Community Action Grants

Selection Announcement

We’re pleased to announce the Community Action Grant recipients for the 2022/2023 year. Arthritis Society Canada has selected 7 initiatives to move forward with funding in communities all across the country. To learn more about each of the selected projects, please see our official announcement.

Our application process for 2022 is currently closed. The deadline was September 14, 2022.

About Community Action Grants

Arthritis Society Canada is committed to extinguishing the fire of arthritis in communities across Canada. This is why we have introduced our new Community Action Grants aimed at providing more opportunities for people to connect, learn, and thrive with arthritis in their own communities. Living with pain can be isolating, but together we can fight the fire of arthritis.

Community Action Grants support communities exploring local solutions. We are looking to support groups and individuals addressing arthritis-related needs specific to their communities, including health inequities and disparities that impact access to arthritis information and care.

Arthritis affects 1 in 5 people over the age of 15, and almost half of people over the age of 65. This program will help community members, groups and organizations deliver arthritis and joint pain related programs, services, or information directly in communities.

Program overview

• Funds Available
  Arthritis Society Canada Community Action Grants consists of two granting streams: Education and Awareness Grants, up to $1,000 each, as well as Programming Grants, up to $5,000 each.  
• Who Can Apply?

  Community Action Grants are available to community groups, community centres, health centres, organizations, schools, clubs, long-term care homes, seniors’ residences, or other groups and individuals interested in providing a program or activity of benefit to people living with arthritis or caregivers of people living with arthritis.

  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.

• Activities and Audiences

  While all applications are welcome, Arthritis Society Canada will place a priority on geographic locations and ideas that are not already included within Arthritis Society Canada programming, and from groups or organizations with proposals that serve:

  • Indigenous communities
  • Black and People of Colour communities
  • members of 2SLGBTQ 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.

• Evaluation

  All submissions are reviewed and scored by a grant selection committee that includes people with lived experience with arthritis. Recommendations are then 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 communitygrants@arthritis.ca to let us know!

• Grant Streams

  Education and Awareness Grants 

  Grants up to $1,000 each to support starting community groups, or for short duration programs and activities to increase education and awareness about arthritis.

  Examples could include (but are not limited to): hosting a healthy cooking workshop, an arthritis awareness poster campaign, a meditation series, hosting a guest speaker, arthritis awareness day activity, or other awareness activities for people living with arthritis or their caregivers.  

  Programming Grants 

  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): 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, or other initiative to benefit those living with arthritis.  

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

 Stay tuned for details about 2023 applications. For questions, or more information, please email communitygrants@arthritis.ca.