Closed
Source verified August 11, 2026
Faithful Footprints Grant Program
Funding for church decarbonization upgrades
Get notified when this grant opens
Latest source updateLast Update: July 7, 2026Latest change: Faithful Footprints added FAQ guidance on unrestricted reserves and decarbonizing projects, and the reporting section now shows a Post-Project Reflective Summary Report form link.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 7, 2026
Latest change: Faithful Footprints added FAQ guidance on unrestricted reserves and decarbonizing projects, and the reporting section now shows a Post-Project Reflective Summary Report form link.
Faithful Footprints guidance updated
Faithful Footprints added FAQ guidance clarifying what counts as unrestricted reserves and what qualifies as a decarbonizing project, including replacement of fossil-fuel equipment with electric alternatives such as a heat pump. The reporting section now includes a Post-Project Reflective Summary Report form link, while the page still shows the 2026 Funding Cycle is now closed and the funding amount remains up to $20,000. The supporting About page also now focuses more narrowly on mission-alignment context, with the program overview and impact-navigation links reduced compared with the earlier version.
Funding available
$ 20,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Canada
Overview
Faithful Footprints Grant is The United Church of Canada’s funding program for communities of faith across Canada to support decarbonization upgrades to church buildings. It helps finance retrofit projects that reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, including electric alternatives and energy-efficiency upgrades.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Implement environmental initiatives
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Raise awareness or mobilize a population
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- $ 150,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Religious Congregations and Associations
Target groups
- Nonprofits / charities
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Retrofit projects that reduce fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Projects that replace equipment burning gas, oil, or propane with electric alternatives.
- Converting furnaces, boilers, and hot water tanks to electric systems.
- Decarbonization building upgrades of United Church buildings.
Documents Needed
- Property’s energy and utility data for the 2025 calendar year
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- United Church communities of faith.
Who is not eligible
- Manses
- Secondary properties
Eligible expenses
- Decarbonization building upgrades and retrofit work
- Replacement of fossil-fuel equipment with electric alternatives
- Project costs covered by matching funds and grant funding
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Work cannot begin before the project has been approved and the official approval letter has been received.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Higher-emitting buildings are prioritized.
- Financially vulnerable buildings are prioritized.
- Projects with carbon reduction measures and significant emissions impact are given priority.
How to apply
- Submit an Expression of Interest.
- Attend a scheduled onboarding meeting with Faithful Footprints staff.
- After the onboarding meeting and decarbonization plan, receive the application form.
- Complete the form, gather all required supporting documentation, and submit the full application package to Faithful Footprints staff.
Processing and Agreement
- After the application deadline, all submissions will be screened for eligibility and undergo a structured assessment and selection process.
- Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by Regional Ministers and United Church staff in accordance with established regional and national priorities.
- In early July, all applicants will be notified of the outcome of their submissions.
- Approved projects must be completed within the approved calendar year, and any unavoidable delays must be reported to Faith & the Common Good.
- Grant recipients must submit the Post-Project Reflective Summary Report, and reimbursement funds are released after review and approval of the complete project report, subject to a $1,000 holdback.
- In January 2028, grant recipients must submit 1-year post-retrofit energy data to receive the remaining $1,000 holdback and an energy and carbon baseline comparison report.
Additional information
- The 2026 Funding Cycle is now closed.
- You can register to be notified when the next round of funding is available.
- A 2027 Funding Cycle interest form is available for United Church communities of faith.
Contacts
Availability timeline
2026
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Faithful Footprints Grant Program Program
What is the Faithful Footprints Grant Program?
Faithful Footprints Grant is The United Church of Canada’s funding program for communities of faith across Canada to support decarbonization upgrades to church buildings. It helps finance retrofit projects that reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, including electric alternatives and energy-efficiency upgrades.
How much funding can be received?
Faithful Footprints Grant Program Funds up to $20,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Faithful Footprints Grant Program program?
To be eligible for the Faithful Footprints Grant Program program, you must:
The property must be a United Church of Canada-owned property.
The project must include at least one decarbonization element.
Denominational assessments and loan payments must be up to date.
What expenses are eligible under Faithful Footprints Grant Program?
Retrofit projects that reduce fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
Projects that replace equipment burning gas, oil, or propane with electric alternatives.
Converting furnaces, boilers, and hot water tanks to electric systems.
Decarbonization building upgrades of United Church buildings.
Who can I contact for more information about the Faithful Footprints Grant Program?
You can contact Shining Waters Regional Council (SWRC) by email at info@faithfulfootprints.org.
Where is the Faithful Footprints Grant Program available?
The Faithful Footprints Grant Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Faithful Footprints Grant Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Faithful Footprints Grant Program is a Grant and Funding