Deadline: 15 December 2023
Be a catalyst for community connection! The Power of Us microgrant program provides up to $1,000 to resident-led groups, grassroots organizations, and informal collectives across the City of Toronto towards projects that help build social connections and increase civic participation.
The funded initiatives seek to create opportunities to activate neighbourhoods, animate public spaces, or bridge connections between people to increase a sense of belonging in the communities and address the growing challenge of social isolation.
Toronto Foundation has partnered with Volunteer Toronto to coordinate this program.
Possible Project Ideas
- Tea party for newcomers
- Community garden
- Neighbourhood block party
- Park clean-up
- Skills sharing workshop
- Neighbourhood walking tour or bike ride
- Community sports tournament or demo (eg. karate in the park)
- Toy/food drive
- Public space beautification
- Healing circle
Why is this important?
- Research from the 2023 Toronto’s Vital Signs report points to three alarming trends:
- Participation in groups and activities is down by approximately 30% versus before the pandemic.
- Toronto ranks as among the loneliest places in the country. About 925,000 adults in Toronto (37%) felt lonely on at least three or four days in the last week in 2023—higher than the rest of the country (28%).
- Between 2018 and 2022, the volunteer rate in Toronto fell from 37% to 25%. Considering the average volunteering levels, this equates to a loss of approximately 36 million volunteer hours or 20,000 full-time positions.
Conditions & Eligibility
- Individuals are eligible to apply but must be associated with a group of at least three or more individuals
- Groups can be newly formed but must include the minimum number of individuals
- Organizations CANNOT be businesses, registered nonprofits or charities
- Project activities must take place within the City of Toronto
- Projects must be completed within 6 months of receiving the grant; they can be either one-time events or a series of activities within that period
- Projects that are event based cannot be entirely virtual as this program seeks to encourage in-person connections; hybrid events are acceptable
- Any service offered or event created must be free for participants
- Activities cannot be used to generate any revenue
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and reside in the City of Toronto.
For more information, visit Toronto Foundation.
