Closed
Source change captured:
Free to Play
Support for children’s outdoor play initiatives
Get notified when Free to Play reopens
Location
Canada
Overview
Free to Play supports registered charities, incorporated non-profit organizations, Indigenous Governing Bodies, municipalities, and other eligible community organizations across participating community foundations in Canada. It funds community-led outdoor play projects that increase opportunities, reduce barriers, and help children play their own way, move, imagine, take risks, and connect.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Other Recreation and Social Clubs
- Primary and Secondary Education
- Other Education
- Social Services
- Civic and Advocacy Organizations
- Grant-making Foundations
- Other Philanthropic Intermediaries and Voluntarism Promotion
- Children and Youth Organizations
Target groups
- Children & youth
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
- Nonprofits / charities
- Community leaders
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Local
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Access to outdoor spaces and materials.
- Training and support for caregivers, educators, and community members.
- Supportive policies and tools that make outdoor play easier to include in programs and help manage risk.
- Community engagement involving families, caregivers, and community members to understand and support outdoor play and risk.
- Cross-sector partnerships that expand outdoor and land-based play opportunities for children in communities.
Documents Needed
- A direct link to your organization’s CRA T3010A, if applicable.
Sources and recorded changes
- Source change captured
- Change recorded
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Free to Play moved from applications to funded awards
The Free to Play content now shows funded award results, with five projects receiving $345,435, while the earlier application window, Applicant Guide, and contact details are no longer visible on the main grant page.
The Free to Play page now presents an awards update instead of active intake details: it says the Ottawa Community Foundation is funding five community-based projects with $345,435 in total support. The earlier application information is no longer visible on the page, and a second round is now framed as a second round of funding coming in 2027 rather than an open application window. The supporting press release still shows the prior application period of November 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM PST to February 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM PST, plus eligibility for registered charities, non-profits, Indigenous Governing Bodies, and incorporated non-profits. Contact and portal references also shifted, including the Contact Us link target and the removal of the Applicant Guide and submission instructions from the main grant page.
Official page
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Registered charities
- Incorporated non-profit organizations
- Indigenous Governing Bodies
- Municipalities, local governments, and Indigenous Nations
- Other qualified donees, including community groups, Indigenous nation/community, school boards, schools, and local organizations registered federally or provincially
Who is not eligible
- For-profit organizations
- Unincorporated non-profits
- Business non-profit institutions, including business associations, chambers of commerce, and condominium associations
- Individuals
Eligible expenses
- Project-related administration, staff salaries, and professional fees.
- Materials and supplies, training, workshops, and evaluation.
- Communications, translation, honoraria, travel, and transportation.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Activities outside Canada or outside the participating service area.
- One- or two-day events without lasting impact.
- Structured adult-led sports, virtual programs for children, and partisan activities.
- Land, buildings, major infrastructure, electronic devices, and reserve or endowment funds.
Eligible geographic areas
- City of Ottawa
- Town of Westlock, Westlock County, and Village of Clyde
- Rural Nova Scotia
- Sunshine Coast Regional District, including District of Sechelt, Town of Gibsons, shíshálh Nation Government District, Area A: Egmont / Pender Harbour, Area B: Halfmoon Bay, Area D: Roberts Creek, Area E: Elphinstone, and Area F: West Howe Sound
Selection criteria
- How well applications align with Free to Play goals.
- How well they respond to community needs.
- Whether the project is ready to be delivered.
- Whether the project can create lasting impact.
How to apply
- Reach out to your community foundation directly for details on how to participate.
- Create an account and register your organization in the application system.
- You do not need to fill out the full application; registration only.
Processing and Agreement
- Some community foundations involve community members with lived experience in reviewing applications and making funding decisions.
- Organizations approved for funding will sign a Funding Agreement before receiving their fund payment(s).
- Midway Check-in (selected recipients): some organizations will complete a short check-in halfway through their project and receive the second half of their funding after it.
- Final Report (required for all recipients): all funded organizations will complete a final report.
Additional information
- Some community foundations will use a participatory grantmaking process.
- If your local community foundation is not currently participating, additional opportunities may become available as the Fund grows.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Free to Play Program
What is the Free to Play?
Free to Play supports registered charities, incorporated non-profit organizations, Indigenous Governing Bodies, municipalities, and other eligible community organizations across participating community foundations in Canada. It funds community-led outdoor play projects that increase opportunities, reduce barriers, and help children play their own way, move, imagine, take risks, and connect.
Who is eligible for the Free to Play program?
To be eligible for the Free to Play program, you must:
Organizations must serve communities in Canada through a participating community foundation.
Projects must take place in Canada within the area served by a participating community foundation.
Projects must support the objective of Free to Play.
What expenses are eligible under Free to Play?
Project-related administration, staff salaries, and professional fees.
Materials and supplies, training, workshops, and evaluation.
Communications, translation, honoraria, travel, and transportation.
Who can I contact for more information about the Free to Play?
You can contact Community Foundations of Canada (CFC).
Where is the Free to Play available?
The Free to Play program is available across Canada.
Who are the financial supporters of the Free to Play?
Free to Play is funded by Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), Community Foundation of Ottawa (OCF)