Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants

Funding is for resident-led groups only. Groups led by Black, Indigenous and equity deserving people, and place-based projects based in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIA) and Emerging Neighbourhoods (EN) will be prioritized in the review process. We do not provide funding to non-profits, individuals or businesses.

Eligible Groups

• Resident-led groups, consisting of at least three group members residing in different households in Toronto (postal codes starting with M)

Ineligible Groups

• Groups with all members living in the same household
• Non-profit organizations
• Individuals or for-profit businesses or ventures (including Business Improvement Areas)
• Religious organizations that cannot show a clear separation between religious and community service functions
• Political parties
• Grant-making organizations
• Industry or trade associations
• Organizations with mandates from other levels of government (universities, schools, hospitals, etc.)
• Landlord/tenant and condominium corporation
• Projects based in all neighbourhoods are eligible to apply. Applications for projects based in NIAs or EAs are prioritized. Use the Find your Neighbourhood tool to learn more about your neighbourhood.

Projects must either directly contribute to emission reduction and/or include a climate change education component.

Examples of Emission-Reduction Projects

• Repair-a-thon or swap events
• Bike repair or cycling clinics
• Nature-based solutions such as carbon sequestration
• Feasibility study for neighbourhood renewable energy sources
• Neighbourhood home energy retrofit events or audits
• Neighbourhood walking, cycling or carpooling challenge
• Neighbourhood organized bike pool or walking school bus
• Vehicle anti-idling campaigns
• Establishing sharing libraries

Examples of Educational Initiatives

• Interactive workshops, demonstrations or education events
• Arts-based engagements that inform the public about climate action
• Toolkits, guides, interpretive signage, walking tours
• Citizen science projects and community research

*Please note, this grant is intended to support new or enhanced activities and is not meant to fund ongoing operations.

Terms and Conditions

Groups will be matched with a local community organization to act as a trustee for the grant funds. Successful applicants will be required to sign the Declaration of Compliance of Anti-Harassment/Discrimination City Policy and will be asked to review the City of Toronto Guide to Political Activities for City Funded Groups and sign a corresponding document to acknowledge the policy.

Key Dates

• Applications open: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
• Information session: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  Register for the information session
• Office hours: Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 6 to 7 p.m.
  Register for office hours
• Applications close: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at noon
• Application review: September to December
• Applicants notified: January
• Orientation sessions: January to February
• Project implementation: January 2026 to December 2026

Timeline is subject to change.

Steps to Apply

1. Form resident-led group.
2. Develop new or enhanced project.
3. Attend an info session (view 2024 info session recording) or consult City staff for feedback.
4. Prepare application in response to the application questions.
5. Procure all necessary documentation, such as letters of support from project partners, complete project budget, proof of in-kind support, etc.
6. Submit application through the Application Portal.

Applicants have an average success rate of 38 per cent.

Notice of Collection

Environment, Climate & Forestry collects personal information on this form under the legal authority of Item 2021.IE26.16, City Council Decision 1g, as confirmed by the City of Toronto By-law 1110-2021 and Item 2019.EC6.19, City Council Decision 1, as confirmed by the City of Toronto By-law 1212-2019. The information is used to administer the application process and to communicate with the applicants, if required. Questions about this collection can be directed to the Manager, Engagement & Capacity Building, USEW-2 C/O Metro Hall, 2nd Floor, 55 John Street, Toronto, Ontario M5V 3C6 or by telephone at 416-392-1848.

Below is a list of expenses that are eligible and ineligible. Please note that only expenses that are deemed reasonable and necessary to the success of the project will be approved.

Applications will be screened for eligibility by City of Toronto staff. Applications that are determined to be eligible will be further assessed by a Resident Advisory Committee made up of local community and climate action leaders. Final recommendations for funding will be approved by the Executive Director of the Environment, Climate & Forestry Division.

The Resident Advisory Committee assesses proposals based on the following criteria:

Core Requirements

• Does the group appear to have the ability to carry out the project?
• Does the group appear to have an understanding of climate action?
• How likely is it that the project will bring about change in awareness, skills or behaviour?

Project Strength

• How clear is the goal of the project?
• Is there a good rationale for the project?
• Does the project address a community need?
• How well do the proposed activities support the project’s overall goal?

Technical Merit

• Is the grant application clear and detailed?
• How clear and realistic are the steps of the project?
• How clear and realistic is the budget?

Depending on the nature of the proposal, applicants may be required to secure insurance. Please consider this when preparing your project budget.

• Applicants will be expected to inform both staff and your respective city councillor about all public facing events with at least two weeks’ notice.
• Applicants can access space in community centres and libraries free of charge if requesting space within regular operating hours. Eight weeks’ notice should be provided. Visit the links below to see available locations.
  • Toronto Public Library Community Rooms
  • Community & Recreation Centres
• If your proposal involves organizing an event in a park you may need to secure a permit from Parks and Recreation based on the following criteria:
  • Bookings are required for all gatherings with more than 25 people.
  • Outdoor event permit rates are based on projected attendance.
  • Set-up and clean-up fees may be applied; a damage deposit may be required for larger events
  • For more information, visit Booking Fees for Social Gatherings.
  • If your event includes: the sale or service of alcohol, serving food to the public, amplified sound (speakers, megaphone), structures or other more complicated elements, submit a Special Event Booking.

All grant recipients are expected to submit reports to determine the impact of the project and funding. All reports will be submitted online unless an alternative format is requested.

• Midpoint Progress Report: A report will be requested from your group in the middle of the calendar year to provide an update on project progress and communicate outstanding activities.
• Final Report: A report is due one month after project activities have concluded. As part of this report groups will be asked to submit a Financial Report, using the template provided and any other media (photos, articles, flyers, etc.).

Grant recipient groups will be matched by geographic Cluster to a Community Coordination Plan trustee as listed below. Find your Cluster.

• • Black Creek/Humber Summit and York Weston Pelham Clusters – Delta Family Resource Centre
  • Downtown East and Downtown West Clusters – Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre
  • East York/Don Valley and North York Clusters – TNO-The Neighbourhood Organization
  • North Etobicoke and South Etobicoke Clusters – The Arab Community Centre of Toronto
  • North Scarborough Cluster – Malvern Family Resource Centre

*Neighbourhood Improvement Area

**Emerging Neighbourhood

We aim to accommodate needs such as documents in alternate formats, ASL interpretation and off-hour meetings to ensure that groups can fully participate in the funding process. If you require accommodation or assistance, please contact Sharene Shafie, Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants Project Lead, at Sharene.Shafie@toronto.ca or 437-236-4956.

Resources

• Application Questions
• Budget Template