Make Your Mark

Not-for-profit organizations in the City of Lethbridge can apply for a Make Your Mark: One-Time Grant Funding Opportunity intended to support in completing Capital projects for eligible facilities. The purpose of this one-time grant opportunity is to provide and prioritize not-for-profit organizations in the capital development of their community facilities.

Review the Make Your Mark Application Guide below for a complete list of eligibility requirements, funding levels and grant requirements.

Make Your Mark Application Guide

Eligibility Criteria

Want to know if your project is eligible for the Make Your Mark grant? Check out the eligibility criteria below.

Organizations

Eligible organizations include not-for-profit community organizations or public institutions that have a primary mandate to provide sports, recreation, arts, cultural, family, economic development, environmental, tourism, and/or community services. Organizations must have been legally registered and in good standing under one of the following:

Societies Act of Alberta
Companies Act of Alberta, Part 9 (Companies with objectives other than the acquisition of gain)
Business Corporations Act of Alberta, Part 21
Special Act of the Parliament of Canada (i.e., service club)
Special Act of the Alberta Legislature

Facilities

Indoor and outdoor facilities, technology and major equipment used for:

Sports and recreation
Arts and culture
Family, economic development, environmental, tourism and/or community services

The facility must be located within Lethbridge city boundaries. Facilities must be under the organization’s jurisdiction or have written approval from the owner and be accessible to the general public through land ownership, long-term lease (minimum of five years) or another instrument of occupation.

Projects

Facility expansion - Expansion of an existing facility beyond the existing footprint.

Retrofit existing facility space - Redevelop existing space for a new use or purpose.

Renovate existing facility space - Remodel or restore condition of space.

Facility technology upgrade - Upgrade facility mechanical, security and other systems.

Major equipment - Replacement or addition of major equipment supporting program and maintenance programs and services which have a lifespan of five years or greater.

Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E)- Movable furniture, fixtures, or other equipment which have no permanent connection to the structure of a building (I.e.- desks, chairs, computers, electronic equipment, etc.). FF&E expenses are restricted to 10% of eligible project budget, unless otherwise authorized in writing by Administration.

Types of Funding and Eligibility

Approved applications for the Make Your Mark (MYM) grant will be funded at a rate of 100% of actual total project expenditures.
The maximum amount of MYM contribution for capital projects is $50,000 of approved eligible costs, per project.
Approved applications with a project budget exceeding awarded MYM funding must demonstrate secured funding for the balance of the project not funded by MYM, prior to initial disbursement.
Applicants are not permitted to submit more than two (2) MYM applications, each of which must be for a unique project.
This includes not applying to both MYM and CCPG for the same project.
Unspent grant funds or issued grant funds that are expended in an ineligible manner must be returned to the City of Lethbridge.

View our Make Your Mark Grant Application Guide to learn more about:

One-Time funding obligations, responsibilities and definitions.
Project accounting after receiving funding installments.
The types of organizational expenses that are eligible for funding.

Approval Process

Due to limited funds, volume and high competitiveness of applications, it is possible that not all applicants that meet the eligibility criteria will receive grant funding. We will review all applications and allocate funding based on evaluation criteria scoring for each application. We give priority consideration to applications for projects which change or increase the services of the organization and community (i.e., facility addition or facility retrofit).

We will notify you of our decision within six weeks after the application deadline. Approved applicants will receive a letter outlining the approved grant amount and obligations following verification of matching funds. Successful applicants will also be required to enter into a grant funding agreement with the City before funds are released.

Apply now

Applications for Make Your Mark Grant are now open and will close on March 31, 2025.

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