Community Initiatives Fund

“The Community Initiatives Fund is a Special Purpose Fund created by the Government of Saskatchewan through The Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation Act.”

Mission: The Community Initiatives Fund makes knowledgeable and effective investments in community-based initiatives throughout Saskatchewan that strengthen the capacity of communities.

Vision: The Community Initiatives Fund Board and staff visualize a future of vibrant, resilient, sustainable and proud Saskatchewan communities whose citizens are engaged and actively working to enhance quality of life.

Click here to visit their website to learn about their response to Covid-19 and more.

COVID-19 may present unexpected challenges for Saskatchewan organizations that have received or are seeking CIF grants to support programs. They recognize that your CIF funded programs may be impacted and encourage you to check out CIF’s Response to COVID-19 FAQ and contact them to discuss any anticipated changes and they’ll work with you to explore options. 

New this year, the Summer Grant Program and Community Grant Program have their own set of Guidelines.  CIF’s application intake for the Summer Grant Program deadline was February 1, 2021.  The Community Grant Program deadline is  April 1, 2021.  

With the next Community Grant Program deadline approaching, here are some tips to help you through the application process:

• • Start Early. Sometimes things can go wrong, like your computer crashing or a website not working like it should. If you start early, you will have time to seek assistance and resolve any issues that may arise.
  • Save Often. As the online application does not save automatically, unsaved drafts cannot be retrieved if a problem is encountered. Save your draft as soon as you start and continue to save it frequently to avoid any problems.
  • Be Clear and Concise. Write a clear and concise summary of your program. Be sure to address the ‘who, what, where, when, why, and how’. Describe what the primary activities are, who will participate, as well as the role of any partnerships. Demonstrate why your program is needed and how your program will address that need in your community. While writing, keep the adjudication committee in mind and ask yourself, if a person read only this description, would they be able to understand the intent and scope of the program? If you’re not sure, have someone who is not familiar with your program read your executive summary and program objectives.
  • Plan Your Budget. The budget section of the application is where the majority of problems arise for applicants. Plan your budget out ahead of time in Excel or on paper to ensure that you have included everything and all your numbers add up. This will minimize the amount of work you have to do on the actual application form.
  • Helpful Resources. We have an array of applicant resources available to help you through every step of the granting process. Resources include grant writing tips, an Application Guide and Sample based on a successful submission, a Final Report Guide and Sample to help you through the final reporting of your program, and our Grant Platform FAQ covering how to create and manage your online account. These resources and more can be found on the Grants Page of our website:  Guidelines and Resources. 

If you have any questions, or are experiencing any difficulty completing your application or grant requirements, contact:
Grants Administrator, Rhonda Newton: rnewton@cifsask.org  or Program Manager, Angie Sawatzky: asawatzky@cifsask.org