Community Activation Grant

Make a difference in your community!

You can now apply to the Community Activation Grant (CAG) program for local community initiatives. The CAG program provides financial assistance of up to $2,000 to local nonprofits, community organizations, residents, and informal groups, empowering you to champion projects that bring people together and enhance community belonging through small-scale events, activities, and programs contributing to the overall well-being of Oakville residents.

Eligibility

Applicant eligibility

Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:

Individual residents
Informal or ad-hoc groups of residents, or residents' associations consisting of at least five Oakville residents.
Non-profit organizations that operate under the authority of a volunteer board, committee, or individual elected or appointed by the general membership or group.

Applicants must:

Demonstrate how their proposed initiative will achieve the grant program's mandate.
Estimate the reach or impact of their proposed initiative.

Project eligibility

Projects (events, activities, programs, and similar initiatives) must:

Take place in the Town of Oakville.
Be offered at no cost to the community and participants.
Demonstrate that the project:
- Fosters a sense of community belonging
- Addresses isolation and loneliness amongst older adults
- Increases access to programs and services for equity deserving groups
- Promotes mental health and wellness
- Promotes physical literacy and wellness
- Promotes arts and culture

If a neighbourhood event requires a road closure (or similar circumstances as determined by town staff) the applicant must obtain 70 per cent of household signatures within 120 metres of the event/program site in support of the project.

Existing projects are only eligible for grant funding if applicants can demonstrate enhancements to the programs. Preference will be given to new activations, events, and programs before existing projects.

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses include:

Facility rentals/permits (including insurance):
- Indoor facilities
- Parks
- Community Use of Schools
Insurance
Instructor/Facilitator Fees
- Expenses related to hiring a third-party facilitator or instructor necessary for implementing the proposed activation or event.
Food and refreshments
Green consumables, including paper plates, bamboo and/or wood utensils, reusable cups, garbage/recycling/compost bags.
Halton Region garbage bag tags
Security, policing, and first aid costs
Audio/visual costs
Art and craft supplies
Equipment rentals:
- Parks picnic tables
- Chairs, tables
- Tents
- Audio-visual equipment
Marketing and promotions:
- Printed materials (newspaper ads, flyers, pamphlets, banners)
- Social media promoted posts (Instagram ads, Facebook ads)

Project requirements

Projects should meet the program objectives, outlined below, and help promote a sense of community belonging.

Be small-scale community events, activities, and programs with 250 or fewer participants.
Enhance community capacity to unite people around shared interests, raise awareness, and improve public spaces.
Increase access to community participation.
Enrich the vibrancy and livability of Oakville for everyone.
Align with Council’s strategic priority of promoting a sense of community belonging.

Application process

You must complete the online application form and submit any relevant documents at least two months (eight weeks) before your proposed initiative/activity.

Complete A Grant Application

Your application must show how the initiative is enhancing a sense of community belonging and meet eligibility requirements. It will also be evaluated based on how easily the project can be implemented and prioritized based on initiatives that don’t quality for support through other town grants and funding availability.

Templates for the work plan and budget, community map, and the neighbourhood support list are linked below. Paper copies are available at the town hall upon request.

Review and approval process

The application review process may take up to eight weeks to complete.

Successful applications

Approved grant submissions will require applicants to:

Enter into an agreement for the disbursement of funds.
Submit a final report within 60 days of the initiative detailing how the funds were spent.

Funds will be disbursed approximately two weeks after the signed agreement is received.

Unsuccessful applications

Town of Oakville staff will follow up with submissions that are incomplete, require further information or do not meet the requirements of the grant.

Unsuccessful applicants may submit an appeal to the Community Development team if they can show that the information was misunderstood in the assessment process. Appeals will be reviewed by the Director of Recreation and Culture.