Summary
Granting Priorities: Inclusivity and Belonging, Strengthened Non-profits, Thriving People
Applications Open: Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 - Tuesday, June 30th, 2026
Funding Range: Total funding envelope is ~$225,000.
The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area is pleased to open a public call for applications for capacity building grants to strengthen connection and belonging for older adults.
Informed by priorities identified by the Older Adults Connecting and Belonging Forum, facilitated by the Community Foundation, the aim of this call is to support capacity-building initiatives that will strengthen the work of organizations improving connection and belonging, and mitigating social isolation for older adults in KFL&A. We are seeking proposals that create systems-level change, to strengthen the service ecosystem supporting older adults’ connection and belonging.
Our goal is to support as many eligible initiatives as possible within the total funding envelope of approximately $225,000. Applicants are encouraged to submit budget requests that are proportionate to their project scope, rather than aiming for the maximum amount.
Geographic Area
Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington.
Specific Eligibility Criteria
We welcome applications for initiatives that build capacity at a systems level, such as:
· Strengthening how organizations learn together, share knowledge, and build skills.
· Creating opportunities for collaborative problem‑solving across sectors or communities.
· Developing shared tools, resources, or models that can be used broadly.
· Improving how older adults navigate supports, participate, and/or stay connected.
· Enhancing coordination, communication, governance, or partnership structures.
· Building shared approaches to understanding community needs, data, and impact.
This can include new initiatives or efforts to deepen or expand collaborative work that is already ongoing.
Application Process
How To Apply
We anticipate a number of applications to this granting opportunity. To create the greatest impact, we will use a staged intake process to identify areas for potential collaborations.
Step 1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). This is a short form where you will provide an overview of your idea, and how it aligns with this granting opportunity. You do not need a full application at this stage. After the EOI stage, your application journey will take one of two pathways.
Step 2 Pathway A- Invitation to Submit a Full Application: Applicants whose ideas are eligible, and distinct enough to move forward independently may be invited directly to the full application stage.
OR
Step 2: Pathway B- Invitation to a Collaborative Group Session: If multiple applicants are working on similar or overlapping ideas or could benefit from connection with others exploring related challenges, we will invite them into a facilitated group discussion.
These sessions are specifically intended to:
· Bring applicants together when competition or duplication emerges.
· Explore opportunities to align, coordinate, or combine efforts.
· Support the development of complementary or collaborative proposals.
· Reduce duplication and increase shared systems impact.
Participation in a group session does not limit your options. Eligible applicants are still able to submit full application individually should they choose.
Step 3: Submit Full Application: After each pathway, all eligible applicants will have the opportunity to submit a full application.
Other Information
The “Capacity Building Grants to Strengthen Connection and Belonging for Older Adults” is part of our Resilience Across the Lifespan Initiative, which was generously funded by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul in 2021.
