Community Initiatives Program (CIP) - Operating Grants

• Signed grant agreement
• Executive list with contact information
• Most recent full fiscal year financial statements
• Void cheque or pre-printed bank direct deposit form
• Application for EFT (CAD) direct deposit form

Who is eligible?

• Registered nonprofit organizations in Alberta
• Community collaboratives
• First Nations and Métis Settlements

Who is not eligible

• For-profit organizations
• Municipalities
• Organizations primarily focused on sport or arts
• Organizations mainly benefiting people outside Alberta
• Individuals

Eligible expenses

• Staff wages and salaries, including executive, administrative, finance, and program staff
• Rent, utilities, insurance, office and program supplies
• Training, travel within Alberta, advertising, marketing, communication, and reporting costs
• Minor equipment purchases under $5,000
• Organizational development activities such as communications, research, technology upgrades, and staff or volunteer training

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Start-up costs, including incorporation, permits, licenses, and legal or registration fees
• Events, festivals, performances, celebrations, tours, and field trips
• Debt retirement, deficit reduction, and endowment funds
• Major capital costs, facility improvements, land or building purchase, equipment and furnishings, and vehicle purchase
• Costs incurred before the application deadline or covered by other Government of Alberta funding for the same purpose

Eligible geographic areas

• Alberta

• Alignment with program outcomes and social issue priorities
• Organizational capacity and community impact
• Financial stability and ability to sustain operations
• Community connection and efforts to avoid duplication
• Priority may be given to small or medium organizations, rural or remote areas, high-needs regions, and disaster recovery situations

• Step 1: Register for GATE Front Office
  • Request access to the online application system.
  • Use the program contact information if registration is needed.
• Step 2: Complete the application package
  • Fill in all required form sections and worksheets.
  • Prepare the grant agreement and required supporting information.
• Step 3: Upload required attachments
  • Upload the signed grant agreement.
  • Upload the executive list, financial statements, void cheque or direct deposit form, and EFT form.
• Step 4: Submit online
  • Submit the completed application through GATE Front Office before the deadline.
  • Incomplete applications will not be processed.

• If your application was submitted through Front Office, for all application intake deadlines beginning from January 15, 2023, complete your financial accounting for the CIP Operating grant using the Front Office portal.
• Grant recipients that applied to any application intake date before and including the September 15, 2022, intake must complete financial accounting for their CIP Operating grant.
• The Final CIP Operating Final Report Form is used for reporting.
• The Final Report Financial Template is used for reporting.

• This program is now closed and no longer accepting applications.