Community Safety and Well-Being Fund: Building Safer Communities Grant Program
Community Safety and Well-Being Fund - Now Accepting Applications
The Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Fund supports the development of community-based violence prevention and intervention initiatives. This program will address community violence and youth justice involvement by supporting sector resilience, bridging service gaps, and encouraging resident engagement and leadership development.
Apply Now:
To apply, please submit the following documents to cswb@durham.ca by August 22, 2025, at 4:59 p.m. Please refer to the Program Guidelines for further information, including eligibility requirements.
- Grant application form
- Budget sheet
- Most recent financial statements
Stream One: Direct Intervention Fund
Applications open: July 28, 2025
Applications close: August 22, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Program period: October 2025 to March 2026
Notice of decision: September 2025
Amount: Up to $150,000
Eligibility: Youth-serving non-profit organizations in Durham Region, with revenues of more than $500,000 are eligible to apply.
This stream will support established youth-serving community organizations in delivering direct service provisions, which addresses the needs of children and youth experiencing one or more risks factors for involvement in serious violence and crime. Funded initiatives will utilize trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches to promote positive youth and community development.
Priority projects include, but are not limited to:
- Initiatives that directly address and intersect with youth engaged in or exiting the criminal justice system, including those previously or actively involved with street or gang level violence.
- Programming to improve access to protective factors, such as equitable and sufficient access to community services, supports, programming, opportunities and employment, family support, adequate and appropriate physical and mental health care, positive relationships with mentors and peers.
- Examples include:
- Programming that directly addresses and intersects with youth engaged or exiting the criminal justice system because of street or gang level violence.
- Youth employment and/or life skills-based programming.
- Youth employment services for high school students.
- Youth hubs or safe spaces.
- Youth transition programming.
- Youth programming with outreach components.
- Other forms of child, youth, and family programming that reduce or eliminate systemic barriers, promote and improve youth safety and well-being.
Stream Two: Community Strengthening Fund
Applications open: July 28, 2025
Applications close: August 22, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Program Period: October 2025 to March 2026
Notice of decision: September 2025
Fund Amount: Maximum of $25,000 per project
Eligibility: Youth-serving non-profits in Durham Region
This stream will support youth-serving non-profit organizations in Durham Region to build capacity and deliver initiatives for the purpose of promoting youth safety and well-being. Priority projects will work to improve equitable access to services, programs, opportunities, especially for groups and locations who face barriers (including access/awareness) and intersecting risk factors. Applications should highlight how the proposed initiative will provide culturally responsive supports and involve people with lived experience and establish inclusive, welcoming and user-friendly service experiences.
Priority projects include, but are not limited to:
- Organizational capacity-strengthening (e.g., database development, office supplies and equipment).
- Training for staff and volunteers to support program operations and delivery (e.g., mental health first aid training, data management and record keeping, financial management, project management, program evaluation and impact assessment).
- Strengthening intergenerational and peer support networks.
- Community-based youth mental health initiatives.
- Education and awareness activities.
- Eliminating user fees for youth seeking access to protective services, programs and opportunities (e.g., no-cost summer or winter break camp, life skill or employment training, legal advice, counselling).
- Other forms of child, youth, and family programming that reduce or eliminate systemic barriers, promote and improve youth safety and well-being.
Stream Three: Intimate Partner Violence and Gender Based Violence Prevention and Response Fund
Applications open: July 28, 2025
Applications close: August 22, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Notice of Decision: September 2025
Amount: Maximum of $20,000 per project
Eligibility: Violence Against Women responding agencies and non-profit organizations who provide supports and services to persons experiencing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Durham Region.
This stream will support an organization’s ongoing initiatives that address IPV and GBV through activities including prevention, intervention, survivor support and systemic change. This fund aligns with the Region of Durham’s declaration of IPV as an epidemic, and Ontario’s Bill 173, Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2024.
Priority projects include, but are not limited to:
- Public education and awareness campaigns/initiatives.
- Providing information, training, and tools to front-line staff/service providers.
- Increasing prevention programming to address harmful attitudes and behaviours and help children, youth and young adults learn how to foster healthy relationships.
- Engaging boys, male youth, and men in IPV and GBV awareness, education and allyship strategies.
Information Sessions
The Community Safety and Well-Being Secretariat are pleased to provide two information sessions on the Community Safety and Well-Being Fund. To attend, please navigate to the Eventbrite link to register:
Community Micro-Grants Program - Applications now closed.
This Program supports residents and small and emerging community groups to lead projects in their communities. These micro-grants will fund projects that reduce violence and support positive youth development.
Current Program Funding Activities
Organizations across Durham Region have received funding through the CSWB Fund: Building Safer Communities Grant Program, to help address youth violence and promote positive youth and community development.
The CSWB Fund supports the development of community-based violence prevention and intervention initiatives. These actions also include training and capacity-strengthening activities to enhance staff, organizational, and/or sector capacity to meet the needs of priority populations. Durham Region’s funding program supports the CSWB Plan which aims to support safety in communities and addresses needs related to education, health care, food, housing, income and cultural expression.
Program funding through the CSWB Fund: Building Safer Communities Grant Program supports multiple organizations and community groups in Durham Region, including: