Climate Action Fund
Grants of up to CAD 8,000 help community groups and schools cut emissions, build climate resilience or teach climate action in Caledon, Ontario.
You can fund local climate projects such as active travel programmes, waste reduction, community renewable energy, wetland restoration, community gardens, school gardens and preparation for extreme heat or weather. Projects must support the Resilient Caledon Climate Change Action Plan and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen resilience to climate impacts, or educate the community about climate action.
The grant can cover project materials, workshop materials, space rental or permits, communications, evaluation, rented or small purchased equipment, consultants and skilled labour. Project staffing costs cannot exceed 25% of either the requested grant or the amount awarded. Other expenses need the Town's case-by-case approval.
Applicants may request up to CAD 8,000. Evaluation scores of 85–100% support full funding; 70–84% support 75% of the requested funding; below 70% receives none. If demand exceeds the budget, projects are funded in score order. When the remaining budget is less than 50% of the next project's request, it is shared equally among projects already awarded partial funding. At least CAD 15,000 of the programme budget is reserved for school applicants. You must complete an awarded project even if you receive less than the amount requested.
The Town retains 10% of grants of CAD 2,000 or less and 15% of grants of CAD 2,001 or more until it approves the final report and invoices. Unspent funds and funds claimed for cancelled or expired projects, ineligible expenses, or work outside the approved project must be returned. The Town encourages you to seek approval for changes to the project scope or budget.
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants are nonprofits and registered charities; neighbourhood associations and other unincorporated community groups with documented terms of reference; faith or church groups undertaking nonreligious work; and Indigenous groups. Individuals and students need a documented collaboration agreement with an eligible applicant.
- Publicly funded schools with a Caledon address, their groups, clubs and parent councils, and publicly funded school boards proposing work in those schools can apply.
- Projects must take place in Caledon and directly benefit its residents. Activities beyond Caledon's borders are ineligible.
- Only one application per organization is accepted each year. Previous recipients cannot receive support for the same project in the same location in consecutive years. An overdue Climate Action Fund project blocks further applications until it is completed or the funds are returned.
- A school may apply even if its school board also proposes work at that school. Where the Town receives applications from a school and its groups, clubs or parent council, only the highest-scoring application receives funding.
- You cannot apply to the Town's Municipal, Agricultural and Community grants or Golf Tournament funding for the same project.
Ineligible costs include unrelated expenses, ornamental beautification or landscaping repairs, membership and conference fees, travel, personal vehicle use, parking, political or religious activities, and ordinary organizational running costs unrelated to the project. The guide also excludes harmonized sales tax (HST) if unregistered.
Use funds in the calendar year they are issued unless otherwise stipulated. Receipts and invoices from outside the calendar year of the award are ineligible. Complete the project within the calendar year of signing the funding agreement.
How to apply
- Status
- closed
- Closes
- Round restrictions
- The 2026 intake is open. Submit by 4:30 p.m. on 30 October 2026.
Download the Climate Action Fund application from the Town's community-grants page and email the completed form and required attachments to environment@caledon.ca. Use the separate Part C budget sheet if you need more space. The 2026 intake is open until 30 October 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
Include an existing work plan, strategy, annual report or recent funding proposal, or a substitute accepted by Energy and Environment staff. This attachment is waived for schools, school groups, school boards and Indigenous groups. If your project takes place on property you do not own, obtain the building or property owner's approval; schools must obtain their school board's approval. For permanent installations on property you do not own, include the owner's support letter. Catholic schools need approval from their board's Grant Committee; public schools need approval from their designated Facility Manager. Outdoor physical installations, including planting, require a site sketch with dimensions and photos of the existing site, plus the owner's support where the installation is permanent and the applicant does not own the land.
Explain your project, timetable, community or school engagement, expected outputs, monitoring and evaluation, and itemized budget. Planting projects need a maintenance plan. Disclose other funding sources if the project costs more than CAD 8,000. Quotes for budget items of CAD 2,000 or more and project-specific support letters are strongly encouraged.
The Town screens applications and evaluates them before Council gives final approval. Successful applicants sign a funding contribution agreement before money is transferred; school and school-group payments go to the school board.
Submit an interim progress update in July covering activities, project status, major changes and the updated budget. The final report in November must explain results, outputs and any shortfall, provide programme feedback, complete the final budget template and include invoices and photographs. The Town releases the retained grant balance after approving this report and supporting records.