Closed
Source verified September 24, 2026
Change Can’t Wait!
Mental health pilot funding for Calgary nonprofits
Get notified when Change Can’t Wait! reopens
Latest source updateLast Update: September 24, 2026Latest change: The page now lists the 2026 Safer Together Capacity Building Fund as open, with updated applicant rules, project limits, and application instructions.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: September 24, 2026
Latest change: The page now lists the 2026 Safer Together Capacity Building Fund as open, with updated applicant rules, project limits, and application instructions.
2026 Safer Together fund call opened
The 2026 Safer Together Capacity Building Fund is now listed as open for eligible non-profit organizations, with projects limited to one-time work aligned to one selected collaborative action. The call now shows funding up to $80,000 per eligible organization, an October 8, 2026 deadline at 5:00 p.m., and a project-end report and unaudited project financial statement due April 1, 2028. The application package also adds updated eligibility, eligible and ineligible expenses, assessment criteria, required supporting documents, and instructions to apply through FIMS. The linked application guide, sample application, and budget form are now part of the published materials for this call.
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Who can apply
Non-profit organizations with an elected volunteer Board of Directors operating within Calgary’s city limits
See full eligibility
Overview
Change Can’t Wait! offers up to $600,000 over 13 months for Calgary non-profit organizations to pilot new or significantly adapted projects under the Getting Help outcome area of Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy. Eligible costs include staff wages, consultant fees, and technology for project delivery.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Calgary
- Alberta
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Mental Health and Crisis Intervention
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Local
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Projects aligned with the Getting Help outcome area of Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy
- New or significantly adapted pilot projects, not simply expansions of existing programming
- Testing a new service, delivery model, or process that has not yet been tried by the organization
- Projects that address the needs of a specific population group experiencing mental health challenges
Documents Needed
- Certificate of incorporation
- Organization’s provincial or federal annual return
- Organization’s most recent financial statement
- Financial statements for previous year
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Non-profit organizations with an elected volunteer Board of Directors operating within Calgary’s city limits
- Organizations registered under The Alberta Societies Act, The Alberta Companies Act, The Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, The Canada Business Corporations Act, A Private Act of the Legislature, or Other
- Organizations in good standing with The City of Calgary
Who is not eligible
- Organizations with a previous or existing funding agreement that have not fulfilled all reporting and other contractual requirements or have other conditions that would disqualify them from additional funding
Eligible expenses
- Project staff wages or consultant fees
- Travel and parking
- Materials and supplies; technology necessary for the project
- Collaboration and engagement costs; project-specific rent or lease costs
- General liability insurance; financial audit costs; operational and administrative costs up to 15% of requested funds
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Operational and administrative costs that exceed 15% of the project request
- Capital expenses, including vehicle purchase, facilities, land, and ongoing maintenance, operation or staffing following the pilot period
- Multiple projects within a single application; ongoing programs and services
- Funded activities and provided resources used for revenue-generating purposes, including fundraising events or campaigns
- Municipal property taxes and levies; payments to a member of a board or committee; entertainment and hospitality; fines, penalties, legal fees; pre-agreement expenses
Selection criteria
- Alignment with one selected collaborative action
- Demonstrated community need
- Clarity of project purpose and intended outcomes
- Potential for impact
- Readiness to complete the project and a budget proportionate to the proposed activities
How to apply
- Review the Change Can’t Wait! Applicant Guide in its entirety.
- Review the FIMS frequently asked questions and complete FIMS online training modules.
- If you do not have a FIMS account, set up a myID business account to register.
- Create a FIMS account and set up your organization profile ahead of creating a funding application.
- Access the application in FIMS under the Available Funding section, upload the relevant documents through FIMS, and complete and submit the application by Monday, September 22, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
- If needed, request an extension by email at least two business days in advance of the application deadline.
Processing and Agreement
- The City of Calgary will review applications and make decisions before December 1, 2025, and all applicants will be notified of the outcome.
- Applicants may be asked to submit additional documents or answer questions to support the review and decision process.
- Successful applicants must sign and return a funding agreement and provide proof of Commercial General Liability (CGL) in an amount not less than $2,000,000.00 inclusive, with The City of Calgary as an additional insured, before funds are released.
- Organizations must submit project reports through FIMS, including an interim project report for the first half of the project and a project-end report covering the full agreement term.
- Organizations must submit a program financial report through FIMS with an attached unaudited program statement signed by two officers; if the total amount of funding is $250,000 or greater, this statement must be audited by an independent third-party registered Chartered Professional Accounting firm, and annual audited financial statements for the organization as a whole must also be submitted.
Additional information
- The application includes an optional disaggregated data section in support of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism, and answers will not affect application success.
- Collaborative projects are eligible, and the details of any collaborations or partnerships should be outlined in the application.
- Alternate options to submit an application will be provided to organizations that encounter difficulties accessing FIMS prior to the application deadline.
- All information provided in the application is public.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Change Can’t Wait! Program
What is the Change Can’t Wait!?
Change Can’t Wait! offers up to $600,000 over 13 months for Calgary non-profit organizations to pilot new or significantly adapted projects under the Getting Help outcome area of Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy. Eligible costs include staff wages, consultant fees, and technology for project delivery.
Who is eligible for the Change Can’t Wait! program?
To be eligible for the Change Can’t Wait! program, you must:
Non-profit organizations with an elected volunteer Board of Directors must operate within Calgary’s city limits and be registered under an eligible Act.
Organizations must be in good standing with The City of Calgary, including having fulfilled reporting and contractual requirements for any previous or existing funding agreement.
The proposal must be a pilot project for a specific population group experiencing mental health challenges under the Getting Help outcome area.
What expenses are eligible under Change Can’t Wait!?
Projects aligned with the Getting Help outcome area of Calgary’s Mental Health and Addiction Strategy
New or significantly adapted pilot projects, not simply expansions of existing programming
Testing a new service, delivery model, or process that has not yet been tried by the organization
Projects that address the needs of a specific population group experiencing mental health challenges
Who can I contact for more information about the Change Can’t Wait!?
You can contact City of Calgary (WCEF) by email at fundingproposals@calgary.ca or by phone at 403-268-5311.
Where is the Change Can’t Wait! available?
The Change Can’t Wait! program is available the province of Alberta.
Is the Change Can’t Wait! a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Change Can’t Wait! is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Change Can’t Wait!?
Change Can’t Wait! is funded by City of Calgary (WCEF), Fondation Miroir Foundation