PollinateTO

• Grants of up to $5,000 are available per project.
• The first installment (approximately 90%) of funding is disbursed upon signing the agreement.
• Eligible costs for specific budget lines, such as labour, staffing, consultant fees, garden maintenance, trustee administration, and hard surface removal, are capped at up to 10% of the total grant amount per expense type.
• Honoraria for group members are limited to $500 per group, and for speakers/facilitators, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers, limited to $500 per person.
• Food and refreshments for events are capped at $200 total per project; delivery fees for plant material and supplies are capped at $100 per delivery.

• The applicant must be a resident-led group (with at least three Toronto residents from separate households), a registered charity, or a non-profit organization.
• The project must directly support the creation or enhancement of publicly-visible pollinator habitat within Toronto.
• Eligible applicant types include community groups and organizations, school groups, student clubs and parent councils, Indigenous groups, faith groups, business improvement areas (BIAs), and not-for-profit organizations.
• Organizations with offices outside Toronto may apply if the proposed project is located within a designated Neighbourhood Improvement Area (NIA) in Toronto.
• Priority is given to projects located in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs).

Who is eligible?

• Resident-led groups (with at least three Toronto residents from separate households)
• Neighbourhood or tenant groups
• Community groups and organizations
• School groups, student clubs and parent councils
• Indigenous groups
• Faith groups
• Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)
• Registered charitable organizations
• Not-for-profit organizations (including those with offices outside Toronto, if the project is within a Neighbourhood Improvement Area)

Who is not eligible

• For-profit businesses
• Building and property managers
• Grant making organizations
• Organizations allied with political parties
• Organizations that have previously received PollinateTO funding but have not submitted an Impact Report for their current project

Eligible expenses

• Purchase of planting materials: seeds, perennial plants, native trees and shrubs, soil, compost, mulch, sand, materials for seedlings (trays, pots, potting soil, markers), plant supports.
• Tools and equipment: shovels, rakes, forks, tillers, hoes, pruners, hand tools, wheelbarrows, garden carts, watering cans, hoses, garden gloves, kneepads, supplies to delineate the garden (wood, stones, borders), rental of certain tools or tools via the tool library.
• Construction and landscaping of the garden: materials for raised beds (open bottom), open-bottom storage tanks, materials for rain gardens, materials for permeable walkways (pavers, gravel, wood chips), bags for green waste, delivery fees for materials (up to $100 per delivery), removal of hard surfaces (up to 10% of the grant amount), rental of non-motorized electric equipment.
• Expenses related to education, awareness, and events: fees for speakers, facilitators, elders, and knowledge holders (up to $500 per person), promotional materials (posters, flyers, printing and installation of signs and plant identification), supplies for workshops/events, refreshments for participants (up to $200 per project, excluding bottled water), rental of spaces, insurance for community events, artistic supplies and educational materials (books, guides, educational signs).
• Personnel and labor costs: fees for group members (up to $500 per group), labor costs to prepare and plant the garden (up to 10% of the grant amount), consultant or expert fees (up to 10%), translation, interpretation, volunteer recognition, public transportation costs for participants.
• Administrative fees of the trustee (up to 10% of the grant amount).

Eligible geographic areas

• Toronto (all city neighbourhoods, including Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and Emerging Neighbourhoods)

• Support from the property owner.
• Equity considerations in project planning and implementation.
• Group experience, history, and track record relevant to the project.
• Ability of the proposal to meet the goals and objectives of the program.
• Readiness of the group to undertake the proposed work.
• Clarity and feasibility of the project timeline.
• Clarity and appropriateness of the project budget.
• Likelihood of generating measurable results and overall likelihood of project success.
• Long-term sustainability of the project.
• Use of strategies and tools to engage and educate the community, especially reaching new audiences.

• 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.