The Greenbelt Foundation has announced a call for proposals for its grant program.

The Funding Program invests in projects that protect the Greenbelt and increase environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits, enhance the health of the Greenbelt’s systems, support farmers and foster a sustainable rural economy. Projects that leverage and enhance the Greenbelt to address the cumulative impacts of the pandemic, climate change and urban development pressures are a priority.

In 2021, the Foundation has two funding streams of focus for its Funding Program:

• Prosperous Greenbelt: Supporting Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Vitality in the Greenbelt. Objectives:
  • Priority Objectives:
    • Increase visits to the Greenbelt to support pandemic recovery by facilitating COVID-safe visits to the Greenbelt.
    • Enhance Greenbelt tourism partnerships and visitor experiences including nature trails such as the Oak Ridges Trail, agri-food and culinary destinations and multi-faceted adventures.
  • General Objectives:
    • Support the Greenbelt’s agriculture, ecological restoration, and outdoor recreation economies. 
    • Support Indigenous-led projects that align with the funding stream, including collaborations, convening activities and/or learning frameworks to build Indigenous relationships across the region. 
    • Increase public awareness of the Greenbelt’s contribution to the rural economy, jobs, community health and well-being.
• Resilient Greenbelt: Working with Nature to Increase Public Benefits from Ontario’s Greenbelt and Regional Resiliency. Objectives:
  • Priority Objectives:
    • Native tree, shrub and other vegetative plantings to increase natural cover. 
    • Maintaining and enhancing natural infrastructure and climate resilience and advancing municipal natural asset management.
  • General Objectives:
    • Increase public and stakeholder awareness of the importance of the Greenbelt, including the effectiveness of the Greenbelt Plan, needed approaches to achieve its vision and goals and overall benefits to communities today and under future climate scenarios; 
    • Protect, maintain and enhance Greenbelt systems, enhancing connectivity and the unique values and features of the Protected Countryside Niagara Escarpment, Oak Ridges Moraine, and Urban River Valleys; 
    • Support Indigenous leadership and initiatives to preserve nature across the region; 
    • Maintain and protect the ecological and hydrological health of the Greenbelt’s agricultural soils.

Eligibility Criteria

Organizations can apply individually or in collaboration with others. Lead applicants must be a registered charity or non-profit organization.

For more information, visit Greenbelt Foundation.