More than 450 Hamilton community programs to share nearly $7M in 2026 funding

HAMILTON, ON – More than 450 community programs across Hamilton will receive  $6,969,443 in 2026 funding through the City Enrichment Fund, a municipal grant program that supports local organizations delivering community-based services.

The funding supports programs delivered by non-profit organizations, charities and grassroots groups across all 15 wards in seven sectors: Agriculture; Arts; Communities, Culture and Heritage; Community Services; Digital; Environment; and Sport and Active Lifestyles. 

The City Enrichment Fund provides annual funding to community organizations to support the delivery of programs and services for residents, aligned with the City’s Strategic Plan, Council Priorities and 25-Year Community Vision. Council approved the 2026 funding on June 3. 

In total, 565 applications were received for 2026 requesting $12,635,466 in funding. A total of 456 programs were approved. 
“This investment supports the work happening every day in communities across Hamilton,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath. “Local organizations understand the needs of the people they serve, and this funding helps them continue delivering programs and services that matter to residents across the city.” 

Applications are reviewed through a formal assessment process involving City staff, external adjudicators and community representatives. All applications are evaluated against published criteria and must meet minimum scoring thresholds to be eligible for funding. 

“The City Enrichment Fund helps local organizations deliver the programs, services and experiences that make Hamilton’s neighbourhoods stronger,” said City Manager Marnie Cluckie. “Stable funding allows this important community-based work to continue year after year.” 
Multi-year funding was introduced in 2025 and provides up to three years of funding for eligible organizations that meet established criteria. In 2026, 102 organizations are participating. 

Since 2015, the program has expanded from four to seven sectors and from about 290 to 565 annual applicants. Annual funding has increased from $5.3 million to $6,969,443 over the same period.

Funding results are published through the City’s Open Data portal and interactive mapping tools.

Additional Resources

• Webpage: hamilton.ca/CityEnrichmentFund