Our Community Grants
The Rural Mental Health Project (RMHP) Community Grants were created in response to feedback from Community Animators. Many Animators shared that after completing their training and gaining strong interest from their community, they struggled to find funding to bring their ideas to life.
- People often have multiple roles in their community, leaving little time or resources for tasks like grant writing.
- Grant applications in rural areas are often compared to those from urban organizations, which may have professional grant writers.
- Many funding programs are only open to registered non-profits or charities, limiting opportunities for grassroots projects to grow.
Our grant program was designed to reduce these barriers. It provides trained Community Animators with funding to support action plans and community-led projects that improve mental health and wellbeing.
To receive a grant through RMHP, projects should:
- Reflect the unique perspectives and needs of the community.
- Build on existing strengths, resources, and partnerships within the community.
- Have clear goals that align with long-term community-based wellbeing in the community.
With these grants, we aim to empower rural communities to create meaningful, sustainable change led by the people who know their communities best.
Think your project fits? Dive into the full eligibility details here!
Important: To apply for a community grant, your project must have a trained Community Animator involved in the grant.
We have four annual granting streams available for Community Animators
Please note: Our summer grant is a shorter grant term (July-January) and is dependent on fund availability.
Grant varies from $500 to $5,000
The Micro Community Grant is intended for individual communities seeking to implement start-up or smaller projects in their community.
- The Grant Term is ten (10) months (April 2025 until January 31, 2026)
- Each community may only receive one grant per funding year
Grant varies from $5,001 to $25,000
The Individual Community Grant is intended for individual communities seeking to implement medium- to large-scale projects in their community.
- The Grant Term is ten (10) months – April 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026
- Each community may only receive one grant per funding year
Grant request maximum is $40,000
The Multi-Community Grant is intended for multiple communities with trained Animators to collaborate and develop a project that is relevant to the context of all communities.
- The Grant Term is ten (10) months – April 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026
- Each community may only receive one grant per funding year
Year B Community Grants use the Individual Community Grant form.
Grant varies from $500 to $15,000
The Year B Individual Community Grant is intended for individual communities seeking to implement small- to medium-scale projects in their community.
- The Grant Term ends on January 31, 2025
- Each community may only receive one grant per funding year
Year B uses a different Expression of Interest form than our annual Community Grants. Expressions of Interest are welcomes and encouraged, but not required.
Remember: Year B grants are a shorter term, with applications opening July 1st, 2024 and reviewed on a rolling basis. Get your application in ASAP to have as much time to implement your project as possible.
Ready to Apply?
Check out what makes a community grant eligible for our funding here.
Remember: Before applying for a Rural Mental Health Community Grant, you must complete Animator Training. While not required, we recommend filling out an Expression of Interest (EOI) so that our team can provide feedback and guidance to support a successful application.
If you have any questions or need help, don’t hesitate to email our Grant Coordinator!