Unsmoke Canada Cleanups is a grant-giving program established in 2020 through a partnership between The Great Outdoors Fund and #UnsmokeCanada to support litter cleanup projects anywhere in Canada.

The Great Outdoors Fund is a nonprofit dedicated to generating voluntary funding from the private sector to assist public agencies and    nonprofit organization in keeping the great outdoors healthy and open for the benefit and enjoyment of people of all ages, abilities and socio-economic backgrounds.

#UnsmokeCanada is an initiative of Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, Inc. (RBH) to help rid Canada of cigarettes by 2035.  RBH recognizes its responsibility to be stewards of its products and is committed to encouraging and enabling society to reduce litter globally.

From city parks to national parks, our goal is to help everyone work together to keep Canada’s great outdoors great!

To learn more and access this funding opportunity, click here. It’s free, but you will need to sign up as a new user and create an account with Submittal in order to apply for a grant.

Who Can Apply:

  • Nonprofit organizations with a connection to nature, outdoor recreation, outdoor conservation, health and wellness, volunteer engagement, and/or community service.
  • Applications from individuals or government agencies will not be considered.

What We Will Fund:

  • Unsmoke Canada Cleanups will only award funding to help pay for expenses associated with organizing, hosting and promoting the success of litter cleanup projects.
  • Eligible expenses for funding from Unsmoke Canada Cleanups. Examples include trash bags (biodegradable or recyclable bags encouraged), gloves, hand sanitizer/wipes, first aid kits, water, ice, food and beverages (non-alcoholic only) to kick off and/or celebrate the completion of a volunteer work event, costs associated with trash collection and removal, rental of tools and equipment (e.g. rakes, tables, etc.), supplies for volunteer work event (signage, etc.), or items similar to those mentioned above.
  • The maximum amount of funding Unsmoke Canada Cleanups will award any organization is $5,000 CAD.
  • While we do not require projects to leverage funding from other sources in addition to Unsmoke Canada Cleanups grants, it is highly recommended.

2021 Schedule and Deadlines:

  • Grant applications will be accepted until May 31, 2021.
  • Grant applicants will be notified by no later than May 31, 2021, as to whether or not their project will be awarded funding.
  • Projects must be completed by all grant recipients no later than September 30, 2021.
  • Final reports from grant recipients must be submitted no later than two weeks after the completion of a project.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

  • All volunteers must be 19+ years of age.

COVID-19:

  • The health and safety of Canadians is our top priority.
  • We ask all grant recipients to follow the advice of public health officials at the municipal, provincial and federal level.
  • New legislation and bylaws have been put in place which have not existed in the past, be sure to see how these may impact your cleanup project.
  • Unsmoke Canada Cleanups will not be responsible for any fees or penalties the applicant incurs for violating government bylaws.

Many parks and public spaces have been closed to help Canadians maintain physical distance, please continue to check government websites and social media accounts for updates on closures and restrictions in your community.