To be eligible, each proposed project must be managed by, or under the direction of a community group or agency which is incorporated (or in the process of becoming incorporated) as a non-profit society in Alberta; or operating under the administrative jurisdiction of a school division or municipality.

Agencies are required to complete a separate application for each program/project. 

To qualify for support under this program, the proposed project shall:

• Promote, encourage, and facilitate volunteerism and the use of volunteers;
• Be of a preventive nature in order to:
• Enhance, strengthen, and stabilize family and community life,
• Improve the ability of persons to identify and act on their own social needs,
• Help avert family or community social breakdown,If early symptoms of a social breakdown appear, help prevent the development of a crisis that may require major intervention or rehabilitative measures.
• Provide services on the basis of clearly identified needs, with clearly defined goals that align with primary prevention priorities as noted in the application.

Types of Support

Special Project Grant Applications - for projects that are short-term and not part of the operational costs of the organization. Projects requests in this category tend to be for special events or single endeavors, rather than ongoing services. They should be less than 12 months in duration and not require permanent staff. Maximum amount available is $500.00 per project. Please request a special project application form.

Operating Grant Applications - for projects or programs that entail ongoing operational costs. Project requests in this category tend to be for offsetting deficits in the base/operating costs of providing an existing service.

Operating Grant Application Process

The application and funding process is as follows:

• The call for grant applications opens, and applicants have until the specified deadline to submit the required application materials.
• The FCSS Manager conducts a review of the applications and may request additional information if necessary.
• Applications are then reviewed by the FCSS Advisory Board.
• Agency presentations to the FCSS Advisory Board will be scheduled for October or November.
• County Council makes the final decision on funding.
• The FCSS Manager informs applicants about the status of their funding requests.
• If funding is granted, a funding agreement will be created and sent for signature.
• Grant checks will be issued before March 31, of the budget year. 
• Outcome reporting due to funder on or before February 28
• Financial reports due on or before March 31 

Normally the Grant Application process takes place in the time period from June to December each year so that grants are issued at the beginning of the municipality’s financial (calendar) year.

∗Applicants should note that the grant approval process might be delayed during municipal election years.

Each application must be accompanied by:

• Each application must be accompanied by:
• Summary of the program on Agency letterhead
• Current certificate of Incorporation as a Society
• Current list of Board member names (Name only as per F.O.I.P. legislation)
• Current bylaws of the organization
• Complete audited financial statements from the previous financial year.
• Budget for the project for next (1) year
• Completed Program Logic Model

With changes to FCSS reporting coming in 2026, all agencies approved for funding are required to work with FCSS Administration in fall 2025 to align their outcome reporting questions with the new provincial requirements.

These changes will include the following mandatory reporting questions:

• Overall, I am satisfied with this program/service.

• Overall, I found this program/service easy to access.

• The number of unique volunteers contributing to your program.

• The total number of volunteer hours.

• The number of times a participant/client accessed or participated in your program/service.

• The number of referrals provided by your program.

• One to three outcome survey questions selected from the provincial measures bank (limited options will be available).

• Anecdotal stories to highlight the impact your program is having.