The Lanark County Community Grants Program aims to improve the well-being and quality of life of the community and its residents through financial assistance to non-profit community-based organizations who serve Lanark County. Municipal Community Grant funding is based on approved funding by County Council during the annual budget deliberations. Find out more information about our community grants below. 

Important Notice - Changes to the Community Grants Program

The Lanark County Community Grants Program has recently been updated and includes new eligibility criteria, focus areas for funding, and an updated application form and scoring matrix. Please carefully review the new criteria and application form to ensure that your organization and project or program are eligible.

 Community Grants

Lanark County Community Grants support projects, programs, and organizations that are enhancing our communities and benefiting residents. If you are part of a non-profit agency or organization that provides programs or services in Lanark County that support or improve the quality of life of residents and align with Council's priorities, you may be eligible for funds to assist with your project or program.

  

Applications for 2025 Funding are now closed. 

Recommendations for funding will be presented to Council in November, and official notification taking place following budget in early December.

 

Purpose - NEW FOR 2025

Lanark County Community Grants Program distributes County funds to support non-profit agencies and organizations who serve Lanark County.

Grants are awarded to local projects that have a direct impact on the people of our community or an indirect impact by increasing the capacity of organizations to initiate and sustain local projects.

NEW FOR 2025

Funding through the program will be aligned with the County of Lanark's strategic priorities and preference will be given to applications that advance the priorities of Council. 

For 2025 and 2026 funding, Council has set the following focus areas:

  • Tourism and Economic Development
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

50% of the available funding will be allocated to projects/programs within the focus areas. The remaining funding will be open to projects/programs outside of the focus areas that meet the criteria of the policy.

Eligibility - NEW FOR 2025
Grants will not be issued:
  • To cover deficits or retire debts
  • To replace current program funding
  • To provide endowment funds
  • For sectarian, religious or political purposes
  • To individuals
  • To provide money for fundraising activities

NEW FOR 2025

Please carefully review the updated criteria for 2025 funding. Programs and projects must meet the following criteria:

  • Merit of funding:
    • demonstrates how funding request provides a social, economic or environmental benefit to the County of Lanark, its citizens or taxpayers and/or supports the County's strategic priorities
    • Aligns with Council's goals and objectives
    • Community need/demand for proposed activity or service exists
    • The activities do not duplicate successful efforts that already exist in the community
    • Community support exists through collaboration or partnerships with other organizations
    • Benefits a wide audience
  • Applicant profile supports community service:
    • Likelihood of success (has the ability and capacity to complete the activity or service)
    • Experience of the applicant in delivering similar program/service/event/activity
    • Ability of applicant to leverage other funding support, including matching funding from other levels of government
    • Mission of the applicant and volunteer support
  • Financial plan and need
    • Sound financial management and revenue generation (accurate records, realistic and responsible budget, various sources of income)
    • Financial need (leveraging of funds, seed money, inability to fund on their own through own resources or alternative revenue generation)
    • Clarity on how the contribution will be use

Grants will not be issued:

  • To support recurring operating expenses of established organizations or programs
  • To fund projects/events that are already completed
  • As 100% of a budget activity

See the Community Grants scoring matrix to see how applications will be scored against the criteria.

To ensure you meet all of the eligibility criteria review the Lanark County Community Grants Program Policy.

Eligible Applicants - NEW FOR 2025

Applicants must provide services or programs to residents of Lanark County. Unincorporated individuals or organizations must work in partnership with an incorporated organization that will share in the project and receive and manage the funds.

NEW FOR 2025

  • Organizations (or sponsoring organizations) must have been in operation for at least one year
  • Eligible organizations can submit only one (1) application per year. Exceptions are made for organizations submitting applications in partnership or on behalf of unincorporated groups.
  • Organizations receiving multi-year funding are not able to re-apply in a year for which they have been approved for funding.
  • Applicants who have previously received a grant must fulfill the reporting portion of the policy to be eligible for future funding.

Funding Streams

Applications may be submitted for either a Project Grant or a Program Grant as defined below. 

A table that provides the details on the amount and term of funding available for project grants and program grants

Value:

For 2025 up to $46,500 in combined funding for multi-year program grants and annual project grants may be awarded.

  • Up to a maximum of $10,000 annually for project grants
  • Up to a maximum of $50,000 per Council term for program grants

Apply

Applications for 2025 Funding will are now closed. 

Please note:

  • The application process is competitive
  • There are more grant applications received than there is available funding
  • Past funding commitments should not be interpreted as a guarantee that future requests will be approved

Reporting

Grant recipients are required to provide a report within two months following completion of the project or program. The following information must be provided:

  • Completed reporting form (available at the link below)
  • Support material (i.e. evaluation report, promotional material, photographs or newspaper coverage) uploaded through the reporting form below

Future proposals will not be considered until the final project report is received.

Submit 2024 Report

Submit 2023 Report

 

Annually, Lanark County Council recognizes Lanark County residents and organizations for the contributions they make to our community. The awards program recognizes recipients for contributions to the county at large or in at least two municipalities. Find out more information about the Awards of Excellence below. 

Awards of Excellence

The Lanark County Awards of Excellence were developed to say 'thank you' to citizens of Lanark County, to provide community recognition and visibility, to support citizens for their contributions and to inspire further community service. 

Applications for the 2024 Awards of Excellence are now closed.

 

Purpose
The purpose of the Lanark County Awards of Excellence is to recognize and honour Lanark County citizens, including organizations, businesses and industries who have made a significant and/or extraordinary contribution to Lanark County or in at least two municipalities within the County.
Eligibility
To qualify for an Award of Excellence the Nominee must be a resident of Lanark County or operate a business or industry in the County and has made a significant and/or extraordinary contribution in one or more of the following categories:
  • Volunteerism
  • Community Service
  • Youth
  • Business/Industry
  • Agriculture
  • Tourism
  • Heritage / Ecology
  • Arts / Culture
  • Recreation / Sports
  • Philanthropy
  • Other

Nominations may be made by any person or organization wishing to recognize outstanding citizens in their community. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Sitting members of County Council are not eligible to place nominations. Municipal employees are not eligible to receive an award for their regular duties.

Award Recipient Selection
The award recipients are selected by the Awards Sub-Committee of Council. The Committee reviews the submissions and selects the recipients from the nominations received.

Awards will be presented annually in the category where strong candidates have been nominated. The Warden will present the awards at the first County Council meeting in November.
Apply

Applications for the 2024 Lanark County Awards of Excellence are now closed.

2023 Award Recipients

This year, Council recognized four recipients with Awards of Excellence.

  • Wendy O'Keefe of Mississippi Mills in the category of Community Service
  • Christine Row of Mississippi Mills Public Library in the category of Youth
  • Linda McGreevy of Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital Foundation in the category of Volunteerism
  • Cavanagh Construction in the category of Philanthropy

 

To read more about how each recipient has worked to enhance life in our community see the Media Release.


For any questions regarding the Lanark County Community Grants Program or the Lanark County Awards of Excellence please contact Megan Beson, Deputy Clerk

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