Closed
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 5,000
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Overview
PollinateTO offers up to $5,000 to support community-led projects that create, expand, or enhance publicly visible pollinator habitat in Toronto. Eligible work includes new pollinator gardens or rain gardens, native plant additions to existing gardens, and converting lawns, boulevards, or hard surfaces into pollinator gardens.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Train or support volunteers
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Location
- Toronto
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Financial cooperative
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Non-financial cooperative
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Black Canadians
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Create a new pollinator garden or rain garden.
- Expand or enhance an existing garden with native pollinator-friendly plants.
- Convert lawns, boulevards, or hard surfaces into pollinator gardens.
- Create shared community gardens, school ground teaching gardens, Indigenous education gardens, or boulevard gardens.
- Develop multiple front yard gardens that form a pollinator pathway.
Documents Needed
- Property Owner Support Letter, if required for the site
- Proposed Budget Summary
- Photos of the proposed garden location(s)
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Resident-led groups
- Registered charities and non-profit organizations
- Community groups, school groups, Indigenous groups, faith groups, and BIAs
Who is not eligible
- For-profit businesses
- Building and property managers
- Grant-making organizations
- Organizations allied with political parties
Eligible expenses
- Seeds, perennial plants, native trees and shrubs, soil, compost, mulch, sand, and plant supports.
- Tools, equipment, rentals, garden border materials, rain barrels, irrigation supplies, gloves, and wheelbarrows.
- Garden construction materials, delivery fees, and hard surface removal.
- Labour, honoraria, translation, interpretation, and trustee administration fees.
- Workshops, events, signage, printing, books, and educational materials.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Backyard gardens, balcony gardens, rooftop gardens, and temporary projects.
- Beekeeping activities, education, or promotion.
- Annual plants, agricultural food production materials, and closed-bottom containers or raised beds.
- Gas-powered tools, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation systems.
- Operating costs, capital costs, and promotional advertising campaigns.
Eligible geographic areas
- Toronto
- Toronto Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs)
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are screened for eligibility by City of Toronto staff.
- Eligible applications are reviewed by a Review Committee and, for school projects, the School Board may be involved.
- Successful applicants are notified by email.
- A funding agreement is drafted and must be signed before funding is issued.
- Final reporting is required after project completion.
Additional information
- Upon completion, grant recipients are required to submit an Impact Report, including project photos and communication materials as proof of completion.
- A site visit may be requested by the PollinateTO team during late spring to fall for monitoring purposes.
- Creating a short video (1-2 minutes) showcasing the completed project is optional but encouraged for sharing project outcomes.
- Educational materials and project communications should acknowledge the City of Toronto's support and align with the Pollinator Protection Strategy's principles.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the PollinateTO Program
What is the PollinateTO?
PollinateTO offers up to $5,000 to support community-led projects that create, expand, or enhance publicly visible pollinator habitat in Toronto. Eligible work includes new pollinator gardens or rain gardens, native plant additions to existing gardens, and converting lawns, boulevards, or hard surfaces into pollinator gardens.
How much funding can be received?
PollinateTO Funds up to $5,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the PollinateTO program?
To be eligible for the PollinateTO program, you must:
Resident-led groups, charities, and non-profits.
At least three Toronto residents.
Publicly visible pollinator habitat in Toronto.
What expenses are eligible under PollinateTO?
Create a new pollinator garden or rain garden.
Expand or enhance an existing garden with native pollinator-friendly plants.
Convert lawns, boulevards, or hard surfaces into pollinator gardens.
Create shared community gardens, school ground teaching gardens, Indigenous education gardens, or boulevard gardens.
Develop multiple front yard gardens that form a pollinator pathway.
Who can I contact for more information about the PollinateTO?
You can contact City of Toronto by email at pollinateto@toronto.ca.
Where is the PollinateTO available?
The PollinateTO program is available the province of Ontario.
Who are the financial supporters of the PollinateTO?
PollinateTO is funded by City of Toronto