Closed
Source verified August 14, 2026
Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund
Funding for local climate action in Nova Scotia
Get notified when Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund reopens
Latest source updateLast Update: August 14, 2026Latest change: The How To Apply and Funding Opportunities pages now show Round 4 intake dates and a new priority for drought and water shortage resilience projects.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: August 14, 2026
Latest change: The How To Apply and Funding Opportunities pages now show Round 4 intake dates and a new priority for drought and water shortage resilience projects.
Round 4 dates and water resilience priority added
The How To Apply page now shows Round 4 as open, with applications opening May 28, 2026, a pre-screening deadline of June 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM, and a full application deadline of July 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM. It also adds evaluation timing in July-October 2026 and funding decisions in Fall 2026. The Funding Opportunities page adds a new Round 4 priority for drought and water shortages, with examples of eligible projects now centered on community wells, backup water systems, community-scale water conservation infrastructure, engineering and hydrogeological studies, shared water supply solutions, and nature-based or land-use solutions. The page also now explicitly highlights municipalities, community organizations, Mi’kmaw communities, and post-secondary institutions for this priority.
Funding available
$ 75,000 - $ 1,000,000
Deadline
Unspecified
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.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
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
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 3
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