Grants and Funding

The City of Medicine Hat offers the following grant opportunities:

people enjoying a front porch concert

Community Vibrancy Grant

To promote vibrancy, energy and enthusiasm in our community.

The window for applications has closed - thank you to all who applied!

The City of Medicine Hat values community activities and projects because they bolster community spirit, emphasize opportunities that contribute to quality of life and enhance a sense of belonging to a community that is welcoming, safe, resilient, and full of opportunity.

The Community Vibrancy Grant has two streams:

  • Community Projects and Activities – $25,000 will be allocated
  • Annual Festivals and Special Events (larger scale) – $19,000 is available for 2025
    • two-year funding is available for this stream
    • due to some festivals/events receiving multi-year funding, the total funds available may differ from year to year.

Please read the guidelines to ensure that your project fits within the criteria. If after reading the guidelines you are still uncertain if your project is eligible, please contact the Community Vibrancy Grant Administrator at 403-529-8316.

Objectives

Community Projects and Activities

This stream will provide funding for projects that support one or more of the following:

  • promote vibrancy, energy and enthusiasm in the community of Medicine Hat
  • emphasize the community and celebrate living in Medicine Hat
  • promote recreation, leisure, social, arts, cultural or opportunities vital to the well-being and quality of life in Medicine Hat
  • promote a sense of belonging in the community
  • create increased knowledge of community
  • deepen awareness of opportunities and challenges, and the factors that impact change
  • increase appreciation for the community
  • generate interest for residents to get more actively involved in their community
Annual Festivals and Special Events

This stream will provide funding for projects that are larger in scale (i.e.: expect to have an audience of more than 500 residents) and support one or more of the following:

  • promote vibrancy, energy and enthusiasm in the community of Medicine Hat
  • emphasize the community and celebrate living in Medicine Hat
  • promote arts, cultural or community gathering experiences vital to the well-being and quality of life in Medicine Hat
  • increase appreciation for the community
  • generate interest for residents to get more actively involved in their community
Guidelines, criteria and deadline

I. Application deadline

The deadline for applications is Thursday, August 29, 2024, by 3 p.m. Late applications will not be considered. Only application forms completed in full will be accepted. 

II. Grant amount
Minimum and maximum amounts have not been established for individual grants. 
III. Application procedures

All applicants must submit a completed Community Vibrancy Grant application. Procedures include the following:

  • access and complete the application form available at medicinehat.ca/grants
  • ensure that you complete the entire application form and attach all relevant documents as noted
  • if applicable, ensure that applications have been signed by two people, the person completing the application on behalf of the organization and the Board President or Chair
  • ensure that you save a copy of your completed application form and a copy of these guidelines for your records

Please note, no handwritten applications or reports will be accepted.

IV. Eligibility criteria

Please read the following section carefully. Applications for a Community Vibrancy Grant must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

 

Projects must:

  • reflect the spirit of City Council’s Strategic Plan 2023-2026
  • take place within the City of Medicine Hat limits/boundaries
  • support one or more of the objectives outlined above.

 Applications must:

  • identify the initiative’s anticipated deliverables and outcomes
  • be made by individuals, organizations or groups of individuals and organizations, who live in or around Medicine Hat
  • provide a budget statement of projected expenses and revenue, including any projected shortfall of funds
  • describe any community partnerships and/or funds secured from other organizations/individuals
  • be not-for-profit in nature

Applications must not:

  • involve the recruitment of permanent staff
  • involve major capital expenditures ($500 maximum)
  • involve activities for the purposes of fundraising for other causes
V. Evaluation

Preference will be given to proposals that:

  • clearly describe alignment with the Community Vibrancy Grant’s objectives and Council’s Strategic plan, including anticipated deliverables and outcomes
  • have the potential to impact a large number of local residents in a positive, worthwhile and meaningful manner
  • allow for active or passive participation at little or no cost to local residents
  • provide opportunities that are inclusive and accessible to all
  • promote volunteerism and build capacity in the community
  • include opportunities for partnerships with community organizations and local businesses
VI. Grant allocation
  • 100% of the amount once approved by City Council
VII. Grant administration
  • the application intake process will be managed by the Community Development Department
  • grant applications will be reviewed by a panel made up of members of the Community Vibrancy Advisory Board and one staff member from each of the following:
    • Community Development Department
    • Parks and Recreation Department
  • applicants may be asked to make a presentation to the selection committee
  • the Community Vibrancy Advisory Board will make recommendations to City Council through Public Services Committee for the distribution of the grant funding
  • grant agreements and funding disbursement will be administered by the Community Development Department
  • applicants may be asked to make a presentation to the Community Vibrancy Advisory Board about their event after their event has taken place
VIII. Conditions of funding
  • use the funds for the purpose for which they were requested
  • be responsible for the planning and execution of the proposed project
  • if the project cannot be completed as described in the application, the City must be notified as soon as possible to discuss return of funds
  • maintain separate accounting for the proposed project
  • acknowledge the support of the City of Medicine Hat in the promotion of the approved project
  • keep the receipts for all expenses paid for with the grant for seven (7) years as the City of Medicine Hat may ask to see those receipts as evidence of purchase
    • If the City of Medicine Hat asks for those receipts, they are to be provided within 30 days
    • If the grant recipient does not produce the receipts, they may be required to repay the grant dollars to the City of Medicine Hat
  • submit a final report evaluation, and a financial statement to the City of Medicine Hat within 60 days of the event/project completion for each year of your grant 
    • the final report documents to be completed are available at www.medicinehat.ca/grants 
    • ensure the final financial summary shows the actual revenue and expenses

View guidelines and criteria (PDF)

Final report form (PDF)

Completed support materials can be submitted by emailing to Bonnie-Lou at bonyar@medicinehat.ca

For more information, contact:

Community Vibrancy Grant Administrator
Community Development, City of Medicine Hat
Phone: 403-529-8316
Email: bonyar@medicinehat.ca

Grant Recipients
 2025 Recipients

OrganizationCommunity Projects / ActivitiesAmount Awarded (one-year total)
Medicine Hat FireFit Team FireFit Championships Regional Event $9,500
Wander YXH 6 Short Documentaries $6,000

Medicine Hat Adaptive

Sport and Recreation

Larry Godin Classic $3,000
The Cycle Guild of Medicine Hat Bike Parks Distribution $3,500

Medicine Hat

Vintage Trailer Rally

Trailer Show $3,000
Spectrum Festival Foundation Spectrum $14,500
The Kiwanis Club of Medicine Hat Family Day Activities $1,500

Alternative Waves

Musical Festival

Alternative Waves $3,000
 2024 Recipients

OrganizationCommunity Projects / ActivitiesAmount Awarded (one-year total)
Ellen Heise Roots and Resilience $4,000
Family Fun & Flight  Family Fun & Flight Airport Open House $10,000
Firekeepers Women's Society  Metis Week $5,000

Hat Horizons

Radio Operators Club

HAM Training $500
Kiwanis Club of Medicine Hat  Family Day $1,500

Medicine Hat & District

Chamber of Commerce

Midnight Madness $5,989

Medicine Hat & District

Chamber of Commerce

Chili Cook Off $3,000

Medicine Hat Catholic

Board of Education

Move for Mental Health Walk $1,000
Medicine Hat Concert Band Choral Concert $1,000
Medicine Hat Drug Coalition International Overdose Awareness $4,000
Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Canada Day Festival $30,000
Medicine Hat Public School Division Keskikeymowin Celebration $5,000

Medicine Hat

Vintage Trailer Rally

Medicine Hat Vintage Trailer Rally $2,000
REDI Enterprises TAG - Movie Night $3,211
Roadworn Productions & Management Porchfest Medicine Hat $7,000
SafeLink Alberta Harm Reduction Day $800
South Eastern Alberta Archaeology Society SEAAS 40th Anniversary $6,000
Spectrum Festival Foundation Spectrum Festival $18,500
Strathcona Arts Studio Art in the Park $500
OrganizationTwo-Year FestivalAmount Awarded(one-year total)
Medicine Hat Folk Music Club Tongue on the Post Festival $13,500
Medicine Hat Jazz Society Jazzfest Festival $16,000
Medicine Hat Skateboarding Association July 1 Beat the Heat Festival $19,000

Rotary Club of Medicine Hat

Music Festival Society

Music Festival $500
Willy Taillon Hot Air Balloon Festival $17,000

 

 


 

people enjoying an outdoor event

Community Microgrants

To foster connections in the community through neighbourhood or community gatherings and activities.

Apply for a microgrant

Community Microgrants are available up to $500 available in the following funding category:

Please note, as of June 25, 2024, the Neighbourhood Connections funding category has closed for applications.

View guidelines and criteria (PDF) 

The microgrants are intended to foster connections in the community through gatherings and activities, with a variety of focuses. It is our hope that through the establishment of this grant stream, that residents and neighborhoods organize activities and events that help people feel a strong sense of community and connection with the people in their community and/or neighborhood.

Grant intake is ongoing and applicants are encouraged to apply for funding at any time throughout the year. Grants received will be given notice of their application status within 30 days of submission. Grant intake will close for the year when the total funding is allocated.

Apply now for a Microgrant  

Paper copies of the grant application forms can be picked up at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre reception desk Tuesday to Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

I. Grant Amount

Total microgrant dollars available each year is $10,000 for EACH of the two funding categories.

II. Eligibility criteria

Please read the following section carefully. Applications for a Community Microgrants must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

Eligible Events for the Community Arts and Culture microgrant are:

  • barrier free to all such music performances, theatre acts, and art shows.
  • projects, events, and experiences that are co-created with others, such as community art projects. community band concerts, or heritage tours. 
  • projects, events, and experiences that honour Indigenous culture. 
  • projects that create and promote beautiful and clean spaces and inspire pride.
  • projects and experiences that advance artists in the community such as multicultural music festivals or cultural dance performance.
  • projects that animate the community, such as street parties, outdoor movie nights, or murals. 
III. Microgrant logo for marketing your event

As per page 8 on the guidelines and criteria page, we encourage grant recipients to use the phrase "funded in part by a City of Medicine Hat Microgrant" and the Microgrant logo as part of their marketing efforts. 

parents walking with a child

Family and Community Support Services Grants

To support preventive social initiatives, projects, and services that enhance the social well-being of individuals, families, and the community. 

Organizations currently receiving funding from FCSS are eligible to apply; $72,000 is available for both 2024 and 2025.

Applications are now closed. 

Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) is a unique 80/20 funding partnership between the Government of Alberta and participating municipalities or Métis Settlements. The combined funding is used to support preventive social initiatives, projects, and services that enhance the social well-being of individuals, families, and/or the community.

Legislative requirements

An FCSS municipality must ensure that local initiatives, processes, or services meet all the requirements set out in the FCSS Act. In particular, the Act requires that FCSS supports social initiatives that are preventive and that they enhance the social well-being of individuals and families through promotion or intervention strategies provided at the earliest opportunity.

Medicine Hat Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) awarded $1,902,792 in funding from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025 to support external projects/programs within the community. 

Funded Projects
AgencyProject or programAmount funded (2-year total)
Unison (at Veiner Centre) Senior Centre Programming and Supports $1,066,792
Medicine Hat Family Service Short term Counseling and Family Life Education $361,800
Medicine Hat Public School Division Cultural Liaison Worker program $75,000
Sanare Centre Preventative sexual and domestic violence community based program $50,000
Community Food Connections Association of SE Alberta Food Security Coordinator 96,000
LEARN Community Adult Learning Council  Imagination Alive! project $30,000
Junior Achievement Southern Alberta Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Work Readiness Programs in Medicine Hat Youth $10,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Medicine Hat and District 'Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds' group mentoring program

$47,200

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Medicine Hat and District Teen Mentorship Program

$34,000

Our Collective Journey Adolescence Resilience Coach Program $80,000
Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society Children’s Support Group program $30,000
Various Community Members Neighbourhood Connections Microgrants $22,000

 

Important Links

View application guidelines (PDF)

For more information, contact:

FCSS Grant Administrator
Community Development, City of Medicine Hat
Phone: 403-529-8316
Email: bonyar@medicinehat.ca