Closed
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 5,000
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Overview
The PollinateTO grant offers up to $5,000 in funding to support community-led projects that create, expand, or enhance publicly visible pollinator and rain gardens in Toronto. This program funds initiatives such as converting lawns or hard surfaces to pollinator habitats and adding native plants to existing gardens to advance local biodiversity and community engagement.
/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
- Creation of new pollinator gardens or rain gardens in public or highly visible spaces.
- Expansion or enhancement of existing gardens by adding native pollinator-friendly plants.
- Conversion of lawns, boulevards, or hard surfaces into pollinator gardens accessible to the community.
- Establishment of shared community gardens, school teaching gardens, Indigenous education gardens, or boulevard gardens focused on pollinator habitat.
- Development of multiple front yard gardens on the same street or neighbourhood that together form a visible "pollinator pathway."
Eligibility
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)
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
Here are answers to the most common questions about the PollinateTO. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the PollinateTO?
The PollinateTO grant offers up to $5,000 in funding to support community-led projects that create, expand, or enhance publicly visible pollinator and rain gardens in Toronto. This program funds initiatives such as converting lawns or hard surfaces to pollinator habitats and adding native plants to existing gardens to advance local biodiversity and community engagement.
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:
Registered non-profit organizations and charitable organizations are eligible.
Resident-led groups with at least three Toronto residents from separate households may apply.
For-profit businesses are not eligible.
What expenses are eligible under PollinateTO?
Creation of new pollinator gardens or rain gardens in public or highly visible spaces.
Expansion or enhancement of existing gardens by adding native pollinator-friendly plants.
Conversion of lawns, boulevards, or hard surfaces into pollinator gardens accessible to the community.
Establishment of shared community gardens, school teaching gardens, Indigenous education gardens, or boulevard gardens focused on pollinator habitat.
Development of multiple front yard gardens on the same street or neighbourhood that together form a visible "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