Thank you to everyone who participated in the Community Grants Review last year.

As we prepare to open applications for the 2027 grant cycle later this fall, we are sharing a summary of the review findings and the first improvements being introduced in response to community feedback.

More than 90 community organizations, grant recipients, applicants, volunteer reviewers, and City staff shared their experiences through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Your input informed an independent review of the City's Community Grants Program, the findings of which were presented to Council in August 2025.

What we learned

The review confirmed that Kitchener's Community Grants Program is highly valued and provides important support to community organizations. It also identified opportunities to improve the application experience, increase transparency, and reduce barriers for organizations seeking funding.

Key themes included:

• Simplifying the Tier 2 application process.
• Providing clearer information about eligibility, funding amounts, and application requirements.
• Increasing transparency about how applications are evaluated and funding decisions are made.
• Reducing barriers for smaller, newer, and equity-deserving organizations.
• Providing more feedback to applicants.

What's changing for 2027

Based on feedback received through the review, several improvements will be introduced for the 2027 Community Grants Program. These include:

• Shorter, simpler application forms.
• Clearer application instructions and guidance.
• Eligibility checker
• More visible eligibility guidelines to help organizations determine whether they qualify before applying.
• A published overview of how applications are reviewed and evaluated.
• Suggested maximum request amounts to help applicants better understand typical funding levels.

Looking ahead

The review also identified broader opportunities to strengthen the Community Grants Program in areas such as strategic alignment, transparency, equity, and program design.

The improvements above are being introduced for the 2027 grant cycle as the first phase of this work. Additional opportunities will continue to be evaluated and considered over time, recognizing that some changes are more complex and may require further analysis, consultation, and policy discussion before decisions are made.

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