Closed
Community Efficiency Financing (CEF)
Supports local home energy upgrade financing
Record updated
- Funding available
- $ 500,000
- Deadline
- Unspecified
- Location
- Canada
Overview
Community Efficiency Financing supports local financing programs for home energy upgrades. It offers up to $175,000 for studies and up to $500,000 for pilots to develop, evaluate, and scale residential retrofit financing.
At a glance
Funding available
- Maximum funding
- $500,000
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
- Enhance an existing program
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Implement environmental initiatives
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Develop workforce skills
- Strengthen organizational capacity
- Launch or market a product/service
- Raise awareness or mobilize a population
- Ensure financial sustainability
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible candidates
- Location
- Canada
- Eligible Industries
- All industries
- Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
- Organisation size
- All organization sizes
- Audience
- Canadians
- Legal structures
- Public or Parapublic institution, For-profit business, Non-profit
Non-profit candidates
- Sector of operation
- Environment, Economic, Social and Community Development, Housing, Employment and Training
- Target groups
- General public, Business owners / entrepreneurs, Low-income individuals / families
- Scope
- Local, Municipal, Regional, Provincial, National
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian municipal governments
- Municipal partner organizations
- Private sector entities working with municipalities
- Indigenous communities
- Non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations
Who is not eligible
- Homeowners
- Federal government entities
- Provincial and territorial government entities and corporations they own or control
- Programs exclusively for commercial or industrial buildings
Eligible expenses
- Administrative costs directly linked to the project
- Advertising and public outreach costs
- Professional and technical services
- Staff remuneration for eligible project work
- Travel, training, supplies, and materials needed for the project
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Programs focused on new construction
- Programs without municipal participation or a financing component
- Programs targeted only at non-residential buildings
- Pre-application costs beyond the allowed application-preparation period
- Office overhead, ineligible staff costs, and other non-project expenses
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
- Quebec municipalities may apply through a separate process
Activities funded
- Feasibility studies for home energy upgrade financing programs
- Program design studies for local retrofit financing models
- Program evaluation studies for existing financing programs
- Pilot programs for community efficiency financing
How to apply
- Step 1: Create a profile on FCM’s funding portal
- Set up your organization’s profile before applying.
- Step 2: Submit the pre-application
- Complete and submit the simplified pre-application package.
- Include the required supporting documents for screening.
- Step 3: Complete the full application
- Submit the full application form, workbook, and supporting documents if the pre-application is deemed eligible.
- Step 4: Review and decision
- GMF reviews the application, may request clarifications, and may send the proposal to peer review.
- If approved, proceed to contracting.
Documents Needed
- Complete pre-application form
- Completed full application form
- Project workbook
- Required supporting documentation listed in Appendix A
- Evidence of municipal support and confirmed funding letters
Selection criteria
- Impact: environmental, economic, and social benefits
- Implementation: stakeholder engagement, planning, risk management, and resourcing
- Transformative potential: innovation and likelihood of replication
Processing and Agreement
- Pre-application is reviewed for eligibility before full application access.
- GMF reviews the full application for accuracy and completeness.
- External peer review may be used to assess the proposal.
- Successful applicants receive a funding agreement outlining disbursement and reporting requirements.
- Applications that are incomplete cannot proceed in the process.
Additional information
- FCM offers capacity-building support and peer learning resources.
- Quebec municipal applicants follow a separate pre-application process through MAMH.
- Successful recipients may be asked to share lessons learned with other communities.
Contacts
Official sources
Frequently Asked Questions about the Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) Program
What is the Community Efficiency Financing (CEF)?
Community Efficiency Financing supports local financing programs for home energy upgrades. It offers up to $175,000 for studies and up to $500,000 for pilots to develop, evaluate, and scale residential retrofit financing.
How much funding can be received?
Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) Funds up to $500,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) program?
To be eligible for the Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) program, you must:
Municipal participation required.
Residential retrofit financing project.
Existing low-rise homes only.
What expenses are eligible under Community Efficiency Financing (CEF)?
Administrative costs directly linked to the project
Advertising and public outreach costs
Professional and technical services
Staff remuneration for eligible project work
Travel, training, supplies, and materials needed for the project
Who can I contact for more information about the Community Efficiency Financing (CEF)?
You can contact Green Municipal Fund (GMF) by email at gmfinfo@fcm.ca or by phone at 1-877-417-0550.
Where is the Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) available?
The Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) program is available across Canada.
Is the Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) is a Grant and Funding