Role of ATB Community Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The ATB Community Foundation is a philanthropic initiative created by ATB Financial to deepen its long-standing commitment to communities across Alberta. Launched in 2025, the foundation channels ATB’s community investment through a focused donations and granting program that supports charitable and non-profit organizations working to improve the wellbeing of Albertans. It combines financial contributions with staff expertise and volunteer engagement to help community partners tackle complex social challenges.
The foundation concentrates its support in three core areas: mental health, financial empowerment, and innovation in children and youth. Within mental health, it backs programs that improve mental wellbeing, attitudes and motivations towards seeking help, and overall daily functioning. In financial empowerment, it funds initiatives that build financial literacy, access to financial services, and resilience against financial shocks so that low- and moderate-income Albertans can achieve greater security. For children and youth, the foundation invests in projects that advance STEM proficiency, strengthen innovation and social-emotional skills, and prepare young people to thrive.
Funding approach and grant programs
ATB’s granting model is structured yet flexible. The donation guidelines clearly distinguish between sponsorships and donations: sponsorships are marketing-driven partnerships, while donations and grants are community-focused contributions made without expectation of commercial return. The foundation’s granting program prioritizes organizations whose primary activities uplift Alberta and Albertans, and it looks for measurable outputs and outcomes aligned with standardized impact measures developed in partnership with Impact Genome.
Organizations can access different levels of funding. For grants of $10,000 or more, applicants must first submit a short Expression of Interest (EOI). If the EOI aligns with ATB’s priorities, the social impact team provides a code and guidance for completing a full application. For grants under $10,000, or once a code has been issued for larger requests, applicants submit a detailed application reviewed by ATB’s donation committees, which typically meet every two months from May through January. Successful grantees must wait 12 months from approval before reapplying, ensuring a fair distribution of resources.
General eligibility and exclusions
The foundation supports registered charities and qualified non-profit organizations that deliver community benefit in Alberta. It seeks initiatives with clear, measurable outcomes in its three focus areas. In general, ATB’s granting program does not fund conferences, capital campaigns or infrastructure projects, fundraising events, individual pursuits, political or lobbying activities, religious activities, sports teams or tournaments, or projects that fall under the normal responsibilities of government, such as core school or health operations.
Supported audiences and impact
Case studies published on the site illustrate the foundation’s impact. Examples include:
- A $7,500 donation to Struggle Is Your Success for the “Dream It, Plan It, Build It” program, helping at-risk youth develop entrepreneurial and social-emotional skills.
- A $20,000 contribution to IslamicFamily to expand culturally sensitive mental health counselling in multiple languages for refugees, immigrants, and others facing trauma.
- An $85,000 annual commitment to Empower U, a financial empowerment program delivered by United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, which combines financial literacy education with matched savings.
- A $25,000 grant to the USAY STEAM Workshop Series, supporting robotics and land-based learning that reinforces both STEM skills and cultural connection among Indigenous youth.
Beyond direct grants, the ATB Community Foundation also collaborates on initiatives such as the Mental Health Possibility Project, a partnership with GreenShield that provides free mental health supports to staff working in Alberta’s social sector. Through these investments and partnerships, the foundation aims to build a thriving, resilient, and equitable society where Albertans can participate fully in their communities.
