Community Foundation Grey Bruce (CFGB) is inviting eligible local organizations in Grey Bruce to apply for funding through Free to Play, a new initiative supporting outdoor, unstructured play for children and youth.
Free to Play is led by Community Foundations of Canada with support from the Waltons Trust, the Lawson Foundation, and participating community foundations across the country. The program backs community-led solutions that remove barriers to play and create inclusive, safe, and imaginative spaces where kids can move, grow, and connect. Community Foundation Grey Bruce has $205,000 available to disburse locally in this first of two calls for applications.
“This is an exciting opportunity to help all children in our community enjoy safe, joyful, unstructured, and meaningful play,” says Rick Hill, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Free to Play supports local projects that help kids explore, take on challenges, and build lifelong skills and friendships through play.”
Projects supported by Free to Play may include:
· Reimagining public spaces to encourage unstructured play in natural environments.
· Nature-based and cultural programs, such as forest classrooms.
· Creative, community-led play programs that reflect local imagination and needs.
· Equipment libraries where families can borrow toys and gear at no cost.
Eligible applicants include registered charities, incorporated non-profits, Indigenous organizations, and other qualified donees.
“Free to Play is about more than play – it’s about equity, imagination, and belonging,” says Stuart Reid, Executive Director of CFGB. “We’re excited to work with local partners to make play more accessible for all kids, especially those who face systemic barriers.”
Applications in Grey Bruce open on November 28, 2025, and close on February 24, 2026. Applicants can download the applicant guide from CFGB’s website: communityfoundationgreybruce.com and then apply through the national portal.
About Community Foundation Grey Bruce: Created in 1994, Community Foundation Grey Bruce has a mandate to enhance community vitality by fostering open discussion about local need, sharing knowledge, and growing endowments to provide strategic granting and support to a wide range of non-profit organizations.
About Free to Play: Free to Play is an initiative led by Community Foundations of Canada, seeded by the Waltons Trust with support from the Lawson Foundation. The fund supports unstructured, outdoor play for children across Canada through community-led projects delivered by local community foundations.
Learn more at: https://communityfoundations.ca/initiatives/free-to-play
