Building Belonging Microgrant

Create a welcoming and inclusive Airdrie community with your ideas! We’re looking for individuals and community organizations who live or serve the Airdrie community to bring their innovative ideas to life through our Building Belonging Microgrant.

This pilot microgrant initiative helps people and organizations in Airdrie create small projects that bring people together and help everyone feel welcome and included. 

Apply for a building belonging microgrant

The Building Belonging Microgrant is looking to fund initiatives that:

• Foster an inclusive and vibrant community by deepening appreciation for diversity and promoting mutual respect, understanding and connections across cultures and communities.
• Reduce barriers to community participation for individuals and communities facing social, physical and economic obstacles to engagement and representation in public life, particularly for historically excluded groups.
• Support awareness, dialogue and action on Truth and Reconciliation, anti-racism, anti-discrimination and allyship by creating spaces for learning and conversation.

Microgrants are available for up to $1,500 per initiative.

Applications open on June 19, 2025 and will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year until Nov. 15, 2025, or until funds are fully allocated. All initiatives must be completed by Dec. 31, 2025 and a final report must be submitted within 60 days of completion. 

To apply, complete the Building Belonging Microgrant application form.

Applicants may apply for more than one initiative, but must realistically assess their ability to carry them out and demonstrate their capacity in their application. Applicants will be informed of results within 30 days of submission. All decisions are final, and we thank all who apply.

Applicants must be able to pay expenses upfront prior to receiving grant funds.

For questions related to applying, please contact social.planning@airdrie.ca. Applicants needing accessibility accommodations, such as digital access assistance, can contact social.planning@airdrie.ca.

Applicants must:

• Be individuals or community organizations (non-profit or charitable, whether registered or non-registered) residing in or serving the Airdrie community.
• Demonstrate they have the readiness and capability to achieve the outcomes of their initiative. Those applying for more than one initiative must realistically assess their ability to carry them out and demonstrate this in their application.
• Agree to submitting a final impact report.

Eligibility:

• Initiatives must benefit Airdrie residents and be non-profit in nature.
• Initiatives must be either in the form of:
• events and activities that take place within city limits and are open to the public, or 
• targeted initiatives aimed at reducing barriers to participation for individuals or communities facing exclusion.
• Eligible expenses may include initiative-specific supplies and materials, marketing and communications, small equipment needs, venue costs such as rental fees, event insurance, wages for contractors or workers not currently employed as staff, transportation costs, translation services, and other expenses that the City deems reasonable and necessary.
• Initiatives with financial support from other sources or collaborative partnerships will be positively considered. Recipients of other City of Airdrie grants and funding support are eligible to apply.

Non-eligibility:

• Activities supporting regular organizational functions or programs, commercial interests, or personal gain.
• Operational or capital expenses (such as rent, regular staff pay, office supplies, regular administrative costs, fundraising activities, repairs, major equipment purchases).
• Activities related to political parties or public demonstrations.
• Costs incurred before notice of successful application.

• Alignment with one of the three grant objectives (see above).
• Feasibility (relevant experience and a realistic budget tied to activities that support your goals).
• Shared resources (partnerships and funding from other sources can strengthen your application).

As part of the Building Belonging Microgrant agreement, recipients must submit a final impact report within 60 days of completion their initiative, including receipts for expenses covered by the microgrant funding.

Complete the Building Belonging Final Impact Report here

Please note, the information you provide in the final report may be presented in whole or in part to City Council or its Committees in reports relating to the Building Belonging Microgrant.