About Sustainable Community Grants

2012 Application Deadlines: March 9 and September 7.

Grant range $500 to $5,000

Our Sustainable Community Grants support short-term projects and ongoing programs that help achieve the following community investment goals:

  • Community Renewal
  • Environmental Sustainability

Community Renewal

ACU seeks to invest in community organizations working to reduce and prevent poverty, increase the social and economic participation of marginalized members of the community, and foster economic self-reliance.

In particular, we are interested in supporting initiatives that:

  • Create economic opportunity (such as skills, employment, self-employment)
  • Build financial knowledge, skills, and confidence (such as money management training)
  • Reduce and prevent homelessness
  • Increase access to affordable quality housing
  • Build the capacity of organizations working to reduce and prevent poverty, increase the social and economic participation of marginalized people, and foster economic self-reliance.

Environmental Sustainability

ACU seeks to invest in community organizations working to create positive solutions to environmental concerns.

In particular, we are interested in supporting initiatives that:

  • Encourage action to address climate change concerns, including clean air
  • Protect and restore lakes and rivers and access to safe drinking water for all
  • Promote and build sustainable food systems and food security for all
  • Protect and restore biodiversity and threatened ecosystems
  • Encourage environmental leadership and innovation
  • Build the capacity of organizations working for positive environmental change

ACU is particularly interested in supporting organizations, programs and projects benefitting marginalized communities (such as Aboriginal people, newcomers, youth, people with disAbilities).


Who is eligible to apply?

  • Associations, societies, charities, cooperatives and social enterprises (community-owned businesses with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community).
  • Organizations whose missions and values are consistent with the mission and values of Assiniboine Credit Union.

We do NOT provide Sustainable Community Grants for:

  • Individuals or private businesses
  • Political parties and affiliated activities
  • Religious activities
  • Projects and programs taking place outside of Manitoba
  • Health care facilities, medical research, counseling or therapeutic services, institutional services or equipment
  • Fundraising events and capital campaigns (see Community Sponsorships)
  • Community events and conferences (see Community Sponsorships)

Application and selection process:

  • We accept applications twice a year. Our 2012 deadlines for applications are March 9, 2012 and September 7, 2012.
  • Applications must be typed and submitted on the 2012 Sustainable Community Grant Application Form (see below). Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Applications are assessed by a Community Grants Committee which makes funding recommendations to the Director, Community Investment.
  • Applications are assessed primarily for their strong fit with our community investment goals and their potential to make a positive contribution to social, economic, and/or environmental change.
  • With limited funding available, when there is a need to choose between strong applicants, preference is given to:
    • Active members of Assiniboine Credit Union
    • Smaller community organizations that do not have substantial operating budgets or many other sources of funding.
  • You can expect to receive notification within 10 weeks of the application deadline.
  • The grants we approve are reported to our members and to the community.

Limitations and Conditions:

  • Only one Sustainable Community Grant per year per organization is permitted.
  • Successful applicants must submit a short report on the success of the project/program:
    • Projects: within 60 days of project completion
    • Ongoing Programs: within 12 months of application deadline
  • Organizations that received funding in prior years must submit a report before being considered for funding in 2012.
  • We expect grant recipients to appropriately recognize ACU’s contribution.

Download the 2012 Sustainable Community Grant Application Form

Download the Sustainable Community Grant Reporting Form