Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Volunteer Alberta (VA)

Volunteer Alberta is a province-wide nonprofit membership association dedicated to nurturing the conditions for volunteerism and civic engagement. Based in Edmonton and serving communities across Alberta, it supports volunteer centres, volunteer-engaging organizations, and other nonprofits through programs, services, research, and targeted funding opportunities. In partnership with the Government of Alberta and other funders, Volunteer Alberta administers grants that help communities recognize and mobilize volunteers.

A flagship example is the National Volunteer Week (NVW) Enhancement Funding Grant. These grants, funded by the Government of Alberta and distributed by Volunteer Alberta, provide financial support to organizations and communities to celebrate volunteers during NVW. The program offers defined funding tiers (such as Host Site and Feature Site grants), clear guidelines, eligibility criteria, application forms, and deadlines, and requires grantees to follow reporting and acknowledgement requirements.

Beyond direct grant administration, Volunteer Alberta delivers a range of funded programs and contracts that strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem. With support from government and philanthropic partners, it leads initiatives such as the Volunteer Screening Program, social research projects like (Re)Engaged: Volunteerism from the Ground Up, and youth engagement programming linked to Canada Service Corps. These initiatives channel public and private investment into community-serving activities across Alberta.

The organization complements its funding role with extensive capacity-building services: workshops and webinars, tailored training on volunteer engagement, risk management and screening, tools and guides, and a curated resource library. Members gain access to exclusive resources, discounted tools such as Grant Connect subscriptions, and benefits that help them secure and manage funding from a broader range of donors and grantmakers.

Volunteer Alberta works with nonprofits of all sizes and sub-sectors, volunteer centres, municipalities, youth-serving organizations, and community groups. Its support enables these organizations to recruit and retain volunteers, design inclusive programs, and recognize contributions through funded celebration activities like NVW. By convening networks and communities of practice, it also helps partners share learning about funding, governance, and sector trends.

Founded in 1990 as an association of volunteer centres and volunteer-engaging organizations, Volunteer Alberta has evolved into a key voice for the province’s nonprofit and voluntary sector. Annual reports and audited financial statements provide transparency about its operations, revenues, and the grants and contracts it delivers. Guided by values of curiosity, care, collaboration, authenticity, and courage, the organization continues to experiment with new approaches and research to improve how volunteerism and civic engagement are supported and financed across Alberta.