Local Leadership Grant

The Local Leadership Grant is currently closed.

The Local Leadership Grant program provides $5,000 for resident-led community groups to help them inspire their neighbourhoods with events and activities that support the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy.

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 

  • 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.
  • Sports-related projects are eligible for the 2026 grant cycle in celebration of the World Cup coming to Toronto.
  • Activities funded through the Local Leadership Grant will start in May 2026.

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. To apply, you must be part of a resident-led group with at least three members who do not reside in the same household. All group members must live in different households and be residents of Toronto.
  2. The Group lead must be a resident of Toronto and must identify which Toronto Strong Neighbourhood Strategy (TSNS) Community Network they live in. To determine which TSNS Community Network you live in, visit the Local Leadership Grant Map.
  3. Group projects must offer community-based activities that demonstrate alignment with the five domains (i.e., economic opportunities, healthy lives, participation in decision making, physical surroundings, and social development) of  the Toronto Strong Neighbourhood Strategy.
  4. The project proposed cannot be an existing program or service your group is currently providing. Considerations will be taken if you are applying to enhance your existing project by adding a new element. This can include adding new activities or workshops and/or redesigning the project to reach a new demographic. For example, redesigning a digital literacy workshop that was initially for youth but now updating it to be relevant and appliable to seniors. Expanding existing projects to new geographic areas are not eligible.
  5. If you are serving food, one group member must have a Food Handler Certificate OR participate in training to receive a Food Handler Certificate. A free training session will be offered for groups recommended for funding on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  6. To 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 with the City or be in default of terms and conditions of any agreement (including any previous grant agreement) with the City of Toronto.
  7. In order to apply for the Local Leadership Grant, your group must have a Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives Portal (TGRIP) Account. Visit TGRIP to register or see additional information in the TGRIP section.

Note: To be eligible for the 2026 Local Leadership Grant, previously funded groups must have completed their 2025 project activities, and all funds must have been fully utilized and reported in your Completion Report submission. You are still able to submit an application however, it will not be considered until we have received your 2025 final report. The 2025 Local Leadership Completion Report must be submitted by January 31, 2026.

Ineligible applicants include:

  1. Individuals.
  2. Groups with all members living in the same household.
  3. Groups with less than 3 members.
  4. Groups with less than 3 members who do not reside in Toronto.
  5. Non-profit organizations, self-employed Individuals, registered businesses, for-profit businesses, landlord/tenant and condominium boards, corporations, political parties, social enterprises (including BIAs), staff of the City of Toronto, members of City of Toronto Council.
  6. Grant-making organizations, industry, or trade associations
  7. Sports Clubs, Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO) and Multi-Sport Organizations (MSO) and groups affiliated with a Recognized PSO or MSO
  8. Organizations with mandates and activities covered under provincial or federal legislation such as schools and universities, day-cares, group homes, hospitals.
  9. Religious organizations with mandates that cannot show a clear separation between religious and community service functions.
  10. 2025 Local Leadership Grant funded resident-led groups that have not submitted their completion report for the 2025 Local Leadership Grant call.

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

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.

Project events/activities must be:

  • Be held within the geographic area of your Group Lead’s TSNS Community Network
  • Be a one-time event or series of events that are completed within a six-week period
  • Be in person, free and open to Toronto Residents
  • Occur in a public and accessible space
  • Be held between May 1st, 2026 to  December 31st, 2026

Tip: Space permits are not required to be booked in advance to be eligible to apply for the Local Leadership Grant. Groups are encouraged to contact the relevant Community organization or City service to inquire about the Use of Space / Permit processing timeline. Understanding these details will help ensure your project timeline accounts for any necessary processing time. Trustees can work with successful groups to finalize event/activity locations. For more information please visit Parks & Recreation Permit – No Fee Community Activations.

Grant projects cannot:

  • Have a cost to participate and/or have a fundraising component.
  • Be connected to a pre-existing agency or City-run or Not-For Profit program.
  • Be for sports clubs to train participants to compete at an elite level.
  • Be a reoccurring, established or annual project.
  • Be private or invitation only

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  (opens in new window). Review the instructions on How to Register for a TGRIP Account  (opens in new window) or watch the TGRIP video (opens in new window)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.

Group Name Project Name TSNS Community Network
2026 Local Leadership Grant Recipients
Nurturing Youth Excellence Girls in Motion Academic & Athletic Leadership Development Program Black Creek Downsview
Holistic Youth United The Wellness Taster Experience Black Creek Downsview
Painting 101 The Sheppard Youth Paint to Prosper Black Creek Downsview
Safe Place Nourish & Save Black Creek Downsview
Jane Finch Neighbourhood African Groups Outdoor Fan Fest Event - Celebration of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Black Creek Downsview
KWH Youth Initiative Ready, Set, Learn! Black Creek Downsview
Bloomz Hub Next Gen Creators Black Creek Downsview
Green Liberty Village Soccer Clinic and Wellness Eco Fair 2026 Downtown
Urban Workout Toronto Community Calisthenics Day 2026 Downtown
My Ppls Ball Tournament My Ppls Youth Mentorship Downtown
Vitality Circle Vitality Circle Downtown
Happy Mom Happy Children Grassroot Group She Scores 2026 Downtown
Art to Connect Art to Connect Downtown
St. James Town Residents Council Connecting Urban Living to Ravine Life Downtown
Zen in Colour BIWOC Trauma Informed Facilitation Program Downtown
Her Rhythm Rising Rhythm &  Roots Regent Park Women's Dance Collective Downtown
Mother's of Peace Regent Park First Aid Mental Health Downtown
Habesha Heritage Circle - Downtown Habesha Heritage Circle Downtown
Parkdale Housing Justice Network Parkdale Tenant Power Month: Workshops, Clinics and Tenant Summit Downtown
D-Way Youth Organization D-way Inner City Youth Art Exhibit Downtown
Asian Toronto Running Club Asian Toronto Leadership Run: Empowering Community Through Movement Downtown
Parkdale Residents Association Pretty Vacant Downtown
Seniors Cooking Collective Seniors Cooking Collective Downtown
3ES Grassroots Organization Stories in Motion Downtown
Happy Mom Happy Children Healthy Eating Workshops Downtown
BIPOC Queer Communal Market BIPOC Queer Communal Market Downtown
South Parkdale Good Neighbours DunNation Downtown
Humera's Community Hub The Wellness on a Budget, Mind, Body & Empowerment Series Downtown
Wellness & Resilience: A Self-Care Retreat for Corporate Women Wellness & Resilience: A Self-Care Retreat for Corporate Women Downtown
Regent Park Jewelry

Craft for Seniors and Disability

 Jewelry Craft for Seniors Downtown
Liberation Fridays Liberation Fridays Downtown
Back on The Block Back on The Block Community Block Party 10th Anniversary Downtown
MDZ Productions MDZ Film Showcase Downtown
Woven Stories Uncovering Our (Hi)Stories Downtown
Alexandra Park Writer's Group Alexandra Park Writer's Group Downtown
Friends of Regent Park Bake Oven Animator Champions Downtown
Thorncliffe Youth Creators Collective Thorncliffe Youth Creators Collective Downtown
Canada Hiking and Travel Group Walk, Move & Celebrate: A Community World Cup Wellness Series Downtown
Engaged Communities Flemingdon Soccer East York Don Valley
Caring Group Wellness in Bloom: Healing Hands & Rooted Hearts East York Don Valley
Budding Artist Art in the Gardens East York Don Valley
Bridge & Bloom Project Body Safety & Boundaries 101 East York Don Valley
Coalition of Women in Leadership Women's Economic and Well-Being Forum: Pathway to Prosperity East York Don Valley
The Friends of Leeward Glenway The Greening of Leeward Glenway East York Don Valley
Thorncliffe Youth Park Builders Grow & Build Thorncliffe East York Don Valley
Taylor-Massey & Oakridge Community Response Team (TMOCRT) Mental Wellness for All East York Don Valley
East Toronto Muslim - Jewish Youth Dialogue Group East Toronto Muslim - Jewish Youth Dialogue Group East York Don Valley
Golden Mile Tenants Association StartSmart Lab - Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (Youth & Newcomers) East York Don Valley
Mature Social Outreach Mature Social Outreach East York Don Valley
Ontario Integration Initiative Neighbourhood Belonging Circles: Civic Mapping & Micro-Action Day North Etobicoke
North Etobicoke Residents Council Back to School Bonanza 2026 North Etobicoke
Scarlettwood Warriors for Change Scarlettwood Summer Eco-Camp North Etobicoke
Beta Youth Era Inc. North Etobicoke Community Mental Health Capacity Project North Etobicoke
North Etobicoke Wellness Collective North Etobicoke Wellness Day: Rest, Restore & Reconnect in North Etobicoke North Etobicoke
The Gardens Lakeshore Community Urban Agriculture of South Etobicoke Food Security Leadership Program North Etobicoke
Uplift Hoops Youth Academy Court to Career North Etobicoke
Page's & Prodigies Page's & Prodigies North Etobicoke
Power of Love Foundation Canada We Move: Empowering Youth in Sports Leadership North Etobicoke
Rise in STEM STEM of Soccer Series North Etobicoke
Beyond the Court Inc. Beyond the Court: Resilience & Opportunity Initiative North Etobicoke
Building Bridges by Breaking Barriers Building Generational Bridges in Toronto's East African Community South Etobicoke
Mimico Rugrats Associations Mimico Rugrats Associations South Etobicoke
The Gatehouse Garden Volunteers The Gatehouse Community Garden Volunteers South Etobicoke
Rainbows Pride in Scarborough (RPIS) Scarborough Multicultural Art BBQ Festival North Scarborough
Empowering Young Women Healing in Colour: Youth Creative Wellness Symposium North Scarborough
IMPACT Youth Gardening Leadership Group Roots of Change: Youth Gardening & Leadership Initiative North Scarborough
Confident Child Brave Voices: Confidence & Public Speaking Workshop for Children North Scarborough
AI for Everyone AI for Everyone North Scarborough
42 Voices Malvern Resources & Cultural Tour North Scarborough
My In Law Willow Park Youth Active Leaders: 6 week Gymnastics Experience North Scarborough
90 Minutes of More Kick It 90 Toronto: Soccer Community Celebration South Scarborough
Haitians of Toronto Back-to-School Festival 2026 South Scarborough
Curran Hall and Morningside Good Neighbours Curran Hall and Morningside Good Neighbours Festival South Scarborough
MD-Student Community Youth Outreach VITAL Health Futures Summit South Scarborough
KGO Adult Literacy The Learning Together Project South Scarborough
Concern for Civility Concern for Civility South Scarborough
3k Run Club The Scarborough North Unity Cup: Community Run Challenge & Wellness Festival South Scarborough
MA Arts Back to School with Music South Scarborough
Mornelle-Morningside Grow Box Initiative South Scarborough
West Hill Employment Connect West Hill & Mornell Community Day South Scarborough
Scarborough Village Community Garden Healthy Living in the Garden South Scarborough
Dove Krib Social Food for Wise South Scarborough
Ionview Community Connections Community Belonging Solutions Lab South Scarborough
Prairie Drive Park Resident-led Group Distribution of garden inputs, harvest festivals training and walkings South Scarborough
The Commitment Program In the Field 2026 North York
Community Health & Fitness Empowerment Community Health & Fitness Empowerment North York
Aimal Youafzai Toronto Youth Cricket Tournament - One Month Weekend Program North York
Repair Café Willowdale Repair Café Willowdale Spring 2026 North York
Amir's Foundation Amir Men's Support Group (AMSG) North York
Farhad Arman Empowerment Through Awareness: Community Workshops on Child Protection, Domestic Violence and Legal Rights North York
Yoga Resilience & Community Wellness Through Yoga Yoga Resilience & Community Wellness Through Yoga North York
Hype Heights Youth Council Lawrence Heights Basketball Showcase North York
Trauma Informed Family and Society Wellness Day: A Trauma-Informed Community Healing Initiative North York
Lawrence Heights Community Garden Lawrence Heights Community Garden North York
Leeann Tanaah Nourish 2 Flourish North York
Mind of Strength Steps for Change Run Club North York
Sharing Table: Youth & Food Neighbourhood Connections Sharing Table: Youth & Food Neighbourhood Connections North York
Seniors Vietnamese Working Group Seniors Exploring Nature & Healthy Living York Weston Pelham
Breathe Easier Breathe Easier - Build Your Own Air Cleaner York Weston Pelham
Mending a Crack in the Sky Rise to Heal York Weston Pelham
Black Women Rise Taboo Talks York Weston Pelham
Bella Let's Talk First to Make It: First Generation Wealth York Weston Pelham
Humber River Pals Humber River Pals York Weston Pelham
Creative Commons Collective Breath, Bloom and Belonging York Weston Pelham
Lambton Park Garden Lambton Park Community Medicine Garden York Weston Pelham
Carleton Village Community Gardeners Cross-Pollinating Davenport: Celebrating and Growing Community Connection York Weston Pelham
Mobile Millionaires INC. Women's Worth Summit York Weston Pelham
Keelesdale Community Grassroot Group 3rd Annual Back to School Event York Weston Pelham
End-of-Life & Grief Literary Collective Exploring Mortality, Grief & Meaning York Weston Pelham
Parents of Oakwood CI Beats & Cleats Community Celebration York Weston Pelham
Aunty Claudene Time Seat & Fit Seniors York Weston Pelham