Request for Applications: Birds Canada Community Grant

Deadline: 29-Sep-2026

The Birds Canada Community Grant supports community-led projects that generate knowledge, engage people, or take practical action to protect birds across Canada. Most grants range from $2,000 to $5,000, with applicants able to request up to $8,000 for projects implemented between 1 January and 31 December 2027.

About the Birds Canada Community Grant

The Birds Canada Community Grant empowers local organizations and communities to contribute directly to bird conservation. The program is funded through the support of participants in the Birds Canada Birdathon. It invests these contributions in projects that increase knowledge about birds, mobilize communities, and deliver meaningful conservation outcomes. A total funding pool of up to $22,500 is available for all selected projects. Purpose of the Grant

The Community Grant aims to:

- Support community-led bird conservation. - Generate and share knowledge about birds. - Increase public participation in bird protection. - Strengthen local conservation networks. - Encourage practical action based on evidence. - Support smaller organizations with limited access to funding. - Engage diverse communities in bird conservation. - Improve habitats and reduce threats to birds. - Build long-term community stewardship. - Contribute to bird conservation across Canada. Funding Information

The available funding includes:

- Total funding pool: Up to $22,500.

- Typical grant amount: Between $2,000 and $5,000.

- Maximum request: $8,000.

- Project period: 1 January to 31 December 2027.

- Application limit: One application per organization.

Applicants should request an amount proportionate to their proposed activities, organizational capacity, expected outcomes, and project duration. Project Objectives Eligible projects must have a clear focus on birds and align with at least one of three objectives: - Uncover knowledge. - Engage people. - Take conservation action. Projects may address more than one objective if the activities and expected results are clearly connected. Uncover Knowledge Projects under this objective should collect, share, or analyze information that can support bird conservation.

Relevant activities may include:

- Community bird surveys. - Monitoring bird populations. - Identifying important habitats. - Documenting bird migration. - Recording breeding activity. - Mapping local bird distribution. - Monitoring threats to birds. - Analyzing community-science data. - Sharing local or Indigenous knowledge. - Developing accessible conservation resources. - Evaluating the outcomes of conservation activities. Applicants should explain how the information will be collected, managed, shared, and used to improve bird conservation. Engage People Projects under this objective should bring people together to learn about birds and champion their protection.

Possible activities include:

- Community bird walks. - Public workshops. - Volunteer training. - Youth birding programs. - School-based education. - Community-science activities. - Bird conservation campaigns. - Indigenous-led cultural and educational initiatives. - Accessible birding activities. - Events connecting residents with local habitats. - Training community bird ambassadors. - Public awareness and outreach. Engagement should lead to increased knowledge, participation, advocacy, stewardship, or practical conservation behaviour. Take Conservation Action Projects under this objective should apply existing knowledge to tangible bird conservation activities.

Potential projects may include:

- Bird-habitat restoration. - Native plant establishment. - Removal of invasive species. - Protection of nesting or breeding areas. - Reduction of bird-window collisions. - Community stewardship initiatives. - Installation of appropriate nesting structures. - Shorebird or grassland bird protection. - Bird-friendly property improvements. - Conservation planning. - Local threat-reduction initiatives. - Restoration of stopover or feeding habitats. Projects should identify the bird species, habitats, or threats being addressed and define measurable conservation results. Who Is Eligible? Applicants must be based in Canada.

Eligible applicants include:

- Registered charities. - Non-profit organizations. - Community groups. - Indigenous Nations. - Indigenous governments. - Indigenous communities. - Indigenous organizations. - Educational institutions. Applicants should demonstrate the ability to manage the proposed project, use grant funding responsibly, and complete activities during 2027. Priority Applicants The program prioritizes smaller organizations with limited access to other funding opportunities.

Priority applicants may include:

- Volunteer-led groups. - Small local charities. - Rural or remote organizations. - Community-based conservation groups. - Indigenous-led organizations. - Emerging environmental organizations. - Groups serving underserved communities. - Organizations with limited fundraising capacity. Applicants should clearly describe their organizational size, available resources, and why this funding is important to their work. Who Is Not Eligible? The following applicants are not eligible: - For-profit organizations. - Municipal governments. - Provincial or territorial governments. - Federal government bodies. - Other government bodies at any level. - Private individuals. - Post-secondary students undertaking research projects. Post-secondary educational institutions may be eligible, but individual students seeking funding for academic research projects cannot apply. Geographic Eligibility Applicants and projects must be based in Canada.

Projects may take place in:

- Urban communities. - Rural areas. - Indigenous territories and communities. - Coastal habitats. - Forests. - Grasslands. - Wetlands. - Agricultural landscapes. - Northern and remote regions. - School or educational settings. - Important migration, nesting, feeding, or wintering areas. Applicants should provide a clea