Community Grants
The Free to Play initiative funds Edmonton-area projects that create safe, inclusive, and imaginative outdoor play opportunities for children, supporting healthy development and social connection.
Funder: Edmonton Community Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Round 1 full application) | October 2027 (Round 2 invitation-only)
Funding Amounts: $15,000–$100,000 per project; total pool $766,000 for 2026–2027; project completion by 2028
Summary: Supports Greater Edmonton charities and non-profits to create meaningful outdoor play opportunities for children through the Free to Play initiative.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity; dates and details may shift—check program page for updates.
Description
The Edmonton Community Foundation’s Free to Play initiative is a national grant program aimed at empowering charities and non-profits in the Greater Edmonton Area to create and expand opportunities for outdoor play for children. The program supports projects fostering safe, imaginative, and inclusive outdoor environments, encouraging kids to move, explore, and build social connections. Funded activities may include nature-based programming, open-ended adventures, cultural play traditions, reimagining underused spaces, and caregiver involvement. The initiative is part of a national effort to remove barriers to outdoor play and promote healthy childhood development.
