Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant

The Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant will support and empower residents to undertake their own greenMarkham initiatives – in their homes and gardens, on the road, at work and in the community.

Together with community leadership, residents have the potential to bring change and build vibrant, sustainable neighbourhoods.    

Projects that receive funding will help achieve one or more of the following:

• Contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions     
• Enhance the health, resilience and sustainability of our ecosystem and natural environment
• Help attain Markham’s Zero Waste targets
• Beautify neighbourhoods and communities
• Conserve and protect our natural environment

Projects, activities and events that aim to increase environmental awareness and engagement will be given high priority. Youth-led or youth-centric projects are strongly encouraged.

• Markham residents
• You will need a friend or neighbour as a co-applicant 
• At least one of you needs to be 18 years of age

• You can only apply for one Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant per funding year 
• Your project, activity or garden* must take place on your private property and be visible or accessible (if applicable) to the public.
  • *Gardens cannot be located in the following locations:
    • Areas not visible or accessible to the public
    • Boulevard planting (area between the street curb and the sidewalk)
    • Public space (parks, laneways)
• Your project must be free, accessible and welcoming to all 
• You may not request donations or fundraise for other projects and/or organizations or profit from this project
• These grants are specifically for individuals and small volunteer-based neighbourhood and/or community groups  
• You must begin your project once you have been selected as a grant recipient
• While some projects may continue year-round, it is expected that your grant is spent within 12 months of approval  
• Projects are not supported retroactively
• Registered organizations and businesses are not eligible to apply 

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

Green Energy & Transportation

• Develop a neighbourhood carpooling challenge
• Organize a ‘walk to school’ group or bike pool
• Offer bike repair clinics 

Zero Waste

• Create a neighbourhood tool-share hub
• Organize free sewing and mending workshops
• Film a documentary on single-use plastic reduction and show it at your school or workplace
   

Protection of Natural Species and Habitat

• Create a pollinator garden - label plants/trees and schedule guided tours

Does your idea support one of the following criteria?
 

• Contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
• Enhance the health, resilience and sustainability of our ecosystem and natural environment
• Help attain Markham’s Zero Waste targets
• Beautify neighbourhoods and communities
• Conserve and protect our natural environment

Consider the following when budgeting for your project:

• Grant money may be used to pay people for services (also called honorariums)
  • An honorarium is a small fee paid to someone for their in-kind skills or knowledge contributions
  • Total honorarium(s) may not be more than $100 per project
• Pre-determine the actual cost of items to be used
  • Be resourceful and think about how to obtain materials through borrowing or donations 
• You are responsible for keeping expense receipts to account for all project costs
• While some projects may continue year-round, it is expected that your grant is spent by December 31, 2022

Application Process:

• Download the Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant Application [PDF] and submit to sustainabilitygrant@markham.ca 
• Application Guidelines [PDF]

Photo & Video Consent Release Form [PDF]

A City Staff committee will review and evaluate all applications each funding year and make recommendations to the Executive Leadership Team. Recommendations, including grant amount and conditions are assessed through scoring and discussion. 

Projects submitted for funding will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

Impact
How well does the proposal identify a need, propose a solution and clearly state the hypothesis in terms of levers of change and potential to measurably advance one or more of Markham’s sustainability goals?  

Realistic
Does the proposal offer a realistic plan for achieving its goals and objectives? Are the costs and timeframe reasonable?  

Community Engagement
Does the project involve those affected by the proposed work and increase the skills and assets of Markham residents, where possible? 

Community Benefit
How is the project inclusive and has the capacity to benefit all City of Markham residents?  

Learning & Knowledge Transfer
What is the plan and willingness to share findings with neighbourhood organizations and members?

What is the Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant?

The Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant is a new fund under the Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund Program. The grant is designed to support and empower residents to undertake their own greenMarkham initiatives – in their homes and gardens and in the community.

What is the purpose of the Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant?

The purpose of the Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant is to support resident-led sustainability projects, activities and events within Markham that increase environmental awareness.

Who can apply for a grant?

Any Markham resident can apply for a Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant. The application requires at least 2 applicants from different households who live in the City of Markham.

How old do I have to be to apply for a grant?

Youth-led or youth-centric projects are strongly encouraged but at least one applicant must be over 18 years old.

Can businesses apply for this grant?

No. For-profit organizations and businesses are not eligible to apply for the Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant.

How much money will I receive?

Small grants of up to a maximum $500 are available for Markham residents to develop greenMarkham projects, activities or events. 

What kind of projects qualify?

Projects that receive funding will help achieve one or more of the following:

• Contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions     
• Enhance the health, resilience and sustainability of our ecosystem and natural environment
• Help attain Markham’s Zero Waste targets
• Beautify neighbourhoods and communities
• Conserve and protect our natural environment

What are the requirements?

• Projects must support actions that contribute to reducing Markham’s carbon footprint and are required to meet at least one, if not more, of the following objectives:
  • Contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions     
  • Enhance the health, resilience and sustainability of our ecosystem and natural environment
  • Help attain Markham’s Zero Waste targets
  • Beautify neighbourhoods and communities
  • Conserve and protect our natural environment
• You can only apply for one Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant per funding year
• Your project must be free, accessible and welcoming to all
• You may not request donations, fundraise for other projects and/or organizations or profit from this project
• These grants are specifically for individuals and small volunteer-based neighbourhood and/or community groups 
• You must begin your project once you have been selected as a recipient and the grant must be spent within 12 months of approval. 
• Projects are not supported retroactively.

What are the budget considerations?

1. Grant money may be used to pay people for services (also called honorariums)
   1. An honorarium is a small fee paid to someone for their in-kind skills or knowledge contributions
   2. Total honorarium(s) may not be more than $100 per project
2. When creating a project budget, you should determine the actual cost of items to be used
   1. Be resourceful and think about how to obtain materials through borrowing or donations
3. You are responsible for keeping expense receipts to account for all project costs
4. Funds must be spent by December 31 of the grant year.
    

How do I apply?

• Download the Sustainable Neighbourhood Small Grant Application [PDF] and submit to sustainabilitygrant@markham.ca by May 31, 2022 at 11:59 PM EST
• Successful applicants will be notified via email in June 2022 and a list of approved projects will be posted to the City’s website

Application Guidelines [PDF]

Photo & Video Consent Release Form [PDF]
 

How are projects evaluated?
 

A City Staff committee will review and evaluate all applications each funding year and make recommendations to the Executive Leadership Team. Recommendations, including grant amount and conditions are assessed through scoring and discussion.

Projects submitted for funding will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

Impact
How well does the proposal identify a need, propose a solution and clearly state the hypothesis in terms of levers of change and potential to measurably advance one or more of Markham’s sustainability goals? 

Realistic
Does the proposal offer a realistic plan for achieving its goals and objectives? Are the costs and timeframe reasonable? 

Community Engagement
Does the project involve those affected by the proposed work and increase the skills and assets of Markham residents, where possible?

Community Benefit
How is the project inclusive and has the capacity to benefit all City of Markham residents? 

Learning & Knowledge Transfer
What is the plan and willingness to share findings with neighbourhood organizations and members?

What happens after the project is completed?

Upon completion of the project and no later than 12 months from delivery of the funding, you are required to submit your project report.

Project Report must include:

• Accurate accounting documenting how funding was spent
• Original copies of paid invoices
• Evaluation/description of the success/any shortfalls of the project
• Photographs and videos for review and promotion of the project
• Completed Photo & Video Consent Release Form

Who can I contact if I have questions?
 

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your project.
Please contact us at sustainabilitygrant@markham.ca. 

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