Applications are now open for Dufferin County’s 2026 Community Grant Program!

Dufferin County offers the Community Grant Program to support its strategic goals in the following streams:

• Climate and Environment
• Community
  • Cultural Enhancement
  • Access to Food
  • Youth and Seniors Services
• Economic Development
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives

In 2025, $122,630 in Community Grant Program funding was recommended to 24 organizations in Dufferin. Check out stories to see the impact of these funded projects in Dufferin County here.

• Groundwork Grant (multi-year) – up to three-year funding agreement with the County for community organizations to strengthen their organization or to ensure the continuation of long-running programs that are of vital importance and value to the community
• Bloom Grant (one year) – provided for programs or events that engage in one time funding for initiatives in alignment with the Community Grant Program goals
• Grassroots Grant (one year) – for unincorporated grassroots groups or newly incorporated not-for-profit organizations that require support for a new initiative. This stream is limited to a maximum of $3,000

Organizations may request Groundwork funds for up to a three-year term. This is accomplished by allowing applicable overhead and administrative and/or capital expenses as needed to sustain an organization as eligible expenses. Applications for Groundwork funds must clearly demonstrate need and how the organization benefits residents of Dufferin and show how multi-year funding will address a funding challenge for the organization.

The Community Grant program, its policy and procedures will be guided by the County’s core values:

• Collaboration: We actively engage and partner across departments and with community members, stakeholders, and other organizations to collectively address our challenges and achieve our shared goals.
• Accountability: We are transparent and take responsibility and ownership for our actions and decisions.
• Innovation: We embrace a culture of continuous improvement and creativity, seeking innovative solutions for an ever-changing community.
• Compassion: We act with kindness and demonstrate empathy and understanding in serving our community.
• Courage: We lead with conviction and act in the best interest of the County and our community.

Dufferin County partners with Headwaters Communities in Action (HCIA) to administer the Community Grant Program. HCIA establishes a grant team who reviews the applications and evaluates them against the established criteria to ensure they meet the strategic priorities.

Applications can be submitted online here. Applications must be submitted by March 23, 2026.

After the HCIA Assessment Committee reviews the applications, grant recommendations will be presented to Dufferin County Council in May 2026 for review.

Questions about the Program can be submitted to action@headwaterscommunities.org.

Questions regarding the application form, notifications or payments can be directed to info@dufferincounty.ca or call 519-941-2816 ext. 2500.

Eligibility requirements, additional information and grant writing tips can be found at www.dufferincounty.ca.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Megan Ball, Manager of Communications
mball@dufferincounty.ca