Civic Engagement for Social Change Initiatives Grant Program

Civic Engagement for Social Change Initiatives Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Catherine Donnelly Foundation
Last Updated: March 17, 2026

Summary

The Civic Engagement for Social Change Initiatives Grant Program, managed by the Catherine Donnelly Foundation, aims to foster active citizenship and community transformation through innovative adult education. It supports projects that empower marginalized groups to address social issues like racism and poverty by developing critical skills and strategies for change. This initiative seeks to create a more just and sustainable society in Canada through participatory civic engagement and popular education processes.

Overview

NOTE: Potential applicants are strongly advised to contact the Foundation office prior to submitting a Letter of Inquiry. If you are successful with the Letter of Inquiry submission you will be invited to submit a full application through our on-line application portal. Our Vision The Catherine Donnelly Foundation's vision is to collaborate with others to create a world that respects and reverences creation; a world where all have a voice and can live with dignity to realize their full potential, a world that is open to transformation and one that seeks justice, peace and respect for all. Our Mission Committed to Gospel values, the Foundation strives to transform the lives of those most in need by proactively supporting creative initiatives in the areas of housing, adult education, and the environment. Civic Engagement for Social Change Initiatives (formerly known as our Adult Education stream) Civic engagement for social change fosters active citizenship and personal and community transformation through adult education or popular education processes to strengthen democracy and promote a more inclusive, just and sustainable society. Civic Engagement Learning Values & Objectives The Catherine Donnelly Foundation takes a proactive approach to civic engagement, viewing it as an important tool to address the most pressing social, environmental, cultural and community development problems and concerns today. We are committed to supporting projects that promote active citizenship, democracy, personal and social transformation by fostering the development of critical consciousness and skills required to promote a more just, equitable and sustainable society in Canada. The Foundation will support projects that use civic engagement and popular education processes to: Facilitate marginalized people to collectively name the racism, poverty, violence or other forms of exclusion and oppression they experience.Engage marginalized groups, and allies, in developing: critical analysis of the social, political and/or economic roots of problems they experience; recognizing and building on their group’s strengths; and developing strategies to achieve change.Develop leadership, communication and organizational skills that allow marginalized people and allies to initiate and accomplish action for change.Involve groups in participatory research to develop action strategies. We look for participatory civic engagement and popular education processes in which: Everyone teaches, everyone learns;Starts with the experience of the group that will be engaged in the program;Involves a high level of participation and critical dialogue;Involves reflection & action (praxis);Leads to action for change – from new knowledge, attitudes, skills.For examples of previously funded projects, visit our recipient directory here.The Catherine Donnelly Foundation builds on the popular education traditions of Fr. Moses Coady (coady.stfx.ca/coady/movement), Paulo Freire (www.freire.org), and Myles Horton (highlandercenter.org).The Foundation supports the significant role that faith can have in motivating and sustaining social action for change. As a result, it will also consider projects that draw upon religious and spiritual traditions in support of civic engagement for social change such as work for peace, human rights, equity, and social justice. Such projects could take place within a specific faith community, multi-faith or secular context.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grant applicants to the Catherine Donnelly Foundation must be Canadian registered charities or qualified donees under Canadian Revenue Agency guidelines. Non-profit groups working in partnership with a Canadian sponsoring charitable organization or a qualified donee can also apply.Grant applicants to the Catherine Donnelly Foundation must be Canadian registered charities or qualified donees under Canadian Revenue Agency guidelines. Non-profit groups working in partnership with a Canadian sponsoring charitable organization or a qualified donee can also apply.

Ineligibility

The Catherine Donnelly Foundation will not consider funding the following:Retroactive fundingFundraising campaignsOperating deficitsProjects outside of CanadaEmergency appealsPurely commercial recordings or film projectsPlease note that the Catherine Donnelly Foundation does NOT fund:Children and youth (under 18) literacy/educational programsThe Foundation also does NOT fund projects that solely focus on:Basic numeracy, reading and writing skillsGroup or individual counselingJob skills training or vocational training (including on the job learning)