Planting Imagination	Cecil Community Center Community Garden	Downtown
Rooted in Community	Hands That Feed	Downtown
Urban Workout Toronto	Calisthenics & Bodyweight Movement Meetup	Downtown
AP Community Archive Project	Alexandra Park (AP) Community Archive Project	Downtown
Back On The Block	Back on the Block	Downtown
Chinatown	Hearts of Chinatown / 華埠心語 / 华埠心语	Downtown
D-Way Programs	First Annual D-Way Basketball Tournament and Community Barbecue	Downtown
Girls Group	InspireHER: Unlocking Potential and Building Confidence	Downtown
Our Homme	Our Homme	Downtown
Seniors Cooking Collective	Seniors Cooking Collective	Downtown
3ES GRASSROOT ORGANIZATION	Stories in Motion	Downtown
Happy Mom Happy Children	Healthy Eating Workshops	Downtown
Hill Run Club	Rest, Run and Rise	Downtown
Happy Mom Happy Children	Rest, Run and Rise	Downtown
Inclusive Art Network	Paper Bridges: Stories that Unite Us	Downtown
Regent Park Femme	Femme Fest	Downtown
Regent Park Jewelry Craft for Seniors and Disability	Jewelry Craft for Seniors	Downtown
The Next-Gen	The Next-Gen's: Girls Leadership Program	Downtown
Toronto Newcomers Street Soccer	Toronto Newcomers Street Soccer	Downtown
Variable Academy	Variable Futures	Downtown
Youth Business Showcase	Youth Business Showcase	Downtown
Bengali Parent Advisory Group	Good Parenting for Healthy Community	East York Don Valley
Golden Mile Tenant Association	Golden Garden Project	East York Don Valley
Level Up Initiative	Level Up 3x3 Basketball Tournament	East York Don Valley
Rise n’ Shine	Rise n’ Shine	East York Don Valley
Thorncliffe Park Youth Builders	Thorncliffe Park Youth Builders	East York Don Valley
Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Art Collective	Connecting to nature through art: bike tour and photo walk workshops	East York Don Valley
Taylor Massey Residents Wellness Council	Community Arts And Mental Health	East York Don Valley
Youth Compass	Youth Compass	East York Don Valley
Beta Youth Era	Youth On Board: Design it, Build it, Own it!	North Etobicoke
Black Women and Art	Bloom Back-To-School	North Etobicoke
Black Women Rising	Strength to Soften Workshops	North Etobicoke
Complex Community Arts Initiative	The Rhythms of Change: Community Music Empowerment Series	North Etobicoke
North Etobicoke Wellness Collective	North Etobicoke Wellness Day: Rest, Restore & Reconnect in North Etobicoke	North Etobicoke
Nabad and Wellness	Colours of Calm: Art and Wellness Month	North Etobicoke
Rose and Friends	Rose and Friends proudly presents Building Boys is Better then mending men.	North Etobicoke
Rise Up	Give Back to Move to Forward	North Etobicoke
Scarlettwood Warriors for Change	Scarlettwood Repair Cafe	North Etobicoke
The Grove	The Grove: Back to School Jam	North Etobicoke
Etobicoke-Lakeshore Shelter Support Coalition	Unhoused people are our neighbours too: A community education series	South Etobicoke
Friends of William Punnett (FOWP)	FOWP - CEED CANADA EKO-BLITZ	South Etobicoke
The Gatehouse Garden Volunteers	Harvesting Connection: Community Gardening Events	South Etobicoke
Carnival Roots Collective	Masquerade and Masala	North Scarborough
Dove Krib Social Group	An Exchange of Culture Through Stories and Traditions	North Scarborough
Chinese Community in Scarborough	Empowering Chinese Community in North Scarborough: for Health Lives and to Enjoy the Physical Surroundings	North Scarborough
Bloomz Hub	Voices Unbound	North Scarborough
L'Amoreaux Youth Council (LYC)	LYC Summer FunFest	North Scarborough
Ubuntu Elders	Walking Together	North Scarborough
For The Neighbourhood	Shoot for the Stars	South Scarborough
Gardening Mamas	Place to Go	South Scarborough
Glow and Grow	Care for All	South Scarborough
Kennedy Park Resident Group	Back to School Drive	South Scarborough
Offline Adventure	Offline Adventure	South Scarborough
Prairie Drive Resident Group	Harvest festival, Seeds, seedlings, compost and garlic bulbs distribution and two healthy walking and trainings programs	South Scarborough
Sisterhood Empowered Group	Sisterhood Empowered Group	South Scarborough
Solidarity Academy for Asian Workers	Solidarity Academy for Asian Workers	South Scarborough
Tamil Seniors in Scarborough	Tamil Seniors and Arts	South Scarborough
The Chlorophyll Collective	Grow Box Initiative	South Scarborough
West Hill Employment Connect	West Hill Employment Connect	South Scarborough
2 Open Hands	The Know to Grow Project	North York
Lawrence Heights Community Garden Group	Community Garden Initiative	North York
Lawrence Heights Woman Wellness	Lawrence Heights Woman Health and Wellness	North York
Limitless Height Education Enrichment Pursuits (LHEEP Labs)	Innovation Makers space	North York
Residents First	Summer Social Series	North York
AboveDeOrdinary	Dream Beyond North York	North York
Be Future Ready (BFR)	Tech Savvy Pathways	North York
Doing Us Better	The Community Link-Up: Cuts, Crafts, and Connection	North York
Karen Community of Toronto	The Karen New Year Celebration	North York
Mind Body and Zumba for Life	Mind Body and Zumba for life	North York
North York Gujarati Community Group	Yoga and Meditation for Seniors	North York
Rooted in Nature TO	Water, Wellness, and Nature Walks in G. Ross Lord Park	North York
Soulful Sisters Wellness	Wellness in Motion	North York
Willowdale Holistic Garden Club	Nourishing Neighbours: A Day of Holistic Health & Healing	North York
Concerts on Connolly	Concerts on Connolly	York Weston Pelham
Humber River Pals	5 years of Stewardship Community Celebration	York Weston Pelham
Keele & Eglinton Neighborhood Community Group	Keelesdale Community: Back to School Bash	York Weston Pelham
Living Improvement for the People	Roots & Riddims: Reggae Creation Lab	York Weston Pelham
Senior Vietnamese Walking Group	Steps Up to A Healthy Lifestyle	York Weston Pelham
Tenant Committee, Davenport Symmingington	Davenport Community Garden	York Weston Pelham
The MOCHA Project	The Reading Salon	York Weston Pelham
Tretheway Tenants' Market	Tretheway Tenants’ Market	York Weston Pelham
YANTICS	Creative Community Care	York Weston Pelham

 

Indigenous Recipients

Group Name	Project Name	TSNS Community Network Area
Community Connects Collective	Galloway United Community Festival	South Scarborough
IGNITE Group – Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today	IGNITE Group	South Scarborough
Mama’s Healing Garden	Garden Wealth Creations	North Etobicoke
Resident Wellness Leadership Group	Health Empowerment Week	East York Don Valley
Afro-Indigenous Nova Scotian Collective	Afro-Indigenous Nova Scotian Collective Community Feasts	East York Don Valley
Earth Work Visions	Sonic River Journey	York Weston Pelham