Take Action Grants

Grants have been issued by Calgary Dollars (C$) since it began circulating complementary currency in 1996. These grants are designated for social and environmental projects in Calgary. Grants help educate Calgarians about the role of complementary currency, expand the amount of C$ in circulation, educate Calgarians about social and environmental issues in our city, and provide much-needed funds to initiatives.

Since 2006, Canadian dollars were contributed to match the Calgary Dollars by The Calgary Foundation.

Please use this handbill to help you participate in the conversation.

How Does It Work?

Please watch this video overview.

Grants applications are due the 15th of the month. Up to $2000 is granted in 50% Calgary Dollars and 50% Federal Dollars. Applicants present their application at the monthly Calgary Dollars Market where the final decision is made. For those attending the Market, your vote counts! On-line voting is also part of the process; see below.

To apply, please fill out the short application form (available at the top of this page) and email to erin@arusha.org. Contact the office with questions or to discuss your project idea. Grants are awarded based on:

• Project fits with Arusha's mandate to move social and environmental justice forward in Calgary.
• Past experience with the project work.
• Number of community collaborations included in the work.
• The demonstrated ability to use C$ and community resources.
• The input of C$ participants and community.
• The potential long term impacts of the issues being addressed.
  

Before submitting a grant application, please make sure the grant meets the following criteria:

• Project needs to be grassroots (community based, activist).
• Project is not primarily a fundraiser.
• Project is locally oriented - international projects are not our focus.
• Project is not-for-profit.
• TAG applications cannot be considered for an individual, organization, or the project more than once.
  

Ask yourself; How would this grant make a difference? Is this a concrete, clear project? Has the applicant worked for a long time on this issue? How would other community work be promoted by this project?

New online voting:
Recognizing that online social media is a format that could be integrated into the TAG process, we developed an online voting system. Applicants now are supported (if necessary) to produce a 2 minute video to pitch their TAG idea and request support for funding. The video is uploaded to our website and voters have up to one week to contribute online votes.

TAG Recipients can use these logos to place on their project materials

Arusha Centre logo | Calgary Dollars logo | Calgary Foundation logo| TAG logo