Community Grants, Sponsorships and Prize Donations
Our grants and sponsorships program contributes to organizations that help build community and that fall under these three pillars:
- Community inclusion for marginalized people
- Environmental sustainability
- Community enterprise development (community-minded co-ops and social businesses)
Limitations and conditions:
- ACU will only sponsor one grant, one sponsorship and one prize per organization per year
- All applicants must submit an online application for each request
For general inquiries, please email sponsorships@acu.ca
Grants
Community grants are reviewed by ACU’s community grants committee. We accept applications twice a year, in spring and fall.
ACU will consider grant requests for:
- Equipment (upgraded computers, office furniture, secure storage facilities)
- Planning (strategic and feasibility plans, community consultations)
- Public awareness (website redesign, video production, information and display materials)
- Professional development (training, retreats, conferences and workshops)
We do not provide community grants for:
- Individuals or private businesses
- Ongoing programs
- Political parties and affiliated activities
- Religious activities
- Organizations working outside Manitoba
- Health care organizations
- Competitive sports organizations
Important information:
- The majority of your project cannot have happened before the grant deadline
- The project cannot be completed before the grant deadline
- Organizations need to submit any outstanding ACU grants reports before applying for a new ACU grant
- National organizations may apply if they have a Manitoba chapter. This needs to be clearly stated in your application. Projects need to be carried out entirely in Manitoba.
Note: All supporting documentation must be included with your application or it will not be considered. All applications must include the following:
- Project budget (include confirmed or pending funding from other funding bodies)
- List of current board directors (if applicable) and year appointed
- Most recent annual report (if applicable)
- Year-end financial statements
- Documentation related to the project costs (e.g. estimates, quotes, consultant's resume, information about training program) – OPTIONAL
All documentation must be provided before the grant deadline.
For general grant inquiries, email sponsorships@acu.ca
Grant recipients must complete the grant reporting form within 60 days of completion of their project and submit it by email to sponsorships@acu.ca.
Grant reporting form
Check out our recent community grants recipients:
Organization name | Project description | Amount awarded |
North Point Douglas Women's Centre | Upgrading Safety Measures | $5,000.00 |
Manitoba Down Syndrome Society | Manitoba Down Syndrome Society Office Modernization | $4,144.00 |
Stroke Recovery Association of Manitoba | Technology Upgrade | $1,513.00 |
DASCH Foundation | DASCH Website Refresh and Accessibility Update | $5,000.00 |
Graffiti Art Programming Inc. (GAP) | 25th Anniversary Community Consultation Project | $5,000.00 |
Westminster Housing Society | Westminster Housing Society Website Redevelopment | $3,356.00 |
Epic Opportunities | Foundation Webpage Redesign & Upgrade | $5,000.00 |
Pulford Community Living Services Inc. | Payroll/HR implementation | $5,000.00 |
The Native Clan Organization | Manitou House Beautification Project | $4,228.00 |
Harvest Manitoba | Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training Program | $4,012.00 |
St. Matthews Non-Profit Housing Inc. | Safety and Security Updates in the SMNPH Office | $3,045.00 |
Sustainable South Osborne Community Cooperative | Strategic Planning Session | $3,000.00 |
Raising the Roof | Reside Winnipeg - Mountain Avenue | $5,000.00 |
New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults and Families Inc. | Upgrade Computer Equipment | $5,000.00 |
Elmwood Community Resource Centre | Tech-Lab: Building Capacity in Elmwood | $5,000.00 |
Shalom Residence Inc. | Organizational storage equipment project | $5,000.00 |
Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council Inc. (Welcome Place) | Strategic Planning | $5,000.00 |
Inspire Community Outreach Inc. | Inspire’s Public Awareness Initiative for Educational Training Opportunities | $5,000.00 |
Spence Neighbourhood Association Inc. | Mental Health Workshops | $5,000.00 |
Rainbow Harmony Project | Rainbow Harmony Project: 5 Year Strategic Plan | $3,750.00 |
Career Trek | Staff Training, Development & Capacity Building | $4,000.00 |
Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD) | Building Awareness of Accessibility and Inclusion | $4,000.00 |
Thrive Community Support Circle | Office Furnishings and Equipment | $1,952.00 |
Bike Winnipeg | Bicycle Network Mapping & Analysis Framework | $1,500.00 |
Manitoba Choral Association | Storage and Workstation Upgrades | $1,500.00 |
Sponsorships
Sponsorships are accept and reviewed year round. Applications must be submitted at least six (6) weeks prior to the event.
ACU will sponsor:
- Community fundraisers (ACU members only. This support is to help with efforts to raise funds and is not a donation)
- Arts and cultural events in Manitoba (to support Manitoba’s artistic community)
- Community festivals, celebrations and awards (to encourage community connections and pride, and celebrate the diversity of our community)
We're sorry but we cannot help:
- Individuals
- Political parties and affiliated activities
- Religious activities
- Third-party fundraisers
- Health care organizations; medical research, services or equipment
- Sports teams and sporting events
- Major capital projects (except for fundraising events above)
For further sponsorships inquiries, please email sponsorships@acu.ca
Check out our recent community sponsorship recipients:
Organization name | Project description | Amount awarded |
Freeze Frame Media Arts Centre | Freeze Frame International Film Festival for Kids of All Ages | $1,000.00 |
Meraki Theatre Productions | Meraki Theatre Productions | $925.00 |
Women's Health Clinic Inc | Women, Wine and Food | $2,500.00 |
The Jubilee Fund Inc. | 2022 Champagne Brunch | $3,250.00 |
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra | Online educational workshop | $1,500.00 |
Dead of Winter | Music Education Outreach Program | $1,000.00 |
Assiniboine Park Conservancy | Party for the Planet | $4,000.00 |
Winnipeg International Children's Festival Inc. | 40th Annual Kidsfest 2022 | $2,000.00 |
Walk&Talk Theatre Company | End of the Line - A New Musical | $2,000.00 |
Foundation for Environmental Stewardship (FES) | SDGs Launch by the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship | $2,500.00 |
ARTBEAT STUDIO INC. | Pop of Orange - Artbeat Alumni Exhibit | $4,000.00 |
John Howard Society of Manitoba | JHSM’s Benefit Concert for Literacy | $5,000.00 |
Sexuality Education Resource Centre Manitoba, Inc | SERC 2022 "Community Matters" Service Provider Conference | $1,000.00 |
Manitoba Craft Council | Year of Eco-Craft Talks | $1,000.00 |
Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada | CHF Canada Diversity Scholarship | $2,500.00 |
Bravestone Centre | Bravestone Sunday Brunch | $1,000.00 |
Rainbow Harmony Project | RHP Rocks | $1,000.00 |
Working in Support of Equality (WISE) Manitoba | Working in Support of Equality Breakfast | $500.00 |
Manitoba Theatre for Young People | Alice in Wonderland | $3,500.00 |
Full Circle for Indigenous Education | Full Circle for Indigenous Education 2022 Awards Ceremony and Pow Wow | $500.00 |
Bike Week Winnipeg | Bike Week Winnipeg | $1,000.00 |
Agassiz Music Inc. | 2022 Agassiz Chamber Music Festival | $1,000.00 |
Women of Note | Women of Note Spring Concert | $500.00 |
St. James Assiniboia 55+ Centre | 30th Anniversary Celebration | $250.00 |
Theatre Projects Manitoba Inc. | Climate and Main | $1,500.00 |
Vision Quest Conferences Inc. | Vision Quest Conference & Trade Show | $1,200.00 |
ArtsJunktion | Earth Week | $650.00 |
Le Marché St. Norbert Farmers' Market Coop Inc. | Farmers' Festival | $500.00 |
Rainbow Trout Music Festival | Rainbow Trout Music Festival Inc. | $500.00 |
Fireweed Food Co-op | The Veggie Van | $1,500.00 |
Green Action Centre | Community Challenge | $2,500.00 |
Manito Ahbee Festival | Manito Ahbee Festival | $2,500.00 |
Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation | Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation | $325.00 |
Fort Garry Women's Resource Centre | Comedy For A Cause | $500.00 |
Manitoba Art Network | Indigenous Rural Art Mentorship Exhibition “From Within” by the Mîcêt Tipiskâwi-pîsimak Collective | $1,000.00 |
Villa Rosa Inc. | Ooh la la! Tarte Flambée and Online auction! | $500.00 |
Canadian Institute for the Study of Antisemitism | Shindleman Family Lecture | $1,000.00 |
Downtown Winnipeg BIZ | ManyFest: All Together Downtown | $3,500.00 |
Rainbow Stage | Rainbow Stage Season 2022 | $1,500.00 |
Immigration Partnership Winnipeg | Newcomer Welcoming Fair | $500.00 |
Nickel Days Inc | Nickel Days Inc | $1,000.00 |
Manitoba Non-Profit Housing Association | Building Partnerships Conference | $3,500.00 |
Arts AccessAbility Network Manitoba | Crip Strength: Art + Body + Mind | $500.00 |
Grands'n'More Winnipeg | Art from the Attic 2022 | $500.00 |
Art City Inc. | 50/50 Draw Draw! | $1,000.00 |
Canadian CED Network - Manitoba | The Gathering - Cultivating Joy | $3,000.00 |
Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation | Chalmers Night Market | $500.00 |
Indigenous Languages of Manitoba | Honouring our Languages Gathering | $500.00 |
Manitoba Cooperative Association (MCA) | Annual Co-op Awards Banquet | $1,000.00 |
North Point Douglas Women's Centre | Austin Street Festival | $1,000.00 |
Manitoba Fibre Festival Inc. | Manitoba Fibre Festival | $500.00 |
End Homeless Winnipeg | Golf Tournament | $1,500.00 |
Manitoba Environmental Industries Association | MEIA Emerging Issues Cleantech Conference | $ 2,000.00 |
Art Holm | Art Holm production | $500.00 |
Manitoba Choral Association Inc. |
GATHER: Outdoor Choral Festival | $500.00 |
Sustainable Building Manitoba |
Education on sustainable building and renovations in Manitoba | $2,000.00 |
Arcane Horizon Inc | Halloween Social Fundraiser | $500.00 |
Compost Winnipeg |
Annual Pumpkin Drop | $500.00 |
Sick + Twisted Theatre Inc. | Antigone |
$500.00 |
Alpha House Project | Alpha House Project 26th Anniversary Gala Fundraiser | $500.00 |
The WRENCH (Winnipeg Repair Education N Cycling Hub) | Cycle of Giving | $1,500.00 |
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Manitoba | Errol Black Chair in Labour Issues Fundraising Brunch | $3,970.00 |
The Holistic Ongoing Opportunities Development-Facilitation and Management Services Inc. | Ubuntu-Village Youth Summit | $250.00 |
Acorn Family Place | Winter Celebration | $2,000.00 |
LITE (Local Investment Toward Employment) | LITE's 25th Annual Wild Blueberry Pancake Breakfast | $5,000.00 |
Development Assistance International Inc | Afro-Caribbean Cultural Festival 2022 | $3,380.00 |
Red River Basin Commission | 40th Annual Red River Basin Land & Water International Summit Conference | $700.00 |
The Village Conservatory Inc | Inhibition Exhibition Festival of New Works | $5,000.00 |
West Broadway Community Organization | West Broadway Snoball | $750.00 |
Manitoba Filipino Business Council Inc. (MFBC Inc.) | MFBC Merkado | $4,000.00 |
Assiniboine Park Conservancy | 2023 Earth Day at Assiniboine Park | $5,000.00 |
Pulford Community Living Services Inc. | Pairings with Pulford | $3,500.00 |
The Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts | Music Equals Showcase Concert | $2,500.00 |
Winnipeg Newcomer Sport Academy | Winnipeg Newcomer Sport Academy- Community Connections | $1,000.00 |
Friday Morning Concert Band | Community Outreach Concerts | $600.00 |
Prize donations
ACU welcomes opportunities to support local events, fundraisers, festivals, celebrations or award ceremonies that have a positive impact on our communities.
Note: Prize donations requests must be submitted at least three (3) weeks prior to your event.
ACU will donate branded prizes for:
- Fundraisers
- Arts and cultural events in Manitoba
- Community festivals, celebrations and awards
- Sports events
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