Kingston, ON – May 13, 2026 – The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area is pleased to announce that more than $438,000 has been awarded through the Spring 2026 Community Grants Program, supporting 31 local projects and charitable organizations across Kingston and the surrounding region. This record-setting Spring granting round reflects the ongoing generosity of our donors and the prudent management of our endowment funds, now valued at over $40M. The Community Foundation also extends its sincere thanks to the volunteer Community Grants Committee, whose time, care, and community knowledge are essential to the Community Grants Program and to our ability to make thoughtful and community-informed funding decisions.
Building Community Resilience
The Community Foundation’s Impact Priorities are Thriving People, Sustainable Futures, Inclusivity & Belonging, Learning & Growth, and Strengthened Non-Profits. Our priorities are strongly represented through the Spring 2026 grantees building community resiliency through youth wellbeing, literacy and learning, fostering mental health, addressing food insecurity, mitigating homelessness and housing instability, disability supports, newcomer inclusion, arts access, climate action, and growing rural community connection.
“The strength of the Community Grants Program comes from the generosity of donors and fundholders who care deeply about this region, and from the local organizations who turn that generosity into meaningful community impact,” says Stacy Kelly, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area. “This record-setting Spring 2026 round is a powerful reflection of what becomes possible when people choose to invest in their community, not just for today, but for the long-term wellbeing and resilience of Kingston & Area.”
The Spring 2026 Recipients
Funded projects range from a focus on children and youth, including expanded literacy and math support, after-school programming, trauma-informed mental health supports, to newcomer ESL learning, climate engagement, and arts-based opportunities for self-expression. Others respond to urgent and practical needs, such as food access, wound care, housing navigation, emergency safety equipment, and basic health supports.
The Spring 2026 round also includes significant investment in inclusive community spaces and accessible participation. Funded projects will support rural youth hubs, adaptive and inclusive music and arts programming, assistive devices, disability navigation, community gathering spaces, and opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect, learn, and belong.
A full list of the 31 funded projects can be found below:
1 | AMHERST ISLAND RECREATION ASSOCIATION
Amherst Island Young Artists | $895.00
Amherst Island Recreation Association will deliver Amherst Island Young Artists, a five-week youth arts program for island participants aged 6 and up. The program will provide hands-on workshops in pottery, acrylic painting, needle felting, pastels, and watercolours, helping rural youth build creative skills, confidence, self-expression, and social connection.
2 | BGC SOUTH EAST
Creative Futures: STEAM for Youth | $18,000.00
BGC South East will expand arts-integrated STEAM programming for children and youth ages 4 to 12 across Kingston and surrounding communities. Through after-school and evening sessions in painting and design, music engineering, photography, digital editing, sewing, and stitching, the program will support creativity, digital literacy, problem-solving, collaboration, and belonging.
3 | BLOOM SKILLS CENTRE
Growing Knowledge: Community Garden and Food Skills Workshops | $14,500.00
Bloom Skills Centre will deliver an inclusive garden and food literacy program through its Birds, Bees and Butterflies garden initiative. Workshops on soil health, composting, pollinator habitats, seed starting, sustainable gardening, food preparation, and preservation will support young adults living with intellectual and developmental exceptionalities, while also contributing produce to Bloom’s CommUnity Pantry.
4 | CAMP OUTLOOK
Camp Outlook - Safety Equipment | $4,000.00
Camp Outlook will purchase safety equipment for its free summer wilderness canoe trip program serving disadvantaged youth from Kingston and the surrounding area. New satellite communication devices, EpiPens, and water purification tablets will support safer wilderness trips and help volunteer leaders respond effectively during emergencies.
5 | CANTABILE CHOIRS OF KINGSTO
Mobile Music Creation Lab | $10,436.00
Cantabile Choirs of Kingston will create a Mobile Music Creation Lab with digital music workstations, interactive electronic instruments, acoustic percussion, and transport equipment. The lab will support youth choir education, summer camps, Parent & Tot Music classes, a pilot Adaptive Music program, and outreach through libraries, family centres, newcomer-serving programs, and community partners.
6 | FRONTENAC ARCH BIOSPHERE FOUNDATION
Youth Climate Action Summit 2026: Bringing climate learning and action to Kingston & Area youth | $10,060.41
Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network will support secondary school-aged youth through the Youth Climate Action Summit in Kingston. The summit will combine climate education, expert-led workshops, peer connection, and youth-developed Climate Action Plans to help participants respond to climate anxiety with knowledge, optimism, and meaningful local action.
7 | HARROWSMITH & DISTRICT SOCIAL AND ATHLETIC CLUB
Improving Community Gathering Spaces at the Harrowsmith & District Social and Athletic Hall | $6,040.50
Harrowsmith & District Social and Athletic Club will replace aging tables and chairs at the Harrowsmith & District Social and Athletic Hall. The equipment will improve the comfort, safety, and functionality of a volunteer-run community space that hosts social, recreational, family, library, fitness, dance, and community-building activities.
8 | H’ART CENTRE OF SMILES INC.
H’art Centre 2026: Festivals to Folklore | $7,690.58
H’art Centre of Smiles will support inclusive arts programming for neurodivergent adults with disabilities, seniors, and others facing barriers to participation. Through workshops, intergenerational programming, storytelling, public sharing opportunities, and accessibility supports, the initiative will strengthen belonging and access to creative community participation.
9 | KINGSTON COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRES - PATHWAYS TO EDUCATION
KCHC True North | $24,685.00
Kingston Community Health Centres - Pathways to Education will deliver KCHC True North, an early intervention program for Grade 7 and 8 students at J.G. Simcoe Public School. The program will include summer learning, after-school academic support, land-based learning, STEM exploration, hands-on skills development, family engagement, and connections to Indigenous Elders and community partners.
10 | KINGSTON EMPLOYMENT AND YOUTH SERVICES INC.
Bridging Language Gaps: Empowering Newcomer Children and Youth through Summer ESL | $17,752.80
Kingston Employment and Youth Services will deliver a summer ESL program for newcomer students in Grades 4–12, with a focus on children and youth facing significant English language barriers. The program will support reading, writing, speaking, listening, school readiness, confidence, belonging, and longer-term educational engagement.
11 | KINGSTON HOME BASE HOUSING
Chromebooks for Kids | $18,109.00
Kingston Home Base Housing will purchase Chromebooks and a secure charging cart for use at Vatcher Hall within the Kingston Youth Services Hub. The technology will support youth with schoolwork, job searches, resumes, digital literacy, and employment readiness in a supervised learning environment.
12 | KINGSTON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION
Supporting the Kingston Symphony’s Community Outreach | $10,000.00
Kingston Symphony Association will sustain community outreach programming during the 2026–2027 season, including initiatives for students, families, older adults, long-term care residents, and community audiences. The funding will support inclusive access to live music, reduce social isolation, and foster connection through music education and outreach.
13 | KINGSTON WRITERSFEST
KWF Staff Capacity-Building Grant | $15,400.00
Kingston WritersFest will hire a part-time, year-round Administrative/Finance Assistant during a key rebuilding period for the organization. The role will strengthen festival planning, contracts, author and sponsor logistics, correspondence, filing systems, bookkeeping support, and overall organizational stability.
14 | LIMESTONE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Elementary Summer Literacy & Math Program | $25,000.00
The Limestone District School Board will deliver a three-week summer literacy and math intervention program for students finishing Senior Kindergarten through Grade 3. Serving approximately 250 students across four elementary school sites, the program will strengthen foundational reading, writing, and numeracy skills while helping reduce summer learning loss.
15 | OUR LIVABLE SOLUTIONS
Living Solutions Program Coordinators | $21,676.00
Our Livable Solutions will support two staffing roles to coordinate four initiatives serving people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity in Kingston: the Forest Care Team, Community First Aid Training, Community House, and Personal Identification Support. The work will combine practical supports, skill-building, community connection, and relationship-based support for people working toward greater stability.
16 | OUTREACH ST. GEORGE’S KINGSTON - LUNCH BY GEORGE
A New Home for Lunch By George | $15,196.00
Outreach St. George’s Kingston will support the relocation of Lunch by George as its long-standing partnership with St. George’s Cathedral comes to an end. Funding will support equipment for a new commercial kitchen and community space, helping the program continue low-barrier meal service while creating a safer and more welcoming space for people experiencing poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, and social isolation.
17 | PROVIDENCE CARE - RECOVERY COLLEGE
Providence Care Recovery College Capacity Building | $14,000.00
Providence Care will support the ongoing capacity and sustainability of Recovery College, a free adult learning program focused on mental health, wellness, and recovery. Funding will support course development, peer facilitation, workshops, materials, and community engagement to reduce barriers to accessible mental health education and peer-informed support.
18 | RURAL FRONTENAC COMMUNITY SERVICES
Rural Frontenac Youth Hub; Maintaining a Safe Space for Rural Youth | $12,900.00
Rural Frontenac Community Services will help maintain the Rural Frontenac Youth Hub, a drop-in space for youth in grades 6–12 in North and Central Frontenac. The Hub provides one of the few dedicated spaces in the region where rural youth can gather safely, build life skills and leadership, access trusted adult support, and connect to services.
19 | SOCKS 4 SOULS CANADA
Providing More Socks to Kingston’s Unhoused Community | $5,500.00
Socks 4 Souls Canada will support continued sock distribution for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in Kingston. Delivered through frontline partners, the program responds to immediate needs related to foot health, hygiene, warmth, mobility, and dignity.
20 | ST. LAWRENCE YOUTH ASSOCIATION
SOAR: Trauma-Informed Self-Esteem Group for Marginalized Youth | $25,000.00
St. Lawrence Youth Association will deliver SOAR, an eight-session trauma-informed therapeutic group for justice-involved and justice-vulnerable female youth. The program will support self-awareness, agency, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, resilience, and community reintegration.
21 | ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY OF KINGSTON
Community Wound Care for People Experiencing Homelessness: A Pilot Project at the SVDP | $24,997.00
The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Kingston will pilot a weekly low-barrier wound care service for people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Delivered in a trusted community setting, the project will improve access to timely care, support healing and follow-up, and help reduce avoidable complications and emergency department visits.
22 | TELEPHONE AID LINE KINGSTON
Community Mental Health Support Through Volunteer Listening | $12,000.00
Telephone Aid Line Kingston will sustain its confidential, anonymous, volunteer-led listening service for individuals across Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington. Operating every evening from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am, the service provides empathetic listening, emotional support, and referrals for people experiencing distress, loneliness, crisis, isolation, mental health challenges, and addiction.
23 | TETRA SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA
Kingston - Custom Assistive Devices Breaking Barriers | $3,609.46
Tetra Society of North America will support its Kingston chapter’s work designing, building, and installing custom assistive devices for people with disabilities. The organization matches skilled volunteers with local residents to create devices that are not commercially available, helping clients increase independence, inclusion, and quality of life.
24 | THE KIDNEY FOUNDATION
Blood Pressure Cuffs for Kidney Patients | $3,500.00
The Kidney Foundation of Canada will purchase approximately 50 medical-grade home blood pressure cuffs for low-income and high-risk kidney patients in Kingston. Distributed through healthcare practitioners at Kingston Health Sciences Centre, the cuffs will support safer home monitoring, patient confidence, and more informed clinical care.
25 | UNITED FOR LITERACY
Championing Kingston Children and Youth Through Free Literacy Programming | $7,787.21
United for Literacy will support free literacy programming for children and youth in Kingston, particularly learners in grades 1–8 who are at risk of falling behind and have limited access to extracurricular learning support. The program will recruit and train volunteers, deliver “Read for Fun!” programming, and help strengthen literacy, numeracy, confidence, and engagement in learning.
26 | UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS KINGSTON FOUNDATION
KidsInclusive - Family Experience Associate Staff Salary | $16,000.00
University Hospitals Kingston Foundation will support the Family Experience Associate role at KidsInclusive, a pediatric rehabilitation and developmental support program within Kingston Health Sciences Centre. The role helps children and youth with disabilities and their families navigate care, access information and community resources, and ensure family perspectives help shape service improvements.
27 | VICTIM SERVICES OF KINGSTON AND FRONTENAC
EMBER Healing Collective - Volunteer and Community Collaboration | $21,985.00
Victim Services of Kingston and Frontenac will pilot the EMBER Healing Collective, supporting survivors of human trafficking and exploitation in Kingston and Frontenac. The initiative will coordinate volunteers, survivor programming, mentorship, accompaniment, healing-focused activities, and community partnerships to help survivors rebuild safety, stability, and connection.
28 | WINTERGREEN STUDIOS
Resilient Landscapes | $12,000.00
Wintergreen Studios will support the next phases of Resilient Landscapes, an ecological restoration and education initiative in South Frontenac. The project will expand food and foraging forests, create accessible demonstration and gathering areas, offer public workshops, and support biodiversity monitoring while building community knowledge and climate resilience.
29 | YMCA OF EASTERN ONTARIO
YMCA Work Hard Eat Well at J.G. Simcoe Public School | $25,000.00
YMCA of Eastern Ontario will expand its free Work Hard, Eat Well after-school program at J.G. Simcoe Public School from one day per week to two days per week. The program supports children ages 8–11 through physical activity, games, arts-based activities, mentorship, and healthy dinners in a safe, school-based setting.
30 | YOUTH DIVERSION
Strengthening Belonging and Trauma-Responsive Care in a Rural School Community | $24,303.66
Youth Diversion will deliver a school-year initiative at North Addington Education Centre to strengthen belonging and trauma-responsive care. Through professional learning, follow-up support, and community-building circles, the project will help educators and staff respond to student needs while increasing students’ sense of safety, connection, and belonging.
31 | YOUTH IMAGINE THE FUTURE
Youth Imagine the Future - A Festival of Writing & Art | $10,600.00
Youth Imagine the Future will deliver a youth climate engagement initiative across the greater Kingston region, combining classroom and youth-group presentations with a juried festival of creative writing and visual art. The program will help youth explore real-world climate and biodiversity solutions, imagine sustainable futures, and share their ideas through public exhibitions and community outreach.
About the Community Grants Program
The Community Grants Program is the Community Foundation’s longest standing granting program, supporting local initiatives that strengthen communities across Kingston & Area since 1995. Grants are made possible through the generosity of donors, with funding decisions made through a community-based, volunteer review process.
About the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area
Established in 1995, the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area is a catalyst for impact by transforming lives through connecting people, ideas, and resources to build a more resilient community. The Foundation manages over 240 invested charitable funds and has distributed more than $16 million in grants to support impactful community projects. Learn more at www.cfka.org.
Media Contact:
Adam Walker (he/him)
Marketing & Communications Officer
Community Foundation for Kingston & Area
613.549.9696 ext. 109 | communications@cfka.org
