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Amateur Sport Grant Program
Enhancing Sport Access in Calgary
The Amateur Sport Grant Program invests in capital projects that expand access to sport, so more Calgarians of all ages can play, belong, and thrive through sports.
Created as an Olympic legacy from the operations of the Saddledome, the program continues today through a strong community partnership between the Calgary Flames Foundation, the Saddledome Foundation, and Parks Foundation Calgary. Together, we have awarded more than 17.3 million dollars to over 630 local groups, strengthening grassroots sport and supporting healthier, more active communities across Calgary.
DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM
DollaRs granted to sport organizations
PROJECTS SUPPORTED THROUGH OUR SUPPORT PROGRAM
Application Deadline: October 1, 2026
Grant intake dates will change in 2027. Check back for updated dates, notification timelines, and information.
Who Can Apply
Calgary-based organizations, clubs, leagues, educational institutions, and other non-profit groups may apply. We encourage applicants to connect with our Programs Team before submitting an application to discuss their project and confirm eligibility. To arrange an introductory meeting, email programs@parksfdn.com
Requirements
Applicants must:
- Have an active Project Support Program (PSP) account or submit a PSP application
- Be a registered non-profit society for at least three years
- Have objectives and programs that support amateur sport and opportunities for Calgarians to participate
- Have not received an Amateur Sport Grant within the past three years
- Have a project located within Calgary’s municipal boundaries or, if located outside Calgary, demonstrate a direct benefit to Calgary residents through amateur sport participation
Eligible Projects
Funding May Support
- Development of new amateur sport facilities.
- Expansion or renovation of existing facilities.
- Purchase of sport-related equipment.
Please note: Sport-specific components of a larger project may be eligible. For example, grant funding may support refinishing gym floors but not the construction of washroom facilities.
School Equipment Grants
K–9 schools may apply for equipment funding under the following limits:
- First grant: Up to $20,000.
- Second grant: Up to $10,000 in matching funds.
- Third grant: Schools are not currently eligible to apply.
Ineligible Projects and Expenses
The following are not eligible for funding:
- Individual, single-use, or player-specific equipment, such as jerseys, shoes, or other equipment typically retained by an individual after a single season.
- Projects that have started or been completed before grant decisions are announced.
- Operational and programming costs.
How to Apply
Step 1: Download
Download the Amateur Sport Grant application form in PDF format.
Step 2: Complete
Complete the application and gather all required supporting documents.
Step 3: Submit
Email the completed application and all supporting documents to programs@parksfdn.com.
Use the subject line: Amateur Sport Grant – Organization – Project Name.
Please submit your application and supporting documents in a single email.
Application and Review Process
Applications are first reviewed by Parks Foundation staff before being advanced to the Amateur Sport Grant Committee for adjudication. Applicants may be contacted for additional information or clarification.
How Applications Evaluated
Each application is assessed on its own merits and in comparison to other projects submitted during the intake period.
Applications are assessed based on the following criteria:
- Project need and impact: The current need or limitations the project will address, including safety considerations and the number and diversity of athletes and user groups who will benefit.
- Amateur sport alignment and access: How the project supports amateur sport, creates more opportunities for Calgarians to be active, and benefits the broader community.
- Community support and engagement: Demonstrated support from user groups, neighbouring organizations, community associations, residents, and other interested parties.
- Project sustainability: The organization’s ability to operate, maintain, and sustain the asset after project completion.
- Financial need and funding: The applicant’s financial contribution, confirmed funding from other sources, overall project cost, and availability of grant funding.
- Project readiness and completeness: The clarity and completeness of the application, including project plan, design, budget, procurement approach, and supporting documentation.
- Recognition: The applicant’s plan to recognize Parks Foundation Calgary and other funding partners.
- Overall funding priorities: Consideration of the broader grant intake, including the distribution of funding across sports, facilities, schools, communities, and equipment or infrastructure; previous funding received; and the number, type, and quality of applications submitted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Amateur Sport Grant?
The Amateur Sport Grant Program enhances amateur sports throughout the Calgary area. The program supports capital projects that provide significant benefit to the continuation and enrichment of amateur sport. Eligible organizations can apply for grants to fund new sport facilities, the expansion or improvement of existing facilities, or sport equipment.
How much funding can be requested?
Applicants may request up to $75,000 or 50% of the total project budget, whichever is less. For example, a $250,000 project may request up to $75,000, while a $50,000 project may request up to $25,000.
Does my application guarantee funding approval?
Due to the volume of applications, eligibility does not guarantee funding. Approved projects may receive less than the amount requested. Priority may be given to sports facilities and projects with confirmed applicant contributions or other committed funding sources.
How do I determine in-kind donations for my application?
All in-kind donations must be included as both revenue and the corresponding expense in your application. In-kind donations may include goods or services provided by individuals or businesses.
Goods
- Donations from individuals: Provide a purchase receipt to verify the value of the donated item.
- Donations from businesses: Provide a letter from the business confirming the value of the donation based on its cost to the business.
Services and Labour
- Labour provided by individuals: Valued at an hourly rate per person.
- Services provided by businesses: Provide a letter from the business confirming the value of the donated service based on its cost to the business.
If successful, how do we receive our grant funds?
Parks Foundation Calgary will pay project vendors directly for approved expenses outlined in the original Amateur Sport Grant application. Payments will be made from the PSP account, with Amateur Sport Grant funds applied to eligible project expenses.
What are the conditions associated with accepting a grant?
By accepting an Amateur Sport Grant, the Grantee agrees to the following conditions:
- Deposit project funds: Deposit 100% of project funds into the Project Support Program (PSP) project account.
- Use of funds: Use the grant funds within 24 months of the grant award.
- Recognition: Provide appropriate recognition of the Amateur Sport Grant, Calgary Flames Foundation, and Parks Foundation Calgary as outlined in the grant agreement.
- Project reporting: Submit photos, videos, and short testimonials describing the project’s impact on the community within six weeks of project completion.
Do I need to have a Project Support Program (PSP) account to receive a grant?
Yes. Successful grant recipients are required to have a Parks Foundation Calgary Project Support Program (PSP) account. The PSP account is used to manage project funds, including grant funds, donations, and other funds raised for the project, and to pay approved project expenses directly to vendors. PSP applications can be submitted at the same time as a grant application.
How do I apply for the Project Support Program (PSP) account?
There are two ways to apply for a Project Support Program account:
- Apply in advance of submitting a grant application: Complete the PSP application form available [here] and submit it along with all required supporting documents. This allows your application to be reviewed and processed before you apply for funding.
- Apply as part of your grant application: Once you have completed the grant application, complete the PSP application section (pages 8-10) of the same document and submit it together with all required supporting documents as part of your funding request.
Please note: that incomplete applications or missing supporting documents may delay processing and could affect your grant application.
How do I know what is in my Project Support Program account or how much grant money I have left?
Please email your Parks Foundation Calgary contact to request your detailed account information. Unfortunately, at this time we do not have a partner-facing portal for live account updates.
How are payments made?
Invoices can be made out to your organization or Parks Foundation Calgary.
- Email your invoice to your Parks Foundation contact for processing.
- The invoice will be uploaded to DocuSign and sent to your designated signatories as indicated on your Project Support Program agreements.
- Please review and sign the invoice promptly upon receipt.
- After signing, a copy will be automatically forwarded to our finance department for processing.
Please note that invoices are processed every second week and payment will be made to the vendor directly.
Learn About The Project Support Program
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2026 Amateur Sport Grant Recipients
Ares Modern Pentathlon Club: Ares Club Equipment Purchase
Awarded $14, 658 to enhance the quality, accessibility, and safety of the club’s programming by acquiring essential sports equipment. Ares Modern Pentathlon Club develops athletes in modern pentathlon and fencing, and also teaches the wider community through All Sport One Day, summer camps, and school programs. This project will equip Ares Pentathlon & Fencing Club with modern laser pistols and targets, fencing pistes, and wall targets to improve training quality, enhance safety, and support athlete development. Shared club-owned equipment keeps participant costs low, expands access for all athletes, and enables Ares to host high-calibre, sanctioned competitions.
Calgary Canoe Club: Paddle for Life
Awarded $35, 500 to acquire equipment for Paddle for Life Participants. New equipment will encourage paddlers to continue to participate in the sport at a competitive or recreational level.
T.B. Riley P.A.C. Association: Outdoor Basketball Court Revitalization
Awarded $16, 785 to expand and upgrade existing outdoor courts to provide students and the broader community with a court that can be a source of pride, as well as a safe place to engage in unorganized sports. The existing court does not meet the needs of students or the community as asphalt is crumbling and space is limited, smaller than a normal court.
West Hillhurst Community Association: WHCA Electric Ice Resurfacer
Awarded $75,000 to purchase a brand new Olympia Electric Ice Resurfacer and LVR Laser Levelling System. The electric resurfacer will improve ice quailty, reduce energy & water use, and enhance operational safety and efficiency. This upgrade strengthens community programs and rentals while reinforcing the associations commitment to sustainablity and high quality service.
2025 Amateur Sport Grant Recipients
Alberta Netball Association: Netball Equipment to Schools (NETS)
Awarded $5, 185 to support the NETS program which lends a full set of equipment (two posts, four sets of pinnies, and four balls) to a school to play Netball. It also provides a free session to teach the game and rules to teachers so they feel comfortable teaching the sport to the children and help with developing intramural programs.
Calgary Kaizen Softball: 2025 Kaizen Softball Equipment Updates
Awarded $31, 463 for the purchase of softball equipment to support the All-Star Girls Fastpitch Association. This will provide an environment that nurtures continuous improvement, teamwork, skill development, sportsmanship, and fun for athletes in the Calgary Area who have the skills and desire to compete at the highest competitive “A” level. Upgraded equipment and new training technologies will place athletes on a level playing field with their competition.
Calgary Fencing Club: Fencing Club Relocation
Awarded $70, 376 to support the clubs relocation to a new location at 4114 23 St. NE. This project will see the rezoning and conversion of the new space into a safe, functional and fully-compliant sport facility. The mission of the Calgary Fencing Club is to provide affordable fencing lessons to the community at all skill levels (particularly amateur and recreational); teaching sport safety, sportsmanship, and the importance of physical activity; and to organize events that raise awareness of fencing as a sport and promote community togetherness.
Calgary Kangaroos Australian Football Club: Junior Goal Post Project
Awarded $36, 000 for the installation of Junior Australian Football goal posts at 12 schools in Calgary. The primary barrier faced by children playing Australian rules Football is a lack of goal posts. Since 2019, more than 50, 000 children have particpated in Australian football, so the installation of ne wgoal posts will ensure the sustainability of the sport.
Calgary Speed Skating Association: Safety Mats
Awarded $9, 342 for the purchase of new safety mats to enhance accessibility, increase capacity, and ensure program continuity.
Canadian Sport Institute: Pathways for All: Track & Accessibility Improvements
Awarded $75, 000 to upgrade the track, eqipment, and accessibility features of the facility. A modern, inclusive track ensures safe, reliable training conditions that reduce injuries and support peak performance. For Paralympic athletes, accessible surfaces and equipment are essential to removing barriers and enabling equal opportunity to succeed.
Canadian Eventing Development Foundation: 2026 Youth Equestrian Symposium Sports Equipment
Awarded $17, 325 for the purchase of portable cross country jump equipment, which will expand access to the Olympic disciplin of eventing for Calgary area youth and amateur riders. CEDF is an experienced, volunteer-run non-profit dedicated to making equestrian sport more affordable and accessible, particularly for youth and girls who are underrepresented in many competitive sport environments.
Canyon Meadows Community Association: Ice Rink Equipment
Awarded $30, 000 for the purchase of specialized equipment for maintaining three outdoor ice rinks, a leisure trail, and parking lot. This equipment will ensure year round access to well maintaind recreational facilities including two boarded hockey rinks with nets, a leisure rink and trail, free skate and equipment lending, basketball and lacrosse nets, a gaga ball pit, and a play field.
Crowchild Twin Arena Association: Ice Cleaning Machine
Awarded $75, 000 for the purchase of a new Olympia model ice resurfacer. The Olympia is vital to the successful operation of the facility and will allow for the safe maintenance of ice for clients to train on.
Foothills Academy Society: Gymnasium Improvement for Community Use
Awarded $25,000 to upgrade a 4,800 sq. ft. gymnasium by refinishing the hardwood floor, installing custom wall padding, and replacing the outdated scoreboard withi modern Daktronics equipment. These upgrades will create a safe, high-quality environment that supports skill development, confidence, and participation in sports for children with learning differences (LD) and ADHD. A refinished, non-slip floor and protective wall padding will reduce injury risk, while modern scoreboards and shot clocks provide clear visual cues that enhance focus, structure, and competitive play. This project is vital to sustaining inclusive physical education and school-based sports at Foothills Academy. It will directly benefit hundreds of students each year by improving safety, accessibility, and engagement, fostering lifelong healthy habits, confidence, and social connection.
Foothills Nordic Ski Club: Confederation Park Operation Equipment
Awarded $125, 000 for the purchase of equipment to break up ice and lay ski tracks on the cross-country ski trails. This tracksetting equipment will allow Confederation Park to supply more consistent conditions to both athletes and residents alike that use the trails to recreate in the winter. Better groomed trails will alleviate the strain placed on volunteers while also benefiting all Calgarians who wish to participate in cross country skiing within the City’s limits.
Glenmore Gymnastics Club: Equipment Refresh
Awarded $10, 229 to purchase new gymnastics equipment including 1 uneven bar, 1 UPIT Foam pit, 1 competition beam, 1 Tumbl Trak, 12 foam building blocks, 1 fun cube, 1 air pump, 10 jump ropes, and skinny resistance bands. This upgrade will improve athlete safety, and retain and attract gymansts of all levels from across the city.
Heritage Calgary: Haultain Park Revitalization
Awarded $125, 000 for the revitalization of Haultain Park with proposed additions including a variety of fitness and sport elements such as table tennis, tether ball, cornhole, ladder golf, and a 200m rubberized trakc with an abacus to track laps. These amenities, along with the beautification of the park and its furnishings, will transform Haultain park from a neglected space into a dynamic, community hub that will promote sport development and participation for the Beltline community.
Mount Royal University Federation: Stadium Field Scoreboard Replacement
Awarded $70, 000 to replace an aging scoreboard. Replacing the Stadium Field scoreboard reinforces MRU’s identity as a home for competitive, successful varsity programs within Calgary and western Canada. Great facilities also enhance the fan experience. Bigger crowds, better energy, and community engagement help grow support for the program, which in turn brings more attention to Cougars Athletics, Mount Royal University and the Calgary soccer community. A new scoreboard would also elevate the experience for all users—from youth attending Mount Royal summer camps to adult and senior leagues, and beyond in the Calgary community. This upgrade would serve not only Cougar Athletics but the broader Calgary community, who rely on this space approximately nine months of the year (due to environmental conditions).
Nose Creek Swim Association: Diving Blocks
Awarded $32, 980 for the installation of 6 competition level starting locks in Vivo’s 25m lane pool. The starting blocks will benefit the larger community including including individual users, as well as school swimming groups and other community clubs.
Tennis Alberta Acadia Tennis Centre: LED Lighting Project - Lighting System Conversion
Awarded $75, 000 to convert obsolete metal halide light bulbs into a brand new LED lighting system. By upgrading the lighting system the ATC can continue to host national and international events.
The Calgary Rugby Union: Calgary Rugby Equipment Upgrade
Awarded $40, 000 for the purchase of an outdoor score clock and training equipment including a scrum sled, post pads, hit shields, and balls. This equipment upgrade will improve athelte training and community clinics, enhance safety during training and games, and enrich the game day experience for players and spectators. Upgraded equipment will produce more training sessions, broaden participation, and support local clubs reliant on volunteer boards and coaches who may not always have the capacity or expertise to provide specialized training.
The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland: Ice Rink Chiller
Awarded $70, 000 to upgrade the established ice rink with an ice chiller. A brand new ice chiller will provide a better experience for skaters looking to have a friendly, free, community outdoor rink in an area that is connected to other attractions via the River Walk.
Triwood Community Association: Ice Resurfacer Replacement
Awarded $75, 000 to preplace an aging, broken, propane-powered ice resurfacer with a new electric-powered machine. This machine will allow the Triwood Community Association to continue offering a well-maintained and safe arean to both local community members, as well as city-wide hockey and rigette groups. Figure skaters, members of learn-to-skate programs, and other community groups will also be able to continue using the rink.
Umoja Community Mosaic: Soccer Without Boundaries
Awarded $29, 197 to purchase sports equipment which will support the Soccer Without Boundaries program. This provides free and accessible sports programs to youth in low income neighborhoods around the city, teaching sports and life skills as wel las giving youth the opportunity to be mentored, and to volunteer. Newcomers and children from low income families who face barriers like language difficulties, isolation, mental health challenges, and a lack of social supports are proovided a safe, athletic program to occupy their time. Soccer Without Boundaries supports more than 1400 children over the year, and 400 in the summer through camp programming.
Vivo for Healthier Generations Society: Ice Plant Replacement and Modernization
Awarded $75, 000 to replace and modernize the aging ice plant and inefficient mechanical system that supports two ice arenas. A modern, energy-efficient system will restore full functionality to both ice sheets, improve safety, and ensure uninterrupted year-round operation. This project will meet the growing demand for ice time in North Central Calgary, where no other recreation facilities currently exist north of Stoney Trail. It will expand access for local organizations such as the Raiders Hockey Club, Huntington Hills Figure Skating Club, hockey camps, and many other community groups, while also strengthening Vivo’s capacity to deliver affordable and inclusive programming for children, youth, and families.
In Collaboration with Our Major Donors & Partners
Thank you to our donors and partners who make this project possible!
Amateur Sport Program
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Parks Foundation is a civic partner and qualified donee, which makes your donation eligible for charitable tax credits. For more information, please see our Receiving Donations and Issuing Tax Receipts Policy found here.
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Get In Touch
Parks Foundation is a civic partner and a qualified donee.
225 – 13 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2R 1N8
info@parksfdn.com