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Lift 360 Foundation’s Climate & Social Resilience Fund provides crucial seed funding and mentorship to community and climate projects. As you know our fund supports community leaders, including youth, who have innovative project ideas but may lack the necessary resources to bring them to fruition.

We know from experience the importance of seed funding when starting a new social venture. The initial step can be challenging, but with the help of our Fund, the barrier is removed, and ideas can flourish. Our goal is to support community projects across the country that focus on creating sustainable local solutions for social and environmental challenges.

Our Fund works with our Lift 360 program to provide mentorship to successful candidates, ensuring they have the support and guidance in project planning and organizational development they need to take their projects to the next level. 

New awards will be shared as they become available.

View our website or send us a message for other opportunities for support.

*Past Awards*

Lift 360 Climate Accelerator

Young people are on the forefront of local climate solutions and Lift 360 Foundation is supporting them to succeed.

Our Climate Accelerator will provide training and mentorship to budding community leaders in Ontario, along with an award of up to $500 towards expenses to help get your project started or growing.

We lead when we gather, plan, prepare, use data, advocate, and educate to make a difference. We know that an informed and connected community is more socially resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Who can apply: 

Youth 25 and under in Ontario with grassroots organizations, projects, collectives, rural or urban. Must be able to commit to your project goals and two to four training and mentorship meetings.

We encourage applications from First Nations, Inuit and Métis People Indigenous Peoples, Northern and rural projects, Black, newcomer and low income communities. If your project is related but doesn’t fit this Mini-Grant and you think you are not eligible, feel free to send us a message and we can see how Lift 360 may otherwise support.

To apply: 

Write a couple paragraphs about your group/project and your initiative. Include: how the project will aim to meet your objectives; one or two possible project challenges; project expenses up to $500; and if/how your project can improve climate justice/equity, and social resilience (community trust, leadership, participation, learning).

Email this information with Accelerator in the subject line, by July 18, 2024, to: writeus@lift360.ca 

Selection will be made by the end of July. Applications will not be shared beyond the committee without your permission. 

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Project Examples

- Costs for community meetings to develop a local accessibility plan for forest fire evacuations

- Trees and shrubs for a community greening and cooling project

- Supplies for a climate public art project for youth or inter-generational

- Printing costs to bring a green energy education project to two more communities

- Food for community picnics to start connecting and advocating on climate impacts in your neighbourhood 

Atlantic Canada Climate Adaptation Mini-Grant

The climate crisis has arrived; related social and ecological challenges overlay extra challenges. While we mitigate to prevent the worst of climate change, we must also adapt best we can as we prepare our communities. Atlantic Canada and the traditional territories of the Inuit, Innu, Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and Beothuk Peoples will be more affected by strong storms, forest fires and flooding, among other challenges.

We can use social resilience to get ready for the local impacts of these challenges - building networks with neighbours and identifying opportunities to work together to create neighbourhood-level plans and projects for emergency preparedness, training, advocacy and community development. This is particularly important in communities facing poverty, marginalization and oppression, where climate impacts can be felt worse, and plans are not developed in collaboration with communities.

The Atlantic Canada Climate Adaptation Mini-Grant will award up to $1000 along with opportunities for mentorship, learning and networking, for a grassroots project or organization that builds social resilience at the local level in the face of climate and related challenges. Examples of projects are listed below. 

Who can apply: 

Youth, grassroots organizations, collectives, or small non-profits urban or rural. We encourage applications from youth under 30, First Nations, Inuit and Métis People Indigenous Peoples, Northern and rural projects, Black, and  newcomer communities. If your project is related but doesn’t fit this Mini-Grant, feel free to send us a message and we can see how Lift 360 may otherwise support it.

To apply: 

Write a couple paragraphs about your group and your initiative. Include how the project will aim to meet your objectives, and include social resilience indicators, such as how your project can build community trust, leadership, sense of community, learning, or participation, etc. Let us know how the mini-grant will be used, and other ways we can support your project development (feel free to fill out our survey). You may include any links or media.

Email your one page attachment with Award in the subject line by October 31 to: writeus@lift360.ca  

Selection will be made by a committee by November 24. Applications will not be shared beyond the committee without your permission. 

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Project Examples

- Costs to develop a plan to increase accessibility for elderly people and people with disabilities or psychological challenges during an evacuation

- A community picnic to start a discussion on climate change impacts with neighbours in social housing 

- Piloting and distributing a shelter-in-place emergency kit to those who need it

- Outreach materials to advocate for a municipal climate response plan

- Supplies for a climate public art project for youth or inter-generational

- Space rental, supplies and facilitator cost for a meeting to create a resilience map showing community assets and social vulnerability to address