Apply for funding

We focus our support on three critical educational milestones that can mean the difference between poverty and prosperity.

• Ready: Learning readiness and achieving early literacy milestones. 
• Set: Staying in school and moving towards high school completion.  
• Go: High school completion and career or post-secondary pursuits.

We go beyond just cutting a cheque, and look for opportunities to mobilize our employees, facilities, and other resources unique to EPCOR. Being an active partner allows us to complement your work with EPCOR’s unique assets and approach, improving communities and building profile through the work we do together.

The strongest proposals will include:

• Programs that provide ongoing, sustained support to a consistent group of youth. For example: a program that reaches the same group every day or every week.
• Support one or more of the Ready, Set, Go focus areas.
• Creating a true partnership with benefits to both partners.
• The ability to profile the work we are doing together.
• Volunteering opportunities for EPCOR employees.

The organization must:

• Be a federally-registered charitable organization (for at least 1 year).
• Request support for a specific initiative.
• Demonstrate ability to successfully execute the initiative.
• Provide measurable outcomes of the initiative's success that align with our education focus.
• Work with us to cultivate a partnership and bring profile to the work we are doing together.

The initiative must:

• Be delivered within an EPCOR operating community.
• Directly support at least one of our three education focus areas.
• Support a socially vulnerable demographic.
• Provide ongoing, sustained support to a consistent group of youth.
• Take a root cause, sustainable approach.

Use of funds:

• Funds must be applied only toward the approved initiative.
• Funds must be applied within one year of being granted.
• A report must be received prior to re-applying for a previously funded program.

The following organizations and activities are not eligible to receive funding as charitable partners.

Organizations

• Organizations that are not federally registered charities, or have not been registered for at least 1 year.
• For-profit businesses or private organizations.
• Individual or team applicants.
• Advocacy or lobbying organizations.
• Fraternal organizations or commercial third-party fundraising organizations.
• Private or family foundations, trusts or funds.

Activities

• Programs delivered outside EPCOR’s operating communities.
• Research or conferences.
• Sports programs or tournaments.
• Political, religious and health related causes.
• Endowments or matching grants.
• Events (including fundraising initiatives, charity dinners, etc).
• In-kind donations.

Other

• Contingency or deficit funds.
• Retroactive funding for expenses incurred prior to EPCOR’s funding decision.
• Utility rebates.
• Advertising or promotional initiatives.
• Capital campaigns, building infrastructure, and general operating costs.

Submit your online application at any time. EPCOR reviews charitable partnership applications twice per year following each submission deadline.

Submission deadlines

• March 15: Edmonton applications only.
• October 15: All Canadian applications, including Edmonton and EPCOR’s operational communities across Canada.

Considerations

• Applications for support outside Edmonton will be reviewed once per year after the October 15 submission deadline.
• Applications received after the submission deadline will be rolled over to the following review period.
• There are two stages to our application process:
  • Stage 1:
    • Provide a brief overview of your initiative and funding request.
    • We do a preliminary review of your request.
    • We will either reach out to ask you to complete the Stage 2 submission or provide regrets following our review.
  • Stage 2:
    • Involves providing a more detailed submission which provides greater insight into your program.
    • Meetings with EPCOR and possible site tours (if applicable).

• Critical needs: We help community members in need take steps toward a better tomorrow by supporting local organizations with the delivery of essential services like food, housing and mental health supports.
• Indigenous initiatives: EPCOR works closely with Indigenous communities to invest in meaningful ways. We look for initiatives that foster equity and cultural connection; and for programs that support Indigenous students and youth along their educational journey.
• Events and festivals: Events and festivals make communities more vibrant — they give us a reason to come together. EPCOR supports events that enrich community life, including those that enhance the local economy, foster creativity, and celebrate arts and culture.
• Sustainability: We invest with the future in mind, supporting initiatives that showcase innovation and technology, and programs that preserve and connect us to the natural resources that sustain communities.

We go beyond just cutting a cheque, and look for opportunities to mobilize our employees, expertise, and other resources unique to EPCOR. Being an active partner allows us to complement your work and build profile for the work we do together.

Strong proposals will include multiple elements below:

• Profile for our brand and leadership team to a large audience.
• A connection to our lines of business: power and water.
• An opportunity for EPCOR to be the first funder of a new initiative.
• Community advancement and/or innovation as a main focus.
• Bringing together community influencers, business, and government (where applicable).
• Opportunities for our employees to engage or volunteer.
• Enhancing diversity and inclusion or supporting underrepresented groups.
• All or a portion of our funds used as matching funds to match dollar-for-dollar funds raised during a campaign.

The organization must:

• Be a registered non-profit organization, registered charity, or Indigenous Nation or community.
• Request support for a specific initiative or event.
• Be able to measure and report on results.

The initiative must:

• Be delivered within an EPCOR operating community or be an Indigenous community with which EPCOR is engaging.
• Directly support at least one of our focus areas.

Use of funds:

• Funds must be applied only toward the approved initiative.
• Funds must be applied within one year of being granted.
• A report must be received prior to re-applying for a previously funded program.

The following organizations and activities are not eligible to receive donations or sponsorship.

Organizations

• Organizations that are not registered non-profit organizations, not registered charities, or not an Indigenous Nation or community.
• For-profit businesses or private organizations.
• Individual or team applicants.
• Advocacy or lobbying organizations.
• Fraternal organizations or commercial third-party fundraising organizations.
• Private or family foundations, trusts or funds.

Activities

• Programs delivered outside EPCOR’s operating communities or Indigenous communities with which EPCOR is engaging.
• Capital campaigns, building infrastructure, and general operating costs.
• Advertising or promotional initiatives.
• Political, religious or health related causes.
• Contingency, deficit or retroactive funding.
• Sports programs or tournaments.
• Utility rebates.
• Individual or team pursuits.

EPCOR reviews applications for donations and sponsorships on an ongoing basis.

Due to the high volume of requests, applications must be received a minimum of 8 weeks prior to the event or initiative to be considered for funding.

We are unable to respond to short-notice requests.