PollinateTO

• Property Owner Support Letter, if required for the site
• Proposed Budget Summary
• Photos of the proposed garden location(s)

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 seedlings, native trees and shrubs; soil, compost, mulch, sand; seed starting materials; plant supports; North American Native Plant Society (NANPS) annual membership; and garden maintenance costs up to 10 per cent of the grant amount.
• Tools and equipment such as shovels, rakes, forks, cultivators, hoes, spades, pruners, hand tools, garden border materials and supplies, Toronto Tool Library membership, garden tool rentals, wheelbarrows, garden carts, rain barrels, gift cards for project-related materials and supplies, manual irrigation supplies, garden gloves, knee pads and kneelers.
• Rain garden materials and construction supplies; raised beds materials and supplies and open bottomed stock tanks; yard waste bags; equipment rentals; porous pathway materials; delivery fees for plant material and supplies up to $100 per delivery; and removing asphalt, concrete or other hard surfaces up to 10 per cent of the grant amount.
• Signage, plant identification markers and tags, books, solitary bee nest building supplies, and communications and promotion of the garden.
• Food and refreshments up to $200 total per project; training and workshop expenses; communications and promotion of events; permit fees, space rental and liability insurance for community events and activities only; art supplies; honoraria for group members up to $500 per group and honoraria for speakers, facilitators, Elders and Knowledge Keepers up to $500 per person; interpretation and translation fees; volunteer recognition; public transportation costs for project participants; labour costs to prepare the area and plant the garden up to 10 per cent of the grant amount; consultant fees such as a rain garden expert up to 10 per cent of the grant amount; staffing costs for organizing the project up to 10 per cent of the grant amount for existing organizational staff only; and trustee administration fees up to 10 per cent of the grant amount.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Agricultural food production materials and plants and seeds; annual plant seeds and seedlings; grow lights; vermiculture supplies; and mushroom logs.
• Beekeeping supplies, hives and honeybees; pesticides; chemical fertilizers; gas-powered tools and equipment; media equipment; vehicles; parking and other personal vehicle expenses; and irrigation systems.
• Garden furniture; water features; armour stone and decorative boulders; fencing and gates; garden lighting; bird baths, feeders and houses; stock tanks with closed bottoms; land acquisition, lease or rental; container gardening planters and supplies, including canoes; greenhouses; landscape fabric; shed construction; open bottom stock tanks or raised beds placed on hard surfaces; and garden decorations.
• Field trips; beekeeping workshops and education; award ceremonies, banquets, receptions, annual general meetings and sport tournaments; barbeques and cooking equipment; alcohol; bottled water; and fundraising events.
• Arborist services; conference registration and travel fees; public transit monthly passes; gift cards as a form of volunteer appreciation or compensation; stipends; regular operating costs and capital costs; postage and shipping; reserve funds, debt repayment and deficit funding; mass market advertising campaigns and paid media or promotional outreach; religious activities or services; political activities; donations to charitable causes; lobbying or advocacy on behalf of for-profit entities; and unspecified miscellaneous items.

Eligible geographic areas

• Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs)

• Support from the property owner.
• Equity considerations.
• Group experience and track record.
• Project feasibility, sustainability, and community engagement.

• Step 1: Form your group
  • Gather at least three Toronto residents from separate households.
  • Choose a group name and a Group Lead.
  • Review the Application Questions Summary.
• Step 2: Choose the garden location and get support
  • Select a public-facing site with water access.
  • Obtain the required property owner support letter for each location.
  • Use the pre-approved parks list if applying for a City park site.
• Step 3: Prepare your project materials
  • Build your community engagement plan and maintenance plan.
  • Prepare the Proposed Budget Summary.
• Step 4: Submit the application
  • Complete the online application form.
  • Upload the required support letter, budget, and photos.
  • Submit before the deadline.

• 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.

• 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.