A new website and membership system is exactly the kind of one-off project that grants are good at, and exactly the kind of cost a volunteer board hesitates over. Two programs matter most for Calgary community associations: the City's Inspiring Neighbourhoods Grant (ING) and the Province's Community Initiatives Program (CIP) Project-Based Grant. Both require matching funds, and both have rules worth reading before you get a quote.
Checked October 2026
Figures below come from the City of Calgary ING page and the Government of Alberta CIP Project Grant page, read on 20 October 2026. Programs change; always confirm with the current guidelines and your Neighbourhood Partnership Coordinator before applying.
The Inspiring Neighbourhoods Grant (City of Calgary)
ING funds projects that help build "safe and inspiring neighbourhoods". The City lists an annual budget of $150,000 and says 2026 applications are open, accepted online year-round with ongoing review periods and an estimated four to six weeks for a decision.
Who can apply
Community associations in good standing with the City and/or under Alberta's Societies Act, holding a lease or licence of occupation. You can't apply if you've received an ING grant in the same calendar year.
Streams and maximums
| Stream | Maximum (matching) |
|---|---|
| Technology | $5,000. Eligible items include "upgrading or refurbishment of website" and first-year subscription or hosting fees. |
| Communication and engagement | $10,000 (can be a pilot) |
| Beautification and placemaking | $15,000 |
| Inclusive communities | $10,000 |
| Community safety | $5,000 (can be a pilot) |
| Social, recreation and community education programs | $5,000 (can be a pilot) |
For a website and membership system, the Technology stream is the natural fit.
Matching
The City says "the applicant must contribute an amount equal to or exceeding the grant request." Eligible match sources are cash on hand, donated professional services at a reasonable rate, and matching grant funds. The City may consider more than 50% in cases of financial hardship or immediate need, if justified.
Rules that catch people out
- Shovel-ready: the project must be fully funded apart from the ING amount you're requesting.
- No spending before approval: invoices or deposits dated before the approval letter are ineligible.
- Only the first year of a subscription: the Technology stream allows first-year subscription or hosting fees, but ongoing subscription fees are ineligible.
- GST is ineligible, so budget it from your own funds.
- Quotes: one quote for projects under $10,000, two for $10,000 to under $50,000.
- Finish within a year of the approval letter, submit a final report, and keep records for seven years.
The CIP Project Grant (Government of Alberta)
CIP's project-based grant (the CIP Project Grant) provides up to $75,000 for new community-driven initiatives, programs and events. It's a bigger, slower program than ING, but its eligible costs explicitly include technology: "audio/visual equipment, projection screens, computer hardware, licensing fees, website and application development."
Who can apply
Non-profits registered and in good standing under acts including Alberta's Societies Act, operating for at least one full year, with an Alberta address and a financial statement. Municipalities, Kâ12 schools and for-profit organizations are ineligible.
Matching
- You must contribute an amount equal to or exceeding the amount requested, plus anything else needed to finish the project.
- Total Government of Alberta funding can't exceed 50% of project costs.
- Donated labour, equipment, materials or services count, at $20 an hour (unskilled), $40 an hour (skilled) or $120 an hour (heavy equipment with operator). Volunteer time counts only when spent directly on eligible project activities.
Deadlines and process
- Intakes are February 15 and August 15, with a one-time September 1, 2026 deadline. The next intake is February 15, 2027.
- Register for a GATE Front Office account at least 10 business days before the deadline; up to three users, at least one with signing authority.
- Expect a decision about six months after the deadline. Ongoing programs and anything started before you apply are ineligible.
- Projects must be completed and reported within 18 months of payment.
Which grant fits which project
| ING Technology | CIP Project Grant | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A website refresh and first-year software for one association | A larger project, or several associations sharing one platform |
| Maximum | $5,000 | $75,000 |
| Match | At least equal to the grant | At least equal to the grant; province pays at most 50% |
| Volunteer time as match | Not listed | Yes, at set hourly rates |
| Timing | Year-round; about 4â6 weeks | Feb 15 and Aug 15 intakes; about 6 months |
A worked example
Say your association has a hall and wants a new website and membership system on PartOf's Community + Facility plan. The first-year project looks like this:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Setup: website, member migration, training | $1,500 |
| First-year subscription (Community + Facility) | $1,990 |
| Project total (before GST) | $3,490 |
| ING request (no more than the association's share) | up to $1,745 |
| Association's match (cash on hand) | at least $1,745 |
In other words, the grant can roughly cover the setup cost, and the association pays the equivalent of its first year. From year two, the subscription comes out of the regular budget, because ING doesn't fund ongoing subscriptions. Your NPC can confirm whether your specific project fits the stream before you apply.
For CIP, the same logic applies at a larger scale. Three to five associations applying together for one shared platform, with each contributing cash and documented volunteer hours, can make a stronger case than one association alone. CIP also has separate streams for organizational development and collaboration; check the program page for which one fits.
Writing a strong application
- Talk to your Neighbourhood Partnership Coordinator first. The City directs ING applicants to their NPC for help, and they'll tell you if the project fits.
- Describe the community outcome, not the software. "Residents can join, renew and book the hall online, and we can reach every member household" is stronger than a feature list.
- Show the current cost of doing nothing. Hours spent matching e-transfers, lapsed members you can't contact, a website nobody can update.
- Get a written, itemized quote that separates one-time setup from the first year of subscription, and shows GST separately.
- Document your match with a board motion committing the funds, recorded in the minutes.
- Plan for year two. Funders like to see how you'll sustain the project after the grant.
What about casino proceeds?
If your association holds an AGLC casino licence, proceeds may be another source, but only for uses AGLC has approved for your group. Administrative expenses are one of the categories AGLC lists. See our AGLC casino licence guide and add the use to your approved list before you spend.
How we help
We provide an itemized quote that separates setup from the first-year subscription, a short project description you can adapt, and answers to the technical questions on the form. The decision, and the application, stay with your board. Book a 20-minute call if you'd like a quote for an ING or CIP application.
Sources
- City of Calgary: Inspiring Neighbourhoods Grant (streams, maximums, matching, eligibility, ineligible items)
- Government of Alberta: CIP Project Grant (maximum, matching, eligible costs, intakes, GATE, reporting)
- Government of Alberta: Community Initiatives Program