More demand, deeper questions
Each year, the Community Grants program provides a window into the Bow Valley. Not just into what organizations are doing, but into what the community needs, where pressure is building, and what people are working hard to hold together.
This year, that window is especially clear.
We received 38 eligible applications requesting more than $468,000, more than double our available funding of $200,000. The volume of requests reflects both the strength of the Bow Valley’s nonprofit sector and the growing pressure on organizations to sustain their work.
What is coming through is not just need, but persistence. Many of these organizations are doing essential work in a region where affordability, transience, and capacity constraints shape what is possible day to day.
Where this year’s grants are focused
Affordability and Food Security
A continued priority, with strong demand for programs that ensure consistent access to food while also building longer-term resilience. From food hampers to meal programs to cooking education, these initiatives are supporting both immediate needs and longer-term stability.
Capacity and Operations
More organizations are seeking support for staffing, volunteers, and systems. The need is no longer just to deliver programs; it is to sustain them. Investments in operational capacity are becoming just as critical as direct service delivery.
Stronger Collaboration
The Bow Valley Food Alliance and Bow Valley Climate Action joined as expert partners this year, strengthening both decision-making and shared learning. This reflects a broader shift toward more coordinated, informed approaches to community challenges.
How we responded
Strong projects should not stall due to limited funding.
Where possible, unfunded or partially funded initiatives were connected to donor-advised funds, creating additional pathways for community impact and enabling more ideas to move forward.
A closer look at this year’s grants
While the themes are clear, they are grounded in real projects and real work happening across the Bow Valley.
Food security initiatives like the Iyahrhe Nakoda Food Bank Society’s hamper program, the Banff Food Bank’s expanded meal preparation and cooking classes, and the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley’s outreach services are ensuring people have consistent access to food and connection.
Capacity-building efforts, including the Day Care Society of Banff’s expansion and the Biosphere Institute’s work on circular food systems, are strengthening the foundations on which organizations rely to operate.
Programs focused on connection and inclusion, such as the YWCA Banff’s Shoe Project, 2SLGBTQIA+ creative programming, and youth-focused initiatives like Nourish & Connect, are creating spaces where people can feel a sense of belonging.
Environmental and stewardship projects, from trail sustainability to solar installations, reinforce the connection between community wellbeing and the natural environment that defines this region.
Together, these projects reflect a community that is responsive, engaged, and committed to supporting one another.
"The full grants list shows where funding was allocated this year. It also highlights where the need continues to grow and where new approaches will be required."
– Jodi Gammad, Program Director
2026 Community Grants: Funded Projects
Iyahrhe Nakoda Food Bank Society— $15,000
INFBS Health & Wellness Food Hamper Program
The Day Care Society of Banff — $15,000
Expansion to Create a Third Facility
Canadian Mountain Arts Foundation (Canmore Pride Society) — $14,862
Fostering 2SLGBTQIA+ Connections Through Creative Programming
Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley— $14,000
Community Care Services: Outreach, Hot Meals, Laundry
Banff Food Bank — $14,000
Meal Preparation & Low-Cost Cooking Classes
St. George’s in the Pines — $13,000
Banff Food & Friends
The Howl Experience — $13,000
Strengthening Relationships with All Our Relations
Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley — $13,000
Harnessing the Power of Food II
Ralph Connor Memorial United Church — $13,000
Nourish & Connect (Young Adult Programming)
Canmore and Area Mountain Bike Association — $10,000
Trail Stewardship Framework
Star 6 Ranch Foundation — $7,500
Youth Empowerment Program
YWCA Banff — $7,500
The Shoe Project
Rocky Mountain Adaptive — $7,000
No Limits Adaptive Sports and Recreation - Summer Program
Rundle Memorial United Church — $5,000
Solar Panel Installation
Town of Banff (Frankie D’s Donuts) — $5,000
Community Mental Wellbeing Program
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies — $5,000
Indigenous Community Endeavors
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity — $5,000
Mînî Thnî Arts Engagement Program
Banff Public Library — $5,000
Community Care Kit Initiative
Bow Valley Christmas Spirit — $5,000
Bow Valley Christmas Spirit Campaign
Canmore Folk Music Festival — $4,000
Artist Development Cohort
Canadian Mountain Arts Foundation — $3,000
Ribbon Skirt Community Project
Pine Tree Players — $2,500
Introduction to Drag Makeup Workshop
878 Banff/Canmore Air Cadet Squadron — $2,000
15 Passenger Van Replacement
Canmore Preschool Society — $1,387
Canmore Preschool Online
Banff Sport Medicine Foundation — $7,500
Injury Prevention Outreach
The bigger picture
This is the work behind the work. It is the infrastructure of care, connection, and resilience that often goes unseen but is felt every day. When these systems are supported, communities are better able to respond to change, absorb pressure, and create space for people to contribute.
What this year makes clear is that the need is not temporary, and the response cannot be either. It calls for longer-term thinking, deeper partnerships, and a shared commitment to strengthening the foundation rather than just the outcomes.
Thank You to Our 2026 Committee
Banff Canmore Foundation extends heartfelt thanks to every volunteer who brought their insight, energy and care to the 2026 Grant Review Committee. Their thoughtful evaluations, honest questions, and deep local knowledge helped ensure BCF funding supports the projects that matter most.
