Howl Community Impact Microgrant Program

Thanks to support from Canada Service Corps, Howl has been providing youth with small, one-time cash payments (“micro-grants”) of up to $5,000 to carry out innovative youth-led community projects. Since 2024, we have supported over 120 youth participants in carrying out these projects.

This is an opportunity for youth to take ownership of an issue, propose a solution and implement change at a local level. This program will conclude in March 2027, with all of the grant funds allocated to youth by fall 2026.

    • Create, promote, and facilitate access to volunteer service opportunities that are meaningful to youth

    • Give youth the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills, tools, and supports they need to successfully complete their projects

    • Support youth in designing and implementing youth-led projects that address a community need

    • Mobilize youth in your community to support a shoreline cleanup project

    • Host a community movie night and panel discussion at a local arts centre that promotes BIPOC representation in the outdoor industry

    • Plant a community medicine garden with support from local Elders and youth

Eligibility criteria

In order to participate in the Howl Community Impact Microgrant Program, projects must meet the following criteria:

  • Project leader is between the ages of 15 and 30 as of the project start date.

  • Take place in Canada

  • Include volunteer/service-learning opportunities for youth

  • Be focussed on one or more of the following areas:

    • Reconciliation

    • Building an inclusive Canada

    • Preserving the environment

    • Promoting civic and democratic engagement

    • Strengthening youth resilience

    • Potential new themes that are youth-identified

  • Provide a budget of how the micro-grant funding will be used

  • Complete the project within 5 months, including reporting and evaluation

If you are applying on behalf of an organization or class, the applicant must meet the criteria listed above. The applicant must take an active part in project leadership, including project design, activities, orientation and project evaluation. Please note that funds will be disbursed directly to the applicant and not the organization or teacher.

    • Advertising

    • Conference attendance fees

    • Equipment lease, rental, purchase

    • Hospitality

    • Materials and office supplies

    • Membership fees, business licenses and permits

    • Professional fees related to program activities

    • Signage

    • Significant project costs:

      • Contracting if contracted specifically to support the project

      • Internet, web design

      • Postage fees

      • Printing fees

    • Professional development for staff

    • Staff, consultant, and volunteer travel

    • Disability supports

    • Dependent care

  • Program participants are not eligible to receive honoraria or payment as part of the micro-grant budget

    • Costs associated with fundraising activities

    • Parking tickets 

    • Entertainment costs 

    • Completion bonuses

    • Alcohol

    • Personal home Internet and/or cell service costs

    • Stipends to participants

    • Gift cards for recognition

Eligible activities

Projects that are eligible for this micro-grant funding should fit one or more of the following criteria:

  • Activities that support the development (incubation) of promising youth volunteer service ideas;

  • Activities that support the implementation of youth led strategies or actions to address community issues;

  • Activities that support the implementation of innovative methods of reaching Indigenous youth, under-served youth, or both;

  • Activities that offer support for youth in the identification and validation of issues and priorities for community action;

  • Activities that explore, test and/or develop innovative solutions, best practices, tools and/or methodologies (for example, toolkits, resources, etc.);

  • Activities designed to support access and participation in service opportunities for youth;

  • Activities designed to support innovative approaches to facilitate youth participation in civic life;

  • Activities designed to support knowledge development and research on engaging youth in service;

  • Activities designed to test projects to engage youth in service;

  • Activities that support the dissemination of information and knowledge.

If you have an idea for a project but are unsure if it meets these criteria, we encourage you to attend one of our upcoming virtual information sessions (see dates below). For more project ideas, click the dropdown button below.

    • Community garden contributions

    • Conference about local topic hosted by youth

    • Cleanups (e.g., shore, park, etc.)

    • Delivery of education program or workshop(s)

    • User surveys (e.g., trails, recreation areas)

    • Community forest initiative

    • Parks Canada volunteer opportunities

    • Documentary or music video involving others

    • Community meal

    • Community celebration or commemoration

    • Upcycling workshop

    • Trail building

    • Introduction to the outdoors, promoting accessibility in the outdoors

    • Community harvest to distribute food to others

    • Community art project or mural

    • Building project for classroom

    • Supporting National Indigenous Peoples Day

    • Citizen science data collecting

    • Tree or native species planting day

    • Cultural sharing pop-up event

Partners

The Howl Community Impact Microgrant Program is funded by Canada Service Corps, a national movement that empowers youth aged 12–30 to gain experience and build important skills while giving back to their community. Learn more at Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps.