General
Applications
Park Groups
Events
Funds

General

1. How do I find out more information?

A : On February 9, Park People hosted a Q&A webinar for grant applicants. Watch the webinar recording.

If you were unable to join us for those calls, please email your questions to boursestdppgrants@parkpeople.ca and a Park People staff member will be more than happy to answer them. For questions about starting your own park group please check out our “How to Start a Park Group” page on the Park People website.

Also have a look at the 2018 TD Park People Grant recipients

2. How are decisions made?

A: Decisions will be made by a team of reviewers comprised of Park People staff in consultation with TD and our local community partners from each municipality.

Applications will be based on the following criteria:

Strength of the application - past event experience, compelling argument describing the proposed events
Originality of the event ideas - aiming for many different types of events in parks
Geographic diversity - representation of many neighbourhoods in each city
How many people the events aim to reach
Evidence of consideration of Inclusion/accessibility
Environmental stewardship - groups should incorporate an environmental care or protection component to their events or event activities

While meeting any or all of these criteria will not guarantee that your group will be awarded a grant, these are some of the qualities that we are looking for in each application.

3. What counts as a park or green space?

A: Park People defines parks and green spaces as public spaces readily accessible to the public. Examples of parks or green spaces include city parks, social housing landscapes and other urban green spaces that are publicly accessible. Private property or green spaces that are not open to the public are not eligible for the grant however if you have questions about your park or green space, please get in touch with us to confirm eligibility.

4. How can our events promote sustainability and stewardship?

A: Your event can help enhance your park or green space by including education around the value of enhancing green spaces or stewardship activities (park cleanups, planting, gardening). It can also help to raise awareness and increase attendance at other stewardship related events hosted by the group. For example, a summer BBQ could aim to gather email addresses and increase membership in your group, ensuring there are lots of helping hands for events focused on taking care of the greenspace later on.

5. How do we get a park permit and insurance?

A: Each municipality has a different process for obtaining permits and insurance requirements for different events. Before applying to the TD Park People Grant, we strongly suggest that you review the insurance requirements and park permit application process for your city to ensure that your events comply with their regulations. If you have questions on how to obtain insurance for your event or insurance rates, please contact the parks department of your municipality for more information. Many municipalities offer event insurance or can direct you to an insurance provider. Check out if your group falls within the geographic granting area in question #15 of the FAQ.

Applications

6. How much time will the application process take? What information do you ask for?

A: The 10-question application form should take about 20-30 minutes to complete once you've planned out your events. Here is a preview of the questions:

Contact information
Description of your group/organization
Description of your past experiences hosting community events in parks and green spaces
If you are partnering with other groups or organizations, please list them and briefly describe their role
Briefly describe the three events you would like to host
What efforts will you make to ensure your events are inclusive and accessible?
What efforts will you make to ensure these events promote environmental sustainability and foster stewardship of the park’s green spaces?
What significance will these events have for your community?
Provide a high-level budget
List any other sources of funding, confirmed or expected.

To access the application form, register with the Park People network or login using your existing username and password.

7. When are applications due?

A: 2019 applications are now closed.

8. When will we hear about the success of our application?

A: Successful applicants will be notified in early April 2019. We will be providing feedback opportunities for applicants after this time as well.

9. How do I submit a digital form with a signature?

A: You can print off the signature page, sign it, scan and send it back to us as a separate document.

10. Can we submit our application in French?

A: Mais oui! Find our French application and eligibility requirements here (insert hyperlink)

Park Groups

11. Are small informal groups eligible to receive the grant?

A: Yes, grassroots community groups, and small community-based organizations are eligible. Community groups interested in applying to the grant are not required to have a trustee or have charitable status. In the case of smaller or newly formed groups who do not have event planning experience, we strongly suggest collaborating with a local organization that does. Grassroots community groups representing diverse communities or neighborhoods are especially encouraged to apply.

12. If we don’t have non-profit status, do we need to find a group with non-profit status to be our sponsor?

A: No. You do not need non-profit or charitable status to apply. Informal grassroots groups are welcome to apply.

13. We are a new group and we are partnering with an existing organization to host our events. Are we eligible?

A: Yes. We encourage new groups to apply and we encourage partnerships with other organizations who can provide support for your events.

14. Are BIA’s allowed to apply?

A: Yes BIA's are eligible to apply to the grant so long as the events meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the guidelines section of the grants page.

15. Are municipalities allowed to apply?

A: No, municipalities are not eligible to apply. The grant is aimed at grassroots community groups that include, but are not limited to: volunteer-based park groups, local agencies, resident associations, and not-for-profit groups active in their local parks. However, partnerships between any or all of the above and a municipality will be accepted, as long as the application is submitted by the group, not the municipality.

16. We are not sure if our group’s geographic location is included in one of the seven areas listed. Can you please clarify?

A: If you are not sure if your group falls within the program’s geographic granting areas, please check out the maps linked below, or email us at boursestdppgrants@parkpeople.ca.

Greater Toronto Area: (map)
Montreal: (map)
Metro Vancouver (map)
Edmonton: (map--)
Calgary: (map)
Halifax, (map)
Ottawa, (map)

17. If our group is located outside of the seven geographic areas, can we still apply for the grant?

A: Only groups based in the selected seven cities are eligible to apply. We hope to expand the program in the future to include more cities across Canada. To keep up to date with changes to the TD Park People Grant program or other funding opportunities, sign up for our newsletter or join the Park People Network.

18. We received a TD Park People Grant last year. Are we eligible to apply this year?

A: Yes. However, we would like to support as many new community groups as possible, so in cases of comparable applications, preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received a grant. If you did receive a 2018 grant, we will be looking for new ideas and events then what was previously funded.

Events

19. Can we host events in different parks around the city?

A: Yes. The three events can be held in multiple locations in the city, or in the same location.

20. Can we target our events to specific communities?

A: You are welcome to focus your event theme or outreach efforts in specific communities as long as the event remains open to everyone.

21. We would like to do a three-part event series that takes places over the spring, summer and fall. Would this count as one or three events?

A: It would count as three events.

22. Can our three events take place in one month?

A: Yes.

23. What kind of events will this grant fund?

A: We hope that these events will help bring community members together and provide people with the opportunity to have fun and meet their neighbors. For example, your group could host a farmer’s market, cleanup, nature walk, movie night or a pumpkin parade. You can find more ideas and guides on how to host events on Park People’s resources page and our parks group and events page.

24. If we have one event that is taking place in two parks (ie an arts festival with two locations), do we count this as one single event or two?

A: If you have a larger festival or event that takes place in multiple locations, you can separate each location as a different event. Keep in mind we look for creativity and community engagement in each of your events.

25. Is the grant for providing funding for new park events or can we apply for events that we are currently running? Do all three events have to also be new or can the three events be a combination of new and currently running events?

A: This grant was created to support community led groups animate their local city parks through new or existing parks programming, so groups can apply for programming that they are currently running or a combination of new and old events, or all new events

Funds

26. Can we use the funds for transportation to an event, for example bus tickets?

A: Yes.

27. How many grants will be awarded?

A: 75 grants in total across the seven geographic areas.

28. Can I combine this funding with funding from other sources?

A: Yes! Money received from this grant can be combined with other sources of funding.

29. Is $2000 the amount per event or the amount of the grant in total?

A: If successful, you will receive $2000 in total, to be spread across your three events.

30. If our grant application is successful when will we receive the grant money?

A: Cheques for the events will be mailed to successful applicants in mid-April at around the same time that all applicants will be notified about the status of their application.

31. If we have previously received a TD Friends of the Environment grant, can we apply to TD Park People Grants?

A. Yes. Receiving TD Friends of the Environment Grants does not make a group ineligible for TD Park People Grants, however, the scope of the grants are different. The TD Park People Grants are intended for grassroots community groups that include, but are not limited to, volunteer-based park groups, local agencies, resident associations, not-for-profit groups active in their local parks. For more information about TD FEF Grants, click here.

2019 applications are now closed.

Park People Grants 2019