Community Environmental Fund

The Community Environmental Fund was established in 2011 to provide financial support to community environmental stewardship projects. Community members and organizations can apply for funding to carry out projects that protect, promote and enhance our natural environment.

Funding Streams

There are two funding streams: stewardship and sustainability.
Stewardship grants are for projects focused on:
  • Enhancing and restoring natural areas or landscapes
  • Acquiring ecologically significant natural areas
  • Public education/awareness initiatives related to environmental stewardship, circular economy, or climate resilience principles.
  • Research related to environmental stewardship, circular economy, or climate resilience principles.
Sustainability grants are for projects focusing on:
  • Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) and/or air emissions
  • Increasing energy conservation or efficiency
  • Reducing or diverting waste
  • Public education/awareness or research initiatives which promote long term behavioural change related to environmental sustainability, circular economy, or climate resilience principles.

2026 Grant Recipients

The successful 2026 grant recipients have projects located across rural communities and urban neighbourhoods, including:

Adventure4Change | Sewing and Textile Diversion Pilot Project – seeks funds to undertake a three-month, community-led textile diversion pilot using the existing Basadi’s Sewing program as a foundation | Amount - $6,500

RMOW Housing Services | A/C for People Experiencing Homelessness Project – seeks funds to purchase portable air conditioning units at the 139 University Avenue building, owned by Regional Housing, for tenants most impacted by heat stress | Amount - $7,000

Waterloo Wellington Science and Engineering Fair | This annual fair for students in Grades 7 to 12 seeks funds to support this event, which brings together the best of young scientific minds in our community. The 2027 fair theme will work towards Goal 15 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, “Life on Land,” and students will be expected to develop projects and displays covering various topics | Amount - $1,600

University of Waterloo – Global Environmental Measurement and Monitoring | Mapping Local Climate Risk Project – seeks funds for a demonstration project that uses air quality monitoring technology to undertake six mobile scans across seasons in Waterloo Region to produce a regional heat, air quality, and greenhouse gas emission risk map | Amount - $6,400

Sustainable Waterloo Region | Waterloo Region Climate Fest 2026 Event – seeks funds to support a one-day outdoor community environment festival in September 2026. This family-friendly event aims to bridge the gap between art, music, climate solutions, and sustainability skills | Amount - $4,000

University of Waterloo – Engineering (River Hydraulics Research Group) | UW Campus Living Lab Project – seeks funds to expand the UW Living Laboratory project by purchasing instruments and signage to measure and monitor urban drainage and stormwater management on campus | Amount - $7,000

Community Healthcaring KW | Urban Oasis: Food and Climate Project – seeks funds to expand local food production through an urban community garden and the “pay what you can” food market. The project will also deliver accessible, micro public education sessions on food insecurity, housing instability, gardening skills, and other topics | Amount - $4,000

Waterloo Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival (WWCGF) | In partnership with more than 20 organizations, the WWCGF engages more than 5,000 elementary students, 200 high school students, and 600 volunteers each year about water conservation, sustainability, and other water resource issues. The festival is seeking funds to implement a circular economy initiative to reduce waste and lower the environmental footprint of the event | Amount - $5,000

RMOW Public Health | Beat the Heat Cool Kits Project – seeks funds to purchase, assemble, and distribute cooling kits to priority populations in Waterloo Region during extreme heat events | Amount - $7,000

Brown’s Community Park Committee | Greening and Naturalizing Oakwoods Park Project – seeks funds to transform an unused playing field in Oakwoods Park through a naturalization re-visioning plan for the park | Amount - $5,000

Hospice Waterloo Region | Pollinator Garden Project – seeks funds to expand the pollinator garden that received Community Environmental Fund grant funding in 2025. The expanded scope of the garden project will include a contemplative, interactive area for grief and bereavement programs | Amount - $3,000

Forest Heights Hydrocorridor Pollinators | Hydrocorridor Native Pollinator Habitat Project – seeks funds to transform an underutilized section of hydro corridor in Forest Heights into a biodiverse native pollinator garden | Amount - $4,000

Cambridge Food Bank | Living Landscapes – Franklin Boulevard Pollinator Project – seeks funds to transform its outdoor space into a naturalized landscape and pollinator habitat, in partnership with RARE and Bee City Cambridge programs | Amount - $6,000

KW Habilitation | Raised Garden Bed Rejuvenation Project – seeks funds to rebuild accessible raised beds to grow vegetables for KW Habilitation clients, interns, volunteers, staff, and community members | Amount - $2,000

Township of Woolwich Environmental Enhancement Committee (TWEEC) | Schaner Park Naturalization Project – seeks funds to rejuvenate Schaner Park in St. Jacobs with pollinator gardens, identification labels, an extended stone dust path, and armour stone | Amount - $6,500

Township of Wellesley | Wellesley Road Side Tree Planting Project – seeks funds to expand its roadside tree planting initiative that began in 2025 in partnership with REEP Green Solutions | Amount - $5,000

Waterloo Region Community Garden Network | Soil Improvements for the Petersburg Community Garden Project – seeks funds to improve farming practices and soil quality at the Petersburg Community Garden by purchasing manure. This garden is estimated to assist 80 families in growing organic food in 2026 | Amount - $4,000

Waterloo Catholic District School Board | Mini-Forest Initiative Project – seeks funds to implement Phase 1, including soil preparation and mini-forest plantings, of a multi-year school greening project across the WCDSB community | Amount - $3,000

The successful 2025 grant recipients have projects located across rural communities and urban neighbourhoods, including:

City of Waterloo | Pollinator Working Group Wildflower Meadow Project – includes an established small wildflower plot at Bechtel Park, seeking funds to offset the costs of contractor services, equipment costs, native wildflower plugs and seeds, printing costs, refreshments and gloves for 10 planned community workdays | Amount - $5,500

RARE Charitable Research Reserve Restoration | Update of Flow Control in Bauman Creek Project seeks funds to install an improved and more durable stone cross-vane structure on Bauman Creek to regulate flow and budget water appropriately between stream and wetland features | Amount - $8,000

GreenHouse, part of United College at the University of Waterloo | Green City Building Labs Project seeks funds to offset the costs associated with venue rental, food expenses, and print material associated with their 2025-26 youth lab events that aim to advance climate solutions and green economy projects | Amount - $9,500

KW Habilitation | Our Farm Pollinator Strip Installation and Trail Maintenance Project seeks funds to install pollinator strips and maintain their 1.2 km trail at their 10.2 acre parcel of farmland in Waterloo | Amount - $3,300 

Waterloo Wellington Science and Engineering Fair | This annual fair for students in grades 7 to 12 seeks funds for signage, printing, and materials for the event as well as audio visual and venue rental costs. The 2026 Fair theme is "Affordable and Clean Energy" and students will be expected to develop projects and displays covering various topics | Amount - $1,500

Hospice Waterloo Region | Pollinator Garden Project seeks funds to purchase native pollinator plants, temporary fencing, and interpretive signage for a new Pollinator Garden situated near the main entrance of the 11-bed hospice residence and palliative care centre in the Eastbridge community in Waterloo | Amount - $7,000

University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy | Biodiversity Project seeks funds for gloves, shovels, shrubs, herbaceous plants, mulch, garbage bags, and signs to add more biodiversity and pollinator friendly plants to the landscaping around the School of Pharmacy building | Amount - $2,700

All Our Relations Charity | Environmental Plantings, Beekeeping, and Promotion Project seeks funds for pollinator plants, soil, bees, hives, and consulting costs related to plants, beekeeping, and website development to build on the biodiversity and micro-forest work on this plot of land on the outskirts of Bloomingdale | Amount - $4,000

Freshwater Conservation Canada | Ellis Creek Restoration Project seeks funds for tree planting, in-stream restoration work, invasive species management, garbage clean-ups, and bio-blitzes while engaging the community and volunteers (including the Friends of Chiligo) | Amount - $8,000

Reep Green Solutions | Township Backyard Tree Planting Program seeks funds to expand this program into the Townships using the Township of Woolwich as a pilot expansion for one year. This program has been operating since 2019 and has shown success at increasing tree canopy on private property and educating Regional residents on the benefits associated with tree planting and care, particularly as it relates to climate adaptation efforts | Amount - $9,500

Wilfrid Laurier University | Northdale Community Garden Expansion Project seeks funds for the materials necessary to build raised garden beds, improve pathways and seating, and install educational signage at the Northdale Community Garden. Laurier’s Sustainability Office is planning a significant public engagement and community outreach campaign to introduce the project and showcase the expansion’s broader impact | Amount - $6,000

Township of Wilmot | Arboretum Rehabilitation Project seeks funds to create and implement a successful succession plan for the 6-acre property tree inventory which also includes a substantial educational component. Funds are requested to assist with soil testing, tree inventory assessment, tree purchases, and planting efforts | Amount – $9,000

Waterloo Region Nature | Pollinator Roadsides 2025 Project seeks funds for the materials necessary to plant native plants on Regional roadsides to create pollinator habitat, increase diversification and restore pollinator pathways, instead of planting and maintaining turf grass along roadways | Amount - $4,000

Township of Woolwich Environmental Enhancement Committee (TWEEC) | Fighting Phrag Project – In partnership with many stakeholders in Woolwich Township, this project aims to keep the new Elmira Nature Reserve free of the invasive species phragmites and as such is seeking funding to hire a licensed contractor to treat roadsides and other areas surrounding the reserve using a variety of herbicides | Amount - $4,000

Waterloo Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival (WWCGF) | In partnership with more than 20 organizations, the WWCGF engages more than 5,000 elementary and 200 High School students and 600 volunteers per year about water conservation, sustainability, and other water resource issues. The festival is seeking funds to support the overall cost of operating the festival | Amount - $5,000

Branchton Land Trust | Old Growth Forestry Management Project seeks funds for forest management activities including retaining a forestry contractor to lay down leaning and other hazardous trees as well as materials to remove invasive species such as Garlic Mustard and European Buckthorn in the Old Growth Carolinian Forest | Amount - $3,000

Applying for the Fund 

Applications for the Community Environmental Fund are open between January and March each year. The application period for 2026 funds is now closed. Submissions for the 2027 Fund will open between January and March 2027. 

If you would like more information about the Community Environmental Fund, please contact sustainability@regionofwaterloo.ca.

Contact Us

Region of Waterloo HQ
150 Frederick St.
Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4J3
Telephone: 519-575-4400
Fax: 519-575-4481

For general inquiries:
Regionalinquiries@regionofwaterloo.ca

Other Main Region Locations

Cambridge Main Office
150 Main St.
Cambridge, ON N1R 6P9

Waterloo Main Office
99 Regina St. S.
Waterloo, ON N2J 4V3