Community Foundation fall grant programs open for applications

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Sunny South News

Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwest Alberta

The Community Foundation is now accepting applications for the Community Priorities, Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life, and Youth in Action Grant Programs.

The Community Priorities Fund has $257,000 available for grants to support charities and other qualified donees this fall. 

Comprised of unrestricted gifts to the Community Foundation over 60 years, this fund supports the needs of the day and awarded $332,477 earlier this spring to projects throughout the region.

The Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural life was established through a bequest of Pincher Creek area rancher Bill Long to honour his uncle Henry Varley and the family’s ranching heritage. This fund provides support to community organizations that work to sustain a high quality of life in Southwestern Alberta’s rural communities, and has $218,950 available to support rural initiatives in areas of innovation, community collaboration, education, and training. Earlier this spring the fund awarded just over $108,000 in grants to rural Southwestern Alberta.

 The Youth in Action Grant Program was established to empower youth by encouraging collaboration on a project that will have a positive impact on the community. The projects funded through this program must be initiated, led, and organized by individuals (or a group) 25 years of age or younger, in collaboration with a charity or school

“This year is the Community Foundation’s Diamond Anniversary,” said executive director Charleen Davidson. “We have awarded over $24 million in grants since we were established and we are on track to award close to $3 million in 2026, our largest amount in a single year. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate 60 years of growing community.”

The deadline to apply to each program is 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 15.

Applicants with questions should contact the Community Foundation’s Grants Coordinator, Caitlin Gajdostik, to discuss their project prior to applying. Caitlin can be reached at 403-328-5297 or grants@cflsa.ca. The Community Foundation will host a free grant information session on Wednesday, September 2, at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Please RSVP to grants@cflsa.ca; the Zoom link will be emailed to you upon registration confirmation.

More information on eligibility, funding criteria, and access to the grant applications can be found on the Community Foundation website http://www.cflsa.ca/grants. Applicants must be a Canada Revenue Agency qualified donee, or apply in partnership with one. All applications must be submitted online.