UFA Foundation Programs
Rural Communities Grants
The UFA ACF Rural Communities Grant program is built on the success of the former UFA Rural Communities Foundation, which provided $500,000 in capital funding over five years to a total of 20 projects.
Through the Rural Communities Grant program, the UFA Foundation was pleased to offer $100,000 in funding grants in 2024 for local capital projects that enrich education, recreation and culture for the betterment of the agricultural community.
Watch for details on our 2025 funding program coming soon.
Eligibility
Agricultural communities are encouraged to apply for a minimum of $10,000, up to a total of $100,000 for projects that support recreational, educational and cultural facilities and programs.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Represent a capital project that will be completed within two years
- Align with one of the three funding categories of recreational, educational events and activities, or cultural facilities and programs
- Enrich the rural life of agricultural, farming and ranching community members who live within 200 km of a UFA location
- Are planned to be available and accessible for community use
- Have a demonstrated need and show positive impact within the community; and
- Do not duplicate existing services
Funding cannot be used for the following:
- Program operating expenses
- Ongoing program delivery
- Hosting annual events/conferences
- Advertising or marketing costs
- Travel, accommodations and/or meal expenses
- Fundraising activities or salaries
- Debt retirement
- Emergency funding
Guidelines
Applications must be completed in full to be considered for a grant. Grant recipients must provide the opportunity for recognition and permanent signage of UFA Foundation to be placed at or near the project.
2024 Recipients
2024 Grant Announcement
In our inaugural year, we are pleased to report we received more than 400 applications for rural community grant support. With so many worthy causes, the final decision proved very difficult and we wish all applicants the best of luck with their projects.
Congratulations to the following organizations who will be sharing the $100,000 grant: The Kneehill Historical Society, Rimbey Agricultural Society, Weyburn Agricultural Society and the Wrentham Community Centre.
Jennifer Wood, UFA Agricultural Community Foundation Advisory Board Chair, shares the exciting news in a short video. Watch it now for more detail on our winning recipient’s projects:
2024 UFA ACF Winning Recipients on Vimeo
The Kneehill Historical Society
The history of Kneehill County has been celebrated for decades through artifacts, photos and archives at the Kneehill Historical Museum. The newest addition to the museum is a 9,000 sq. ft. “Connections” Building, to connect two existing buildings. Greeting guests as they enter the new facility will be a 20 foot by 30-foot multi-media space graciously named the “UFA Theatre and Seminar Room.”
The $15,000 UFA ACF Rural Communities Grant will be used to help cover the costs of the equipment for the new media space. The facility is open to organizations, groups and families to gain a taste of the past. When the new “UFA Theatre and Seminar Room,” is ready, all visitors will be able to learn about and celebrate agricultural and rural history in a unique way.
Rimbey Agricultural Society
The Rimbey Ag Society has long served as the heart of their rural community – a gathering place for events that celebrate an agricultural heritage and lifestyle. A new, larger facility (Agrim Centre) was built to host events for people to come together to learn, laugh, share stories and make new memories. Central to the Agrim Centre is a need for adequate kitchen facilities to enable safe food preparation for agricultural community gatherings for decades to come.
To this end, the kitchen expansion received $30,000 from the UFA ACF Rural Communities Grant. The enhanced kitchen space will allow for a wider range of activities and events year-round in support of agricultural communities, from farm-to-table dinners to large-scale community feasts. The kitchen will support local farmers, producers, bakers and artisans, fostering a sense of pride and connection to its community roots.
Weyburn Agricultural Society
Originally built to host farm camps, seed grain fairs, 4-H calf sales and curling bonspiels in the winter, Weyburn’s Exhibition Hall has served generations of people year-round since 1960. It has become a gathering place for family weddings, reunions, cabarets, fundraising dinners and trade shows and is the only facility in the community that can house large numbers of people.
This 65-year-old building has undergone interior upgrades over the years, but more work is required to complete the project. The $25,000 UFA ACF Rural Communities Grant will be applied to the repair work that is underway.
Wrentham Community Centre
The Wrentham Community Centre is nestled in the heart of the small community of Wrentham, Alta. and serves as a gathering place for recreational and social engagements that serve Wrentham’s agricultural community. The facility includes a curling rink, skating rink, kitchen and social hall, and is the only public-use facility in the community. This project aims to enhance the lifespan of this vital space that was originally constructed in 1956-57 and is in need of repair.
The $30,000 UFA ACF Rural Communities Grant will be used to help with one of the most urgent repairs – a new header system within the curling rink. The preservation of this well-used facility will help ensure a thriving future of connection for the community of Wrentham and its surrounding rural areas.
We’re here to help!
Connect with us today if you have questions about our funding programs, the online application process or eligibility requirements.