Feasibility study: Adaptation in Action
Funding for climate adaptation through municipal services
ADAPTATION IN ACTION
Read the guide for more information on creating a successful application.
Read the application guideFunding Snapshot
- Grant up to 80%* of eligible costs
- Up to a maximum of $70,000
The following organizations are eligible for GMF funding.
- Canadian municipal governments (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts, and local boards)
- Municipal partners, which include:
- Municipally owned corporations
- Regional, provincial or territorial organizations delivering municipal services
- Non-governmental organizations
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Research institutes (e.g., universities)
- Indigenous community
For-profit entities are not eligible partners.
A feasibility study of a climate adaptation project that improves municipal readiness for climate events.
The deadline to submit a full application for this funding is August 14, 2024.
We recommend that you submit your application as soon as it is complete, so GMF can review it and flag any issues for your attention before the application window has closed. Only applications that are complete when the application window closes will be considered for this round of funding.
Funding decisions will prioritize projects from applicants who have not yet received funding for Adaptation in Action implementation projects or feasibility studies.
See Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation for details about our next funding application timeframe.
*The following applicants may qualify for additional grant funding of up to 100% of eligible project costs:
- Rural or remote communities, and municipalities with populations below 10,000, will receive a cost share of 90%
- Indigenous communities and local governments applying in partnership with an Indigenous community will receive a cost share of 100%
What we fund
We fund feasibility studies that assess the viability of climate adaptation projects with expected eligible costs of up to $1M.
Feasibility studies (along with other verification methods) help you determine the practicality and viability of your project. This type of study usually examines a project’s financial, technical, legal and operational aspects, plus scheduling and other factors. Study results provide insights into the project’s achievability and the likelihood of its success.
Identifying a project’s potential challenges, risks and opportunities through a feasibility study enables decision-makers to make informed choices about whether to proceed, modify or abandon a proposed initiative.
What your project needs to achieve
We aim to fund high-impact initiatives and strive to make funding eligibility clear.
For more information on this funding offer, please see the Local Leadership for Climate Action Application Guide – Adaptation in Action.
The feasibility study must include the following:
- Focus on a project that would be eligible for funding under Adaptation in Action’s Implementation Projects funding offer, with a reasonable expectation that eligible project costs will not exceed $1 million
- An options analysis to assess the feasibility of incorporating nature-based solutions and minimizing or reducing project-related greenhouse gas emissions
- Assessment of the opportunities to benefit equity-deserving and marginalized communities through the project
- Inclusive engagement practices* as part of the study’s process
- Demonstration that new infrastructure assets are not at high risk of flooding damage (if the proposed asset will be located within the 100-year floodplain, the applicant will be required to show evidence that the asset has been designed to be resilient to flooding)
- Focus on a project that is aligned with a priority risk in your community’s climate risk assessment, or a priority action in your community’s climate adaptation plan
*Inclusive engagement refers to a collaborative and participatory process that actively involves the diverse voices and perspectives within a community and ensures that all community members are given an opportunity to contribute to decision-making processes.
Readiness check
Question 1
Question 1a
This funding is intended to support Canadian municipal governments and eligible partners with climate change adaptation.
Unfortunately, your organization cannot access this funding.
Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your project efforts and address municipal challenges.
Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.
Discover other GMF funding offered to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada.
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
It sounds like you have the start of an excellent project. We’d like to continue the conversation.
The next step to confirm your eligibility is to contact a GMF representative. They’ll give you a pre-application form and support you in starting your application.
Please contact us now
No recommendation
No recommendation
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Required documents
To apply for GMF funding, you must submit:
- a pre-application form
- an application form
- a project workbook
- all required supporting documents specified in the application guide
A GMF project officer will be your point of contact throughout the process and will review your file and provide feedback. You may be asked to revisit some steps to help you submit a complete and high-quality application.
Application process
Phase 1: Readiness check
Before applying, please complete the readiness check to determine if your feasibility study could be eligible for funding and to learn about next steps.
Phase 2: Contact a GMF representative
After you have completed the readiness check and determined your eligibility, please contact a GMF representative to discuss your project and obtain the necessary pre-application form through FCM’s funding portal.
Contact a GMF representative to schedule an appointment:
1-877-417-0550
Book a meeting with a GMF representative
Phase 3: Pre-application submission
You can submit your completed pre-application form through FCM’s funding portal. To do this, create a client profile and follow the steps in the portal to submit your pre-application form. Supporting documents are not required at this stage—they will need to be submitted as attachments with your full application form only.
Contact a GMF representative if you are having any problems with this phase:
1-877-417-0550
Book a meeting with a GMF representative
Phase 4: GMF pre-application review
A GMF representative will review your pre-application form. They will confirm whether your organization and initiative are eligible to proceed to the next stage of the application process.
Phase 5: Full application submission
If your organization and initiative are confirmed to be eligible to proceed to the next stage, your GMF representative will inform you that the full application form is available through FCM’s funding portal. They will also provide you with a project workbook template to complete and submit with the full application form.
It is important to note that even if a project is deemed eligible to move forward with a full application, it does not guarantee that the project will be approved for funding.
As you complete the application form, contact a GMF representative if you have any questions. Once you’ve filled out the application form and project workbook and attached the required supporting documents, submit them to GMF through FCM’s funding portal.
Phase 6: GMF project officer review
Once the full application form is submitted, a GMF project officer will be assigned to your file and will review your application for accuracy and completeness. They will work with you to resolve any remaining questions and be your point of contact throughout the remainder of the application and funding-decision process.
Phase 7: Peer review and internal review
Feasibility study applications will be assessed internally by GMF staff. Funding recommendations are then provided to GMF Council and FCM’s Board of Directors.
Phase 8: Funding decision
GMF Council makes funding recommendations to FCM’s Board of Directors for funding approval. The average time for a funding decision is 6 months after submission of your full application form.
How to apply
- Complete the online readiness check
- Download and review the application guide
- Reach out to a GMF representative to discuss your project at gmfinfo@fcm.ca or 1-877-417-0550.
- Review the list of prerequisites and supporting documents in appendix D of the application guide.
- Review the eligible and ineligible costs.
- Ensure you have a detailed project budget in place and are securing other funding sources for your project.
- Visit the FCM funding portal to create your profile and request a PIN to access the system. Already have an FCM funding portal profile? Skip to Step 8.
- Complete the pre-application form.
Quebec municipalities
FCM is working with Quebec's ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation (MAMH) to confirm an agreement that allows FCM to fund feasibility studies for climate adaptation projects in Quebec. Once an agreement is reached, FCM will invite Quebec municipalities to apply.
Non-municipal organizations with a partnership with Quebec municipalities are eligible and invited to apply to access this funding.
Municipally owned corporations are not included in the agreement with the ministry. They must obtain authorization from the Quebec government to secure an agreement with FCM, in accordance with the Ministère du Conseil exécutif. Private non-profit organizations can submit their applications to FCM directly.
Need help to see if this is the right funding for you?
Contact our Outreach team who can answer any questions you have relating to this funding opportunity.
Learn more about the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative
Discover the ways GMF is supporting communities to become more resilient to climate change impacts.
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