Program Profile

• Annual awards program with a total budget of $500,000.

• Program opens January of each year and the deadline for applications is March 31st.  An advertisement is posted in the Municipal Notices section of the Chronicle-Herald newspaper.

• One-time, project specific grants.  We do not provide multi-year grants or core operating funding.

• Applications received after the application deadline or incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible for consideration.

• Applicants must be a registered Canadian charity or a non-profit society registered with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stocks. Non-profit groups incorporated under an Act of the NS Legislature are also eligible. All applicants must have been registered for at least one year prior to the program deadline.

• All ineligible applications are identified in an Information Report to the HRM Grants Committee and Regional Council.  Applicants are notified in writing of their ineligibility and the reason why: they have the option of an appeal within 2 weeks of notification (this deadline date is noted in the letter of notification).

• Appeals will only be considered in the following basis: (1) new information that was not available at the time of application or review, or (2) an error in HRM's application of the program's formal policies and procedures.

• Eligible applications are sorted into funding sectors and issued to review teams.  Each sector has a review team that comprises staff from one or more departments who have expertise and experience within a specific area of funding.  A list of these review team members is included in the staff report to Regional Council.

• Once the final report has been approved by Regional Council a letter is sent to notify applicants that either (1) and award has been approved, the amount , purpose of the grant, and any terms and conditions of funding, or (2) an award is not recommended in this year's program and a brief reason why.

• Applicants declined a grant have the option of an appeal within 2 weeks of notification (this deadline is noted in the letter).  Appeals will only be considered on the following basis: (1) new information that was not available at the time of application or review, or (2) an error in HRM's application of the program's formal policies and procedures.

• A staff report is prepared for any appeals (ineligible, declined a grant, value of grant disputed).  This report is sent to the HRM Grants Committee who may overturn, amend, or approve a staff recommendation.  The HRM Grants Committee then sends a report to Regional Council for final approval.  Appeals can only be considered within any remaining program budget.

• The program is closed as of March 31st of each year.  Application forms will be removed from the web site to avoid mis-directed requests throughout the year.

• All grant applications have until March 31st of the following year to submit their reporting form: documentation to demonstrate the grant was spent and in accordance the terms of funding.  Failure to report will result in ineligibility for further grant funding.

• If your grant cannot be completed on time please call HRM staff for advice at 490-7310

For assistance in completing a grant application form please refer to the HRM Community Grants Guidebook or contact staff at 490-7310.

Program Information

All applicants are strongly encourage to read this year's Guidebook and applicable support material.  It is also helpful to view reports of grants awarded in previous years to get a sense of the type of project funded, value of grant, and any terms and conditions applied to the award.

If you or your organization have never applied to the HRM Community Grants Program it is advisable to get staff assistance.  You can call the Grants Program Office 490-5469 or 490-7310 and we can provide direct advice and/or refer to a technical specialist in another HRM department.

If your application is not funded you may request feedback.