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Source verified July 12, 2026
Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund
Funding for local climate action in Nova Scotia
Latest source updateLast Update: July 10, 2026Latest change: The Submittable intake now shows a Spring 2026 application window ending July 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM, along with new grant amounts, program scope, and submission instructions.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 10, 2026
Latest change: The Submittable intake now shows a Spring 2026 application window ending July 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM, along with new grant amounts, program scope, and submission instructions.
Spring 2026 intake and fund terms updated
The Submission Manager now shows an open Spring 2026 intake ending Thu, Jul 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM, replacing the earlier closed/no-open-calls state. It also now displays an Apply link, Submittable account and draft instructions, and a fund summary stating non-repayable grants of $75,000 to $1,000,000 distributed over multiple rounds for community-led climate-change mitigation and adaptation projects in Nova Scotia. Supporting Resource Hub pages were also refreshed: the Applicant Guide now points to a Round 4 PDF, the Applicant Workbook points to a 2026 template, and the webinars page now lists dated sessions with recording and slide links. These updates affect how applicants prepare and submit materials, and they narrow the visible project profile toward Nova Scotia climate-change projects.
Funding available
$ 75,000 - $ 1,000,000
Deadline
July 23, 2026
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Overview
The Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund supports Nova Scotia municipalities, First Nations bands or tribal councils, post-secondary institutions, and non-profit organizations with non-repayable grants between $75,000 and $1,000,000 for local climate action. It backs mitigation and adaptation projects such as climate-ready infrastructure, renewable energy, coastal restoration, and community planning.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Increase social or community impact
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Nova Scotia
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Environment
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Local
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Mitigation stream projects in buildings, transportation, energy generation and storage, waste management and circular economy, and carbon storage and sequestration
- Adaptation stream projects in climate-ready infrastructure, ecosystems and nature-based solutions, community coordination and planning, creating a water resilient future for Nova Scotians, and coastal adaptation projects
Documents Needed
- Applicant Workbook
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Nova Scotia municipalities
- First Nations bands or tribal councils
- Post-secondary institutions
- Non-profit organizations that are registered Nova Scotia-based non-profit societies/cooperatives in good standing, registered Canadian charities actively operating in Nova Scotia, or federally incorporated non-profit organizations operating in Nova Scotia
Eligible expenses
- Project costs that are directly linked or exclusively used for the project
- Consulting costs for creating the application, up to $5,000
- Management and professional services, and human resources like salaries and benefits
- Materials and supplies, purchase or leasing of equipment and capital assets, and transportation costs
- Facility and rental costs associated with public gatherings and meetings, and accessibility supports to enable participation of individuals who have disabilities
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Anything not directly related to project implementation, including existing employment or operating costs, services or work normally provided by the funding recipient, operating expenses and regularly scheduled maintenance work, materials, equipment or other supplies not exclusively used for the project, and any activities or costs incurred before a funding agreement is fully executed between NSFM and the successful applicant
- Initiatives that need to be undertaken as a result of federal or provincial regulation
- Purchase or leasing of property
- Financing charges, legal fees, and loan interest payments
- Any GST/HST that is reimbursable by the Canada Revenue Agency and any Provincial Sales Tax that is reimbursable by the province
How to apply
- Create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials.
- Submit the pre-screening application through Submittable.
- If your project meets basic eligibility requirements, you will receive access to the full application form in Submittable.
- Submit the full application online through Submittable; hard copies or electronic copies by mail or email are not accepted.
Processing and Agreement
- Fund staff review pre-screening applications within five business days.
- Full applications are reviewed by an external Technical Advisory Committee with expertise in community-level climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Final funding decisions are made by Nova Scotia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change in Fall 2026, and Fund staff notify applicants of the results.
- Expenditures incurred before a funding agreement is fully executed between NSFM and the successful applicant are ineligible.
Additional information
- Collaboration, partnerships and regional approaches between communities, organizations and sectors are encouraged.
- Assistance is available for projects led by and/or benefiting equity-deserving communities.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund Program
What is the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund?
The Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund supports Nova Scotia municipalities, First Nations bands or tribal councils, post-secondary institutions, and non-profit organizations with non-repayable grants between $75,000 and $1,000,000 for local climate action. It backs mitigation and adaptation projects such as climate-ready infrastructure, renewable energy, coastal restoration, and community planning.
How much funding can be received?
Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund Funds up to 80% of admissible expenses, capped at $1,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund program?
To be eligible for the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund program, you must:
The project must directly benefit a community and/or group in Nova Scotia.
The project must clearly align with one of the Fund’s two core objectives.
What expenses are eligible under Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund?
Mitigation stream projects in buildings, transportation, energy generation and storage, waste management and circular economy, and carbon storage and sequestration
Adaptation stream projects in climate-ready infrastructure, ecosystems and nature-based solutions, community coordination and planning, creating a water resilient future for Nova Scotians, and coastal adaptation projects
Who can I contact for more information about the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund?
You can contact Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, Government of Nova Scotia (SCCF) by email at info@sccfns.ca.
Where is the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund available?
The Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund program is available the province of Nova Scotia.
Is the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is a Grant and Funding