Community Action Grants

Arthritis Society Canada expects to fund up to three Community Action Grants for the 2026 – 2027 year.

Our grant funding is always contingent upon the generosity of our donors. The maximum grant per application is $5,000 for up to one year of activities. These grants are non-renewable.

Community Action Grants are available to community groups, community centres, health centres, organizations, schools, clubs, long-term care homes, seniors’ residences, individuals or other groups interested in providing a program of benefit to people living with arthritis or caregivers of people living with arthritis. Organizations and representatives must be based in Canada and meet application criteria. If applying as an individual, please note specific financial requirements under the “Funding” section before applying. Applicants may only submit one application per grant competition.

We encourage applications from all eligible candidates. Please contact us to ensure any accessibility needs are accommodated throughout this process. All information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

Community Action Grants place a priority on geographic locations and ideas that are not already included within Arthritis Society Canada programs and resources. Programs must also prioritize one or more of the following communities.

• Indigenous communities
• Black and People of Colour communities
• members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
• people living with disabilities in addition to arthritis
• newcomers to Canada
• people living in northern, rural, or remote communities
• low-income communities
• homeless, underhoused, or street-involved individuals

While starting a new program or activity is encouraged, consideration will also be given to organizations or groups who are seeking to enhance or increase their current program capacity, or who are applying to fund an existing program that is currently unfunded.

Proposed programs that exclude participants on the basis of citizenship, race, place of origin, ethnic origin, colour, ancestry, disability, age, creed (religion/faith), sex (including pregnancy), family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression will not be considered, except where the proposed program aims to increase access specifically for people in typically underserved communities.

All submissions will be reviewed and scored by a grant selection committee that includes people with lived experience with arthritis. Their recommendations will then be reviewed by Arthritis Society Canada who will select funding recipients based on grant criteria, funding availability, and potential for impact.

*If you, or someone from your community is interested in becoming a reviewer for a future Community Action Grants cycle, please contact us at [email protected] to let us know!

Up to $5,000 each to support a community-based program to help people living with arthritis and/or their caregivers. This grant may also be used to fund a program pilot.
Examples could include (but are not limited to):

• an arthritis awareness campaign, activities for arthritis awareness month (September), or activities to create community awareness for World Arthritis Day (October 12)
• hosting a healthy cooking workshop
• a meditation series
• hosting a guest speaker or symposium
• a facilitated weekly exercise group
• a food and nutrition program
• a community garden to increase food security and social connections for people living with arthritis
• an assistive device program
• a facilitated support group
• a weekly dinner club
• programs that take place in languages other than English or French

We encourage creative ideas that will help foster social connections and provide benefit to people living with arthritis.

Proposed program activities must be offered at no cost to participants. Any application where grant funding would produce a commercial benefit or proof of concept for a commercial benefit for the applicant will not be considered.

Due to limited resources, applications that propose a program which duplicates any online based programs offered by Arthritis Society Canada will not be considered for funding. If you have questions about Arthritis Talks, Arthritis Connections, or about possible program similarities, or concerns about how your idea may be evaluated, please contact [email protected].

For more information about selection criteria, and eligible expenses, please read the application criteria before applying.