Free To Play
Community Foundations of Canada has officially opened applications for Free to Play, a landmark $32M initiative designed to build a movement of outdoor play for children across the country.
Free to Play brings funders, local community foundations, and community organizations together to support children through the power of outdoor play.
Whether it’s climbing, digging, splashing, or imagining, Free to Play invests in initiatives that help kids move, connect, and explore outside.
Application intake has officially opened and will close on February 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST.
Before you apply, review the Applicant Guide and ensure your local community foundation is one of the 22 participating community foundations. Some community foundations will use a participatory grantmaking process. If your community foundation will be doing a participatory process, reach out to your community foundation directly for details on how to participate.
Participating Community Foundations
Free to Play is beginning with 22 community foundations across Canada. This first round is focused on learning, partnership-building, and deep local impact. If your community foundation is not participating yet, we encourage you to stay connected. There will be more opportunities to get involved as the fund grows.
Some community foundations will use a participatory grantmaking process. If your community foundation will be doing a participatory process, reach out to your community foundation directly for details on how to participate and create an account to register your organization in the application system.
Explore Participating Community Foundations here.
Applicant Guide
The Applicant Guide outlines eligibility criteria, project examples, budget guidance, and key tips to support your application. We encourage all applicants to connect with their local participating community foundation to learn more about the process in their community.
Partner with us
We believe every child deserves the chance to play. We’re looking to grow this fund and opportunity for kids and communities across Canada.
We’re seeking philanthropic and corporate partners to help scale Free to Play. Together, we can spark more play, equity, and community impact.
Partnership Inquiries:
Nancy Perry Dossous
Director of Partnerships, Community Foundations of Canada
514-653-8622
ndossous@communityfoundations.ca
Free To Play Partners
Free to Play is made possible through partnership with participating community foundations, Waltons Trust, the Lawson Foundation, and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.
