Call for Proposals: Sask Lotteries Community Grant Program (Canada)

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The Sask Lotteries Community Grant Program supports non-profit, volunteer-led organizations in developing and delivering sport, culture, and recreation programs that respond to local community needs across Saskatchewan. The programme helps communities provide meaningful opportunities for residents of different ages and backgrounds. Supported activities can range from youth beading programmes and music camps to senior fitness classes and community sporting events. By investing in local initiatives, the programme promotes community participation, well-being, inclusion, and access to high-quality sport, cultural, and recreational activities.

About the Sask Lotteries Community Grant Program

The Sask Lotteries Community Grant Program has a longstanding tradition of supporting community-based sport, culture, and recreation initiatives. The programme is designed to empower local organizations to develop activities that reflect the specific needs and interests of their communities. Funding can help organizations create opportunities for residents to participate in activities that promote: - Physical activity and fitness. - Recreation. - Arts and culture. - Community participation. - Social engagement. - Youth development. - Well-being. - Inclusive community programming. What Types of Activities Are Supported? The programme supports a broad range of sport, culture, and recreation activities. Examples of activities supported through community grants include: - Youth beading programmes. - Music camps. - Senior fitness classes. - Community sporting events. - Recreational programmes. - Cultural activities. - Community-based sport initiatives. - Other volunteer-led activities responding to local needs. The programme recognizes that communities have different priorities and encourages initiatives that reflect local circumstances. Who Can Apply? The programme operates through eligible community-level authorities that distribute funding to local non-profit groups.

Eligible applicants include:

- Municipal governments. - First Nation communities. - Northern settlements. These eligible applicants then distribute grant funds to local non-profit groups to support community sport, culture, and recreation programmes. Support for Local Non-Profit Organizations Local non-profit organizations are the primary beneficiaries of the community funding distributed through eligible municipalities, First Nation communities, and northern settlements. Volunteer-led groups can use the funding to develop and deliver activities that provide meaningful opportunities for local residents. The programme therefore supports community organizations that may rely heavily on volunteers to organize and deliver their activities. How Much Funding Is Available? Community Grants are allocated based on population.

The minimum grant amounts are:

- $250 for southern communities. - $500 for northern communities. The actual amount available to a community is determined through the programme’s population-based allocation approach. Equity and Participation Requirement When a grant exceeds $2,000, a portion of the funding must be dedicated to increasing participation among designated equity groups. The programme identifies the following groups: - Indigenous people. - Newcomers. - Seniors. - Women. - Single-parent families. - Persons living with disabilities. - People facing financial instability. This requirement is intended to ensure that community programming reaches residents who may face barriers to participation. How Can Organizations Meet the Equity Requirement? The participation requirement can be addressed in different ways.

Communities may:

- Promote greater diversity within their regular programming. - Develop targeted programmes specifically for equity groups. - Create activities designed to reduce barriers to participation. - Encourage greater involvement of underrepresented residents in existing activities. This provides communities with flexibility to determine how best to increase participation among the identified groups. Supporting Indigenous Participation Indigenous people are among the equity groups identified by the programme. Community organizations can address this priority by promoting inclusive participation in existing activities or developing targeted programmes that respond to the interests and needs of Indigenous community members. Supporting Newcomers Newcomers are also identified as an equity group. Community programmes can encourage newcomer participation by creating welcoming and accessible opportunities to engage in sport, culture, and recreation activities. Supporting Seniors Seniors are included among the equity groups that communities are encouraged to engage. Activities such as fitness classes and other recreation programmes can provide opportunities for older residents to remain active and socially connected. Supporting Women and Single-Parent Families Women and single-parent families are also included among the programme’s equity groups. Community organizations can increase participation by ensuring that regular activities are accessible and welcoming or by creating targeted initiatives that address participation barriers. Supporting Persons Living With Disabilities Persons living with disabilities are included among the equity groups targeted by the programme. Organizations can consider accessibility and inclusive participation when designing sport, culture, and recreation programmes. Supporting People Facing Financial Instability People experiencing financial instability are another priority group under the participation requirement for grants exceeding $2,000. Community organizations can develop approaches that make participation more accessible to residents who may otherwise face financial barriers. Inter-Community Cooperation The programme encourages cooperation between communities to maximize access to high-quality sport, culture, and recreation opportunities. Inter-community cooper