Civic Partners funding
The City of Calgary’s Civic Partners are defined under the Investing in Partnerships Policy.The City invests in these organizations to deliver effective programs and services in targeted areas, develop and advance strategies, and construct and manage assets.
City funding for Civic Partners is listed below and includes the actual Council-approved operating and capital funding for the previous year, and the approved budget for current year funding.
Funding process: Operating and capital investments in Civic Partners are approved by Council during the budget process and are subject to adjustments by Council. Annually, Civic Partners report to the Community Development Committee.
Civic Partners Funding Programs and Allocations
Civic Partners – Community Safety Grant
In November 2024, as part of the 2025 budget adjustments, Calgary City Council approved up to $2 million for the Civic Partner Community Safety Grant. The Community Safety Grant Program provides targeted support for The City of Calgary’s Civic Partners, as defined in the Investing in Partnerships Policy, operating in the downtown to address safety incidents and related escalated safety issues in the areas and community spaces surrounding their facility that impact the safety of visitors and Calgarians.
To disburse this targeted base grant funding, The City is undertaking a targeted call for applications for funding requests for 2025 and 2026.
Eligible Civic Partners will be invited to apply by The City. If you have any questions about whether or not your organization is eligible to apply for the Civic Partner Community Safety Grant, please reach out by email to partnerships@calgary.ca.
How to apply
The 2025 Civic Partner Community Safety Grant Program is now accepting applications.
Review the Civic Partner Community Safety Grant Program 2025 Guide in full and determine if your organization is eligible to apply. Complete the online grant application and submit any required documents by midnight on Friday, December 20, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact your Administrative Relationship Contact (Civic Partnership Consultant or other partnership liaison) or email partnerships@calgary.ca with “Community Safety Grant Application” in the subject line.
Provide any additional documents that may be requested during the review process.
Late applications will only be accepted if an extension is requested and approved in writing in advance of the application deadline. Information submitted in grant applications may be made public.
Application deadline: Friday, December 20, 2025.
Eligibility
Funding is available for current City of Calgary Civic Partners as defined in the Investing in Partnerships Policy that are operating in the downtown and impact community spaces in and around their facilities and are in good standing with The City. If you are unsure if your organization is eligible, please reach out to your Administrative Relationship Contact, or email partnerships@calgary.ca.
Program focus
This Community Safety Grant Program focuses on supporting Civic Partners in the downtown to positively affecting safety in the areas and community spaces surrounding their facility to help enhance overall safety throughout Calgary for all Calgarians.
Application review & criteria
City Administration will review all applications using fair and consistent review process based on the following criteria that align with the approval by Council:
- Location of the facility in the downtown, or delivery of positive results for the downtown.
- Clear demonstration that there is a need to address safety of visitors and Calgarians in and around the Partner’s facility/facilities and/or the surrounding community spaces.
- Quantity and magnitude of safety incidents in and around the Partner’s facility/facilities in the downtown.
- Demonstration that the funding will contribute to one or more of the following results:
- Improved safety in the areas immediately surrounding a Partner’s facility/facilities,
- Improved safety in the community spaces immediately surrounding a Partner’s facility/facilities,
- Increase safety of visitors to a Partner’s facility, or
- Enhanced overall safety for Calgarians.
- Demonstration that the organization has challenges using existing cash flow, reserves or funding from any related foundations to meet the proposed initiative or work.
- A clear plan and budget that demonstrates that funding will be fully spent in the 2025 and 2026 calendar year.
- A plan to sustain the initiative or work if required, recognizing that this is base funding for 2025 and 2026.
Reporting
Grant recipients will be required to provide reporting about the use and impact of the funds as part of the Civic Partner Annual Report in 2026 and 2027.
In an effort to maintain transparency and accountability, The City will make the names of all recipients and funding allocation amounts available publicly.
Funding Allocations
| Organization | 2024 One Time Funding |
|---|---|
| Calgary Public Library Board | $750,000 |
| Contemporary Calgary Arts Society | $207,499 |
| Arts Commons | $185,955 |
| The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (formerly Fort Calgary) | $130,000 |
| Lindsay Park Sports Society (MNP Community & Sport Centre) | $85,000 |
| Calgary Convention Centre Authority (Calgary TELUS Convention Centre) | $484,400 |
| Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research | $50,000 |
Please visit our news release for more information on the Civic Partner Community Safety Grant.
Civic Partners – Operating Funding
The Civic Partner Operating Grant Program is a new Program that will launch in the middle of January 2025. It provides a structured, transparent and consistent approach to developing multi-year Civic Partner operating funding recommendations for Council approval. The Program focuses on funding recommendations that align with and are informed by Council Priorities and are based on a fulsome review of funding requests from Civic Partners. Details are outlined in the Program Guidelines, which will be available upon the Program launch in mid-January.
Eligible Civic Partners will be invited to apply by The City. If you have any questions about the Civic Partner Operating Grant Program, please reach out by email to partnerships@calgary.ca.
Funding Allocations
*At least 75% of the funds provided to Calgary Arts Development are distributed to Calgary’s arts and culture sector through a variety of grant programs. Learn more at http://www.calgaryartsdevelopment.com
**OCIF’s operating budget is funded through interest earned on the OCIF Reserve.
Civic Partners – Capital Funding
The City of Calgary values the services Civic Partners provide to Calgarians. Sustaining the condition and quality of City-owned facilities and assets managed and operated by Civic Partners ensure they remain safe, accessible and affordable to all users. Capital funding is provided through the Civic Partner Infrastructure Investment Program and other capital funding initiatives.