Bring Your Idea to Life
Have an idea that could bring your community together, start a conversation, and help more people participate in the 2026 municipal election? A Voice the Vote Community Micro-grant can help make it happen.
Funding is available for residents and community organizations across Toronto, Peel, and York Region.
Next application deadline: August 5, 2026
Small Grants. Big Community Ideas.
Voice the Vote Community Micro-grants support creative, non-partisan initiatives that strengthen local democracy and encourage voter participation ahead of Ontario's municipal elections on October 26, 2026.
Your idea could be one memorable activity, a series of activities, or a small campaign that reaches people in several places or in different ways. We want to support initiatives that:
- Build awareness of municipal issues and how local government affects everyday life.
- Encourage people to participate in the municipal election.
- Create opportunities for residents to learn, connect, discuss, and engage.
- Bring non-partisan voter engagement into communities across Toronto, Peel, and York Region.
Who Can Apply
Individuals — Up to $300
Residents, grassroots leaders, volunteers, youth leaders, artists, cultural and faith leaders, and informal community groups can apply for funding to bring a community engagement idea to life.
Apply as an IndividualOrganizations — Up to $600
Community organizations, neighbourhood groups, resident associations, local small businesses, cultural organizations, and other community-serving organizations can apply for funding to deliver a community-based civic engagement initiative.
Apply as an OrganizationWho is eligible? Both individual and organization applicants must be based in Toronto, Peel, or York Region and must deliver their activities within one of these regions.
What Could You Do?
We welcome both proven approaches and ideas we have not imagined. You can adapt an activity to your community, combine several approaches, or develop something entirely new.
Organize one or several Vote PopUp tables at festivals, farmers' markets, libraries, apartment buildings, places of worship, community programs, or other gathering places.
Host an all-candidates meeting, youth-led candidate forum, community question-and-answer event, or several smaller opportunities for residents to hear from candidates.
Work with a cricket club, run club, arts group, book club, garden club, seniors' group, or another community network to host one activity or a series.
Organize multilingual gatherings, community dinners, storytelling circles, or workshops where newcomers can explore local issues, practise voting, and prepare to participate.
Host a conversation over coffee, a shared meal, or another welcoming activity where people can discuss what they want for their community and how they can make their voices heard.
Lead a walk, bike ride, transit trip, photo challenge, or mapping activity connecting parks, housing, roads, libraries, and other local places to municipal decisions.
Organize a democracy fair, mock election, trivia series, art project, candidate question campaign, or youth-led peer outreach initiative.
Create a mural, zine, photography exhibit, theatre performance, spoken-word event, music project, or storytelling series.
Support residents, volunteers, cultural leaders, or multilingual community connectors to hold conversations and share trusted voting information through their networks.
Create short videos, social media content, posters, lawn signs, community challenges, or local stories—or combine online and in-person outreach.
How Applications Will Be Reviewed
- Connection to Local Democracy
- The activity helps people understand municipal issues, connect local government to everyday life, or participate in the October 26, 2026 municipal election.
- Meaningful Community Engagement
- The activity gives people meaningful opportunities to participate, such as discussing issues, asking questions, practising voting, sharing priorities, or taking part in creative activities.
- Community Fit and Creativity
- The activity is designed for the community it will reach and uses an approach that is welcoming, relevant, and likely to connect with participants.
- Non-Partisanship
- The activity has a practical plan to remain neutral and will not support or oppose any candidate or political party.
- Feasibility and Value
- The application presents a realistic plan, timeline, and budget and shows that the applicant has the relationships, experience, or support needed to deliver it successfully.
- Supporting a Diverse Range of Activities
- We aim to fund a diverse collection of activities across Toronto, Peel, and York Region, including projects reaching different communities, neighbourhoods, age groups, cultures, and languages. Final decisions will also consider geographic balance, communities facing barriers to participation or lower voter turnout, and a mix of activity types and approaches.
Application Deadlines
- Round 1
- Apply by August 5, 2026
- Notified by August 12, 2026
- Round 2
- Apply by August 26, 2026
- Notified by September 2, 2026
- Round 3
- Apply by September 16, 2026
- Notified by September 23, 2026
Applications are accepted in three rounds. All funded activities must take place on or before October 26, 2026.
What Happens After Funding
Before you apply: please review the payment timelines below. Payments cannot be guaranteed before your activity takes place.
Individual Applicants
Funding will be processed after approval and completion of the required administrative paperwork. We will work to process payments as quickly as possible, but payments may take six to eight weeks and cannot be guaranteed before the activity takes place.
Organization Applicants
Funding will be issued after the activity has been completed and the required final report has been submitted.
All successful applicants must complete a short post-activity report within 15 days of their activity. The report should take no more than 15 minutes and will ask how many people participated, what took place, and what stood out; photographs are greatly appreciated and optional.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Individuals and informal community groups are encouraged to apply.
No. We welcome many creative approaches to community engagement, provided they support the goals of Voice the Vote and remain non-partisan.
No. Activities may encourage civic participation and voting but must not endorse, oppose, or campaign for any candidate or political party.
Yes. As long as your activity does not support a candidate it can raise awareness about a specific issue.
Payments for individuals may take six to eight weeks after approval and completion of the required paperwork. Organizations will receive funding after completing the activity and submitting the final report.
Yes. Different programs within the same organization may apply separately when they are proposing different activities.
The short report will ask how many people participated, what took place, and what stood out. Photographs are optional.
Your Community. Your Idea. Your Voice.
You know your community and what will bring people together. Tell us your idea and help make local democracy more welcoming, connected, and vibrant.
Applications are now open. Choose the application that is right for you:
Next application deadline: August 5, 2026
Questions? Contact us at info@voicethevote.ca.
Let's Voice the Vote!
We want to hear your stories about the issues that impact your daily life, so that what you care about is heard in the upcoming elections. Learn about our upcoming events, trainings, and resources and join the conversation.