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Community Grants, Sponsorships and Prize Donations

Healthy, vibrant and diverse communities don't just happen; they're created over time by people, organizations and businesses continuously working together for the common good. And we're glad to contribute our skills and resources.

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. 

We are now accepting 2023 grant applications!

Spring grant deadline

Monday, May 15

Fall grant deadline

Monday, October 30



Note: All supporting documentation must be included with your application or it will not be considered. All applications must include the following:

  1. Project budget (include confirmed or pending funding from other funding bodies)
  2. List of current board directors (if applicable) and year appointed
  3. Most recent annual report (if applicable)
  4. Year-end financial statements
  5. 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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