London Community Foundation grant program supports systemic and sustainable community impact.
London, ON – London Community Foundation’s Community Vitality grant program – one of the Foundation’s largest funding streams – has awarded over $1.45 million to support six projects in London and Middlesex County run by local charities.
The Community Vitality grant program provides vital support to charities tackling critical issues in our communities. The grant recipients this year are doing this through creating farmer-led solutions to address environmental concerns, increasing the capacity of crucial local mental health services, enhancing social connection programming for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and improving access to free food and essential goods, low-cost veterinary care, and tenant rights information.
“These charities are using the Community Vitality grant to strengthen our communities and the people within them. The funded programs are innovative, resourceful, and truly run by the community, for the community. Our team and Board of Directors are honoured to support these charities and the critical work they’re doing every day,” said Lori Runciman, Director of Community Impact, London Community Foundation.
The 2026 Community Vitality grant recipients are:
- ALUS Middlesex: Enhancing Climate Resilience in Middlesex County ($345,000 over 3 years)
- Daya Counselling Centre: Trauma Recovery Initiative ($180,000 over 3 years)
- Humane Society of London & Middlesex: Low-Cost Veterinary Care for Low-Income Community Members ($275,000 over 3 years)
- Lionhearts London: London Food & Goods Rescue Program ($262,500 over 1 year)
- London ACORN: Building Capacity in Renter Communities ($150,000 over 3 years)
- Queer Intersections: 2SLGBTQlA+ Community Hub Program ($242,163 over 3 years)
The annual Community Vitality grants are made possible by Community Fund fundholders, as well as donations from families, individuals, and businesses to London Community Foundation’s Community Fund. This fund pools contributions to enable collective support for organizations that are addressing the issue areas in the Foundation’s flagship Vital Signs report: climate & environment, gender equality, good health & wellbeing (including mental health and addictions, and the arts), housing, reduced inequalities, and zero hunger.
Donors and fundholders trust the volunteers from the London and Middlesex region who make up the Foundation’s Grants Committee to review all Community Vitality applications and select the recipients for review and approval by the London Community Foundation Board of Directors.
“Thanks to the generosity, belief, and trust placed in us by our fundholders and donors, London Community Foundation’s Grants Committee is able to award grants year after year that turns the generosity of our donors and fundholders into action and impact,” said Runciman.
Since its launch in 2011, the Community Vitality grant program has awarded 76 grants totaling more than $15.8 million to organizations in London, Middlesex County, and the neighbouring First Nations.
Photos of all grant recipients are available online for use by media outlets. Please credit: Photo courtesy of London Community Foundation. Photo details are available by contacting Matthew Brewer at matthew@lcf.on.ca. More information about each grant is available here.
