Micro-grants are small cash payments provided to youth applicants between the ages of 15 and 30 to carry out innovative,
youth-led community service projects.
Available micro-grant opportunities
Opportunity title
Program Description
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Province
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Closing date
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The Refugee Centre
Canada
Started by a group of professionals composed of engineers, political scientists, human relations experts, sociologists, statisticians, and entrepreneurs we believe this makes us one of the most unique and creative groups in this field. We have worked to build an organization that is focused on imploring youth to work with the community to help strengthen the refugee & immigrant population through unity and integration. Founded in December 2015, we embarked on a journey to re-establish the way non-profits work and strengthen the communities they are involved with. We believe that modern-day obstacles and problems need modern-day solutions, thus the creation of The Refugee Centre and its sister NPO DEVBLOC.
Applications are being accepted from to .
Micro-grant opportunity title
Empowering Youth Montreal
Micro-grant opportunity description
The goal of this project is to provide community service experience for over 30 youth groups (ages 15-30) in Tiohtià:ke-Montreal, with priority given to Indigenous and refugee youth, providing them with valuable life experience and leadership skills, enhancing their project management capacity, and growing their networks of community partners and like-minded youth. In partnership with Resilience Montreal, we will be soliciting youth applications for innovative projects of up to $5,000 each.
Eligibility criteria
We want to provide funding for any project that focuses on the following themes. RECONCILIATION: Addressing historical injustices, promoting healing, and establishing a renewed relationship based on truth, acknowledgment, and the restoration of Indigenous rights, cultures, and self-determination.
INCLUSIVE CANADA: Projects in relation to creating a welcoming and supportive society that embraces the arrival and integration of refugees and newcomers.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: Projects that actively involve and empower refugees or the indigenous community in the democratic process, encouraging their participation in decision-making, policy development, and community initiatives.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: Any project that focuses on empowering youth within the indigenous or newcomer community in Tiohtià:ke ( Montreal).
Small Economy Works (SEW) is addressing challenges and opportunities facing youth in rural, remote, Northern, and Indigenous communities by developing imaginative and unique opportunities for young people to participate in - and shape - their communities and the economy on their own terms. Since 2015, we have been serving rural, remote, Northern and Indigenous youth to help them influence the changing business, education and employment market in a holistic, long-term and culturally responsive way.
Our approach is rooted in the idea that solutions to community challenges can be found in addressing the underlying factors that help - and sometimes hinder - the ability of small communities to thrive. Therefore, our approach puts historical context, geography, people, culture, and wellness, at the core of our work.
Applications are being accepted from to .
Micro-grant opportunity title
Initiate: Youth Innovation
Micro-grant opportunity description
Small Economy Works (SEW) is excited to introduce a new Micro-Grants program designed to empower youth through community development initiatives. This program offers grants of $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000 to youth-led projects that aim to create positive impact in their communities. Participants will be supported by the SEW team to submit and work through their project ideas through an online, innovative, and interactive platform designed for this project. Participants will use the interactive platform to further plan out and implement their ideas. The platform will also provide the opportunity to connect with other peers and projects being delivered across the country.
How it works:
Once their idea is submitted and approved, participants will work through a gamified, task based learning system where they will bank money towards their grant funds by completing tasks that focus on critical project design and development skills. These tasks are strategically structured to help participants understand the nuances of project implementation, empowering them to succeed in their grant initiatives. By completing these tasks, youth will not only build their capacity to implement community-driven projects, but they will also acquire invaluable skills such as grant writing, budgeting, financial literacy, project management, marketing, and design thinking. Throughout the process, SEW will offer personalized support to youth and any staff or mentors involved in the grants, guiding them throughout their journey and offering tailored feedback to ensure success. This program encourages innovation, fosters collaboration, and provides a platform for youth to work together towards common goals.
Eligibility criteria
Project ideas must have 1 youth as the lead representative (there is no maximum number for the people involved in the project design and delivery); Youth is defined as someone between the ages of 15-30.
Priority given to youth in rural, remote communities in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Labrador, Northern B.C, Northern Alberta, Northern Saskatchewan.
GLOCAL is a national non-profit organization advancing accessible, inclusive, and innovative civic participation — with Canadians and for Canadians.
Through youth leadership and digital innovation, GLOCAL addresses the systemic barriers and costs embedded in traditional models of participation by creating accessible pathways that enable youth, newcomers, and underserved communities to build transferable skills and civic knowledge through community service, while fostering a strong sense of belonging.
Through initiatives such as the CANConnect Microgrant Program, All-You-Can-Volunteer Online Program, and YouCount.ca, GLOCAL bridges civic information, technology, and community resources—mobilizing Canadians nationwide and supporting the last-mile delivery of civic knowledge across all 10 provinces and 3 territories.
Applications are being accepted from to .
Micro-grant opportunity title
Empowering Canadian Youth in Innovative Civic Engagement
Micro-grant opportunity description
GLOCAL’s CANConnect Microgrant Program provides youth aged 15–30 with micro-grants to design and implement youth-led civic and community service initiatives across Canada.
Through the $500 and $1,000 Civic Impact Challenge, youth participants are invited to identify a community issue, propose a solution, and carry out a project that creates meaningful impact. Projects may be undertaken individually or by a team.
The program offers two tiers of funding:
• $500 Micro-grants: Designed for early-stage ideas, small-scale initiatives, or first-time project leads.
• $1,000 Micro-grants: Designed for more developed proposals, pilot projects, or initiatives that require additional resources to test and scale.
Purpose and Approach
The program is designed to reduce barriers to participation by offering microgrants that allows youth from diverse backgrounds to take initiative and contribute to community life.
It emphasizes:
• Youth leadership and ownership: Participants define their own project goals and approaches based on community needs and personal interests.
• Applied learning: Youth apply academic knowledge, technical skills, and lived experience to real-world civic challenges.
• Flexibility and inclusivity: Projects can be adapted to different contexts, including urban, rural, northern, and Indigenous communities.
• Cost efficiency and accountability: Participants are encouraged to design projects that maximize impact with limited resources.
Types of Projects Supported
The program supports a wide range of initiatives that reflect both community priorities and youth interests, including:
• Digital and practical solutions: Development of simple tools such as e-toolkits, informational websites, resource guides, or basic applications that improve access to community services or civic information.
• Applied research and systems understanding: Projects that analyze local issues (e.g., housing, transportation, service access) and translate findings into accessible formats for community use.
• Community engagement initiatives: Structured dialogues, workshops, or outreach activities that increase participation, awareness, and understanding of civic issues.
• Health and wellness supports: Initiatives that improve awareness of mental health resources, peer support systems, or access to community services.
• Environmental and sustainability efforts: Local projects related to climate action, conservation, and sustainable practices.
• Cultural and storytelling projects: Initiatives that document, share, and strengthen community identity, including oral histories, digital storytelling, and cultural education.
Projects are expected to be practical, feasible, and responsive to real community needs, rather than theoretical or purely conceptual.
Support and Participant Experience
In addition to funding, participants benefit from:
• Opportunities to develop project planning, budgeting, and implementation skills
• Exposure to community engagement and civic participation processes
• Opportunities to share their work through showcases and knowledge-sharing platforms
• Recognition of their contributions to community service and civic innovation
Through this micro-grant model, youth participants:
• gain practical experience in community service and civic leadership
• develop transferable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and project management
• increase their confidence and sense of belonging in their communities
• contribute to tangible community outcomes, including improved access to information, services, and engagement opportunities
The program strengthens youth civic participation across Canada by enabling young people to take an active role in addressing community challenges and contributing to inclusive, innovative solutions.
Eligibility criteria
Youth aged 15–30 in Canada who are citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons
The Canada Service Corps (CSC) promotes civic engagement among young people from
15 to 30 years old through access to meaningful volunteer service placements that help
them gain essential life skills and experience.
