Active Communities Fund
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The fund supports community-wide initiatives to encourage less structured physical activity and movement. The fund aims to encourage physical activity and movement through policies, social initiatives or physical environments. Projects should target community members who are less active, or who have fewer opportunities for physical activity. $25,000 up to 75% of eligible costs. If your municipality has more than 90,000 people, you may be eligible for more funds. Contact your regional Communities, Culture and Heritage (CCH) office for more information.
Example(s): A plan to design & implement a safe, walkable connector pathway between Glace Bay High School and the nearby shopping plaza.
Deadline: Open April 1st to December 1st, 2025. Requests larger than $10,000 in funding need to apply by 15 June 2025.
Contact: Contact your regional CCTH representative.
Website: Active Communities Fund
Planning Assistance Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The program assists community organizations and municipalities in obtaining professional assistance in planning, designing and researching proposed and existing sport and recreation facilities. Funding is available for up to 50% of the total cost of the project to a maximum of $10,000.
Example(s): General facility planning including needs assessments, feasibility studies, master plans and facility operation plans. Schematic Design for new or renovated facilities and landscaping. Schematic design illustrates the scale and character of a project showing how the parts of the project relate to each other. This work includes preliminary cost estimates. The preparation of detailed design or construction documents is eligible under the main capital program and therefore not eligible. Building Audits forecast the replacement of building components by professional consultants and result in the development of a Life Cycle Plan for a facility. Research involves projects which have province-wide application e.g., exploring/testing alternative energy sources, maintenance strategies or usage.
Deadline: Annual intake. April 1st - December 1st or until the program is 100% committed.
Website: https://cch.novascotia.ca/planning-assistance-program
Community Recreation Development Grant
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The grant is designed to support activities and initiatives that respond to the recreation and physical activity goals and priorities of communities and the Shared Strategy for Recreation in Nova Scotia: Active Living, Inclusion and Access, Connecting People and Nature, Supportive Environments, and Capacity Development.
Example(s): Leadership Education and Capacity Development. Marketing and Awareness Campaigns. Organizational and Partnership Development. Program or Policy Development and Implementation. Resource Development, Planning and Evaluation.
Deadline: Annual intake. April 1st- December 1st, or until 100% committed. Apply early in the fiscal year to avoid disappointment. Applicants in the HRM region and in the Highland Region (Guysborough, Antigonish and Pictou Counties) have the following intake deadlines: April 30th, June 30th and September 30th.
Contact: Contact your regional CCTH representative.
Website: https://cch.novascotia.ca/community-recreation-capital-grant
Trail Engineering Assistance Grant Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The program is designed to provide trail builders and managers with a source of funding to help them hire engineering expertise when it is required. The program provides funding to municipalities for hiring engineers when building, maintaining, and supporting multi-use trails and non-motorized single-use to help ensure Nova Scotia’s trails are both safe for trail users and environmentally sound. Applicants are encouraged to contribute to the overall cost of the initiative. The contribution level required depends on the need and the ability of the applicant to contribute.
Example(s): Inspection and assessment of existing trail structures. Components of planning requiring an engineer (i.e. site plan for a bridge). Design of trail components which must be engineered to a specific standard. Rehabilitation plans.
Deadline: Annual intake. April 1st - December 1st or until the grant program is 100% committed.
Website: https://cch.novascotia.ca/trail-funding-programs
Jays Care Programs – Local Governments
Department - Organization: Jays Care Foundation
Description: This is an inclusion-focused baseball/softball for development program. This is offered to Canadian Local Governments offering programs for children and youth facing barriers. The aim is to use baseball or softball as a tool to enhance connection, belonging, and access to sport opportunities to kids most often sitting on the sidelines. Your community can apply to receive free training and equipment.
Deadline: Open
Website: https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/community/jays-care/community-partner/local-governments
Jumpstart
Jumpstart Community Development Grants
Department - Organization: Canadian Tire
Description: To help municipalities develop or sustain sports and recreation programming for kids between the ages of 4-18 in financial need or youth with disabilities between the ages of 4-25. The grant is meant to help organizations develop or sustain the delivery of sport or physical activity-based programs. Or build their capacity to provide more inclusive, equitable, safe sports participant experiences.
Deadline: January 31st, May 30th, October 2025. Apply approximately 3-6 months before the program starts. 3 intakes a year.
Website: Jumpstart Community Development Grants
Kidsport
Applicants are encouraged to read the eligibility information noted here and ensure they meet the criteria before beginning an application. If eligible, please review and complete an application and all requested supplementary information by the 15th of each month.
KidSport is a national children’s program that helps kids overcome the financial barriers preventing or limiting their participation in organized sports. KidSport Nova Scotia provides funding of up to $500/year/child for sport registration and/or equipment. In operation since 1994, KidSport Nova Scotia has assisted over 31,000 children totalling over $7.7 Million.
For further information on how to apply please visit sport nova scotia.
Sport Fund
The fund supports quality, sustainable programming by helping organizations create new programs or strengthen existing ones to provide more opportunities for Nova Scotians to participate in sport.
To discuss an application, please contact David Ogbuah at well in advance of the deadline. Early inquiries ensure that we can provide the best possible guidance.
Deadlines:
April 15th | June 15th | August 15th | October 15th |
December 15th | February 15th
Parasport Loan Program
The Sport Nova Scotia Parasport Loan Program is designed to provide Community Sport Organizations, Non-Profit Groups, and Recreation Departments involved with Parasport programs access to equipment and resources to offer introductory adaptive sport opportunities in their community.
Successful applicants may borrow a full set of equipment, program guides for how to facilitate weekly introductory programming in the selected sport, and leadership training in 1 of 6 available parasports for a 6-week period.
To apply please email , with 'Program Loan' in the subject line, to receive more information and the application form.
Max Bell Foundation Grants
Department - Organization: Max Bell Foundation
Description: Max Bell Foundation makes grants to support projects that are designed to inform public policy. They do so across four program areas: Education; Environment; Health & Wellness; and Civic Engagement and Democratic Institutions. A typical project supported by Max Bell Foundation ranges from 1-3 years in duration and has a budget that ranges from approximately $10,000 to $200,000. Max Bell Foundation is often the only financial supporter of projects they fund. Not for building or service delivery, it is for projects that inform public policy. You can view previous grants awarded here: https://www.maxbell.org/about-us/grants-database/
Deadline: Continuous intake
Contact: Contact Form
Website: Max Bell Foundation Grants
Smoke-Free Outdoor Spaces Signage Grant Fund
Department - Organization: Smoke-Free Nova Scotia
Description: The fund is intended to support communities which have already established smoke-free outdoor spaces by assisting with the cost of signage, as well as awareness and enforcement. This is a limited, one-time funding opportunity. Grants as high as $2,000 may be awarded.
Deadline: Continuous intake
Website: Smoke-Free Outdoor Spaces Signage Grant Fund
Community Trails Leadership Fund
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The grant supports the trail development community in Nova Scotia through the provision of funds for leadership, organizational development, and capacity building. The fund will help organizations offer training and educational opportunities for volunteers and the trail professionals who support them. It also helps the organizations acquire the expertise needed for specific aspects of trail projects. Applicants are expected to contribute at least fifty percent (50%) of the overall cost of the initiative, inclusive of contributions obtained from other sources (financial and in-kind). Applicants unable to contribute the expected amount (50% of overall cost) are encouraged to discuss their proposed initiative and financial situation with their local Regional Manager and/or CCTH Trails Consultant
Deadline: Ongoing applications from April 1st, until fully allocated.
Website: Community Trails Leadership Fund
Trail Engineering Assistance Grant Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The grant is designed to provide trail builders and managers with a source of funding to help them hire engineering expertise when it is required. For hiring engineers when building, maintaining, and supporting multi-use trails and non-motorized single-use to help ensure Nova Scotia’s trails are both safe for trail users and environmentally sound. Applicants are encouraged to contribute to the overall cost of the initiative. The contribution level required depends on the need and the ability of the applicant to contribute.
Example(s): Inspection and assessment of existing trail structures. Components of planning requiring an engineer (i.e. site plan for a bridge). Design of trail components which must be engineered to a specific standard. Rehabilitation plans. Other occasions when it is appropriate to seek the advice of a professional engineer.
Deadline: Ongoing applications from April 1st, until fully allocated.
Contact: or your regional CCTH manager.
Website: Engineering Assistance Grant Program