Community Investment Operating Grant

The City of Edmonton Community Investment Operating Grant (CIOG) program provides operating assistance to Edmonton's not-for-profit organizations working towards increasing social inclusion and equitable access to participation in social services and active recreation/amateur sport.

Application Intake Closed

The 2024 CIOG application intake is closed. Applications for the year 2025 will open in November 2024.

Grant Priorities

The organizations’ primary mandate must be 1 of the following:

Social Services

• Social programs and activities that help Edmontonians to strengthen personal or community life

Active Recreation/Amateur Sport

• Active Recreation: all physical activities that an individual chooses to do for fun, social interaction, fitness and relaxation
• Amateur Sport: organized physical activities that result in a contest between 2 or more people participating individually or as a team, governed by rules, regulations and officiating

Grant Timelines

March 13
Application deadline

March 13-April 10
Review of applications

By End of April
Applicants will be notified of funding decisions

Note: These timelines are subject to change.

Application Criteria and Requirements

Please review all information before you apply.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Grant, the applicant must:

• Be a not-for-profit organization registered for at least 1 year and in good standing with the incorporating body (Alberta Society, Non-profit Private Company, Non-Profit Public Company, Extra-Provincial Non-profit Company)
• Demonstrate alignment to the CIOG priorities through their programs and services
• Have eligible operating expenses under $500,000
• Have a minimum of 75% of its participants living in Edmonton
• Demonstrate sound board and financial governance practices
• Demonstrate initiative and success in generating diverse sources of funding
• Have an open membership except for valid program factors (for example - age)
• Be in good standing with the City in terms of reporting requirements and outstanding payments
• Be a member of the Edmonton Sport Council, if your mandate is active recreation and amateur sport

Please note:

• Organizations may receive 1 operating grant per year funded by the City of Edmonton. These include operating grant programs for community leagues and seniors’ centres, as well as operating grant programs administered by the Edmonton Arts Council and Edmonton Heritage Council.
• Organizations that have 2 years or more of unrestricted cash reserves or restricted but available for operating expenses, may not be considered for an operating grant.

Ineligible Expenses

Funding cannot be used for the following:

• Capital projects (including: significant maintenance or repairs to buildings such as an addition or a new roof
• Fundraising expenses (for example: bingos and casinos)
• Expenses associated with income-generating operations not directly associated with programs and services of the organization (for example: public food sales/catering/banquet services, facility rental)
• Depreciation/amortization (decreases the value of capital assets over time)
• Debt Repayment or Debt/Credit Interest - expenses related to a line of credit, mortgage, credit card, overdraft or other debt, or the principal and interest on any credit or debt

Grant Guide

Application Process

Required Documents

• Most recent year-end financial statements (see Financial Statement example)
• Bank Statements and Bank Reconciliation: required if your financial statements are internally audited (Bank Statements and Bank Reconciliation example)
• Board minutes approving funds to be saved for specific purposes (if applicable)
• Financial Information Form

Note: Financial statements must be signed by 2 Board members. Additionally, financial statements that are not presented either as a notice to reader, a review or an audit must include a bank reconciliation and bank statement at the fiscal year-end.

Submit Your Application

Applications are now closed.

• Watch 2024 Information Session video
• Review sample Application Form (PDF Version)
• Complete Financial Information Form Template (Excel File)

Please note: this application requires a Google account. If you do not have one, contact Grants@edmonton.ca for more information about applying.

Assessment Criteria

Applications are assessed based on the following criteria:

• Organizational eligibility
• Alignment to grant priorities
• Eligible operating expenses
• Most recent year-end financial statements

Grant awards are determined by a formula based on this criteria and the number of eligible applications.

Reporting Requirement

Successful applicants will be responsible for reporting on how operating dollars supported them in advancing their mandate and the:

• Number and types of program activities
• Number of participants across programs/services
• Number of volunteers and volunteer hours
• Participant outcome data
• Progress made on social inclusion and equitable access to programs/services

Financial reporting is required in the form of financial statements. These will be included in the application for the grant.

Outcome Measurement Tools and Resources

A number of resources have been created to assist your organizations with collecting outcome data:

Outcome Measurement Instructions and Item Bank

Provides an overview of the CIOG outcome reporting requirements as well as an item bank with questions you can use to collect data on demographics, financial assistance and outcome data.

Outcome Measurement Tools

Provides example tools you can use to collect important information from your program participants.

Glossary of Terms

Provides key definitions for different measurement and evaluation terms as well as definitions for a variety of demographic terms.

These documents will continue to evolve as we receive feedback from the CIOG community. If there is anything you’d like to see added, if you require assistance or have any questions regarding the outcome data collection process, please feel free to contact us.