Neighbourhood Small Grants

In 2023, The County Foundation offered Neighbourhood Small Grants as a pilot project, and projects from the first year will be ongoing until July 2024. We look forward to seeing these come to fruition and sharing news on the future of our Neighbourhood Small Grants in the coming months. 

Neighbourhood Small Grants are based on a simple but powerful idea – when people feel a sense of belonging to their neighbourhood, they are more likely to be engaged in activities that make it a better place to live and our communities are strengthened from the ground up. 

What is a Neighbourhood Small Grant?

The Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program support residents like you who want to make their communities better places to live. Our grants range from $50 to $500. A grant is money we give you to bring your project to life. You must apply for the grant, but you do not need to pay the money back. 

Youth Projects

Youth in Prince Edward County have some really great ideas. To help support them, we are committing at least 30% of the Neighbourhood Small Grants to be directed towards eligible youth projects. 

Ask yourself: What is something that I would like to see happen in the community? 

Goals of the Grants

  • Connect and engage neighbourhood residents (e.g. a block party or a social gathering)
  • Share residents’ skills and knowledge (e.g. yoga instructor teaching a free class)
  • Build a sense of ownership and pride (e.g. cleaning up an alleyway)
  • Respect and celebrate diversity (e.g. multicultural community kitchen)

Get Inspired

In 2023, we launched the Neighbourhood Small Grants program as a pilot project. Below are some of the projects that have taken place so far and we look forward to seeing more come to fruition this year!

Our Place, a concert event celebrating women musicians. Photo credit: Deborah Walters.
A Neighbourhood Social Party for Fry Road.
Films on the Green, an outdoor presentation of the film Encanto. Photo credit: Hailey Claxton.
Basketball skills clinic to empower girls and women. Photo credit: Jason Parks.

Neighbourhood Small Grants in the news

The Picton Gazette highlighted a youth-led project created by Jessica Davis, second to the left, who used her Neighbourhood Small Grant to host a free basketball skills and drills clinic to inspire more girls to get involved with sports. 

https://pictongazette.ca/post/county-clippers-host-a-clinic

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Want to see more project ideas to get inspired?

Visit www.neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca/stories to get ideas of what might be possible! 

Applying for a Neighbourhood Small Grant

Info Webinar

An information webinar on the Neighbourhood Small Grants was held on April 4th 2023. 

The video from this session was recorded for the convenience of those who could not attend.

Who can apply for a grant?

  • Prince Edward County residents.
  • The project must take place within Prince Edward County.
  • Each NSG project must have two applicants as leads. The two applicants live at different addresses.
  • Registered organizations and businesses are not eligible to apply.

Project Eligibility

  • Your project must be free to attend and participate in. We encourage applications for projects that are accessible to people with disabilities and inclusive of all people.
  • Events can be one-time or a series.
  • You may not fundraise for other projects and/or organizations during your event. However, we encourage you to seek donations or gifts in kind from local businesses to help support your project.
  • You cannot sell products or services at the event nor gain financially.
  • Large capital projects including building and maintenance of public assets such as playgrounds or purchasing equipment such as computers are not eligible.
  • Projects involving psychotherapy and counseling support are not eligible.
  • Grant money may not be used to purchase alcohol.

Project Costs

What do you need to think about when you are estimating your project costs?

  • Grant requests for projects are expected to be under $500.
  • You may not profit financially from your project. Grant money may be used to pay people for services (also called honorariums) to help with the project. An example may be a carpenter or face painter. Total honorarium(s) may not be more than $100 per project. You are responsible for keeping expense receipts to account for all project costs.
  • Your project must take place within a year of the funding being awarded but some exceptions may be granted if needed.
  • You must begin your project after the grant decision is made. Projects are not supported retroactively.

Recognition: The County Foundation should be acknowledged by displaying The County Foundation logo on event posters or other project promotional materials.

How to Apply

We are currently not accepting applications for Neighbourhood Small Grants, but we look forward to sharing news on the future of the grants in the upcoming months. Stay up to date on our grant news by following us on social media or signing up for our Pulse newsletter. 

PDF printed applications can be emailed to info@thecountyfoundation.ca, mailed or dropped off at The County Foundation at 35 Bridge St. Suite 107, PO BOX 24, Picton, ON, K0K 2T0

Municipal and Public Health Information

Below is some municipal and public health information to consider when coming up with ideas for your neighbourhood project and preparing your grant application. Municipal by-laws are subject to reviews and updates, so please confirm the latest information and requirements as your project date approaches.

The location of your gathering and whether it is open to the public will determine the Public Health guidelines you must follow if you want to provide food. Check the Hastings Prince Edward Health site here for information or call 613 966 5500 ex 677.

There are many municipal spaces available to rent including parks, sports fields, community halls, ice rinks and arenas, museum buildings and grounds. You can view all the options on the County website here. For questions or to check availability and book, email bookings@pecounty.on.ca.

Thinking about a block party? If you’re interested in closing a street for an event, contact the County Operations Dept at operations@pecounty.on.ca to inquire and complete a Special Events Road Closure application. 

Event organizers must obtain liability insurance to hold an event in a public space.

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Projects that take place on private property are not required to provide a certificate of insurance. However, it is recommended that applicants inquire with their own insurance providers to determine what type of coverage may be required.

Amplified sound is prohibited between 11 pm and 9 am. Exemptions are possible for special events in non-residential zones. Email clerks@pecounty.on.ca for more information.

To have a fire anywhere in Prince Edward County, you must have a current burn permit. Permits cost $25. Check here to get a permit online or see a list of places you can pick one up in person. There are rules about where you can have a fire and how big it can be. 

If windy or dry conditions lead to a County-wide burn ban on your event day, you will not be able to have a fire. Fires are not permitted in County parks. You’ll find all the information here or contact the Fire Administration Office at 613 476-2345 with questions.

You've Applied for a Grant - What's Next?

After you apply, your grant application is reviewed by a Grants Committee made up of local neighbourhood volunteers from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Volunteer committee members review the applications and help decide which projects to fund. 

Grant Reports

If awarded a Neighbourhood Small Grant, you must complete a brief 1 page grant report following your project to tell us about how everything went. You will need to include at least 1 photo with your report and please submit a copy of all receipts for your project. Full details on our Grant Reports page. 

The County Foundation will also ask permission to share your project and photos to help inspire others in the future. Unused grant money must be returned to The County Foundation. 

Inspired by:

Accessibility

The County Foundation strives to make our grant application process as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility needs or require additional assistance then please feel free to reach out to info@thecountyfoundation.ca or call us at 613-519-4470.

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