Funding Snapshot

Maximum Award:
  • Funding for up to 80%* of eligible costs
  • Grant up to a maximum of $175,000** 
Open To:

The following organizations are eligible for GMF funding:

  •    Canadian municipal governments (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts and local boards)
    • Eligible to apply alone or in collaboration with other eligible municipal governments
  • Organizations applying in partnership with municipal governments, which include:  
    • Municipal corporations
    • Regional, provincial or territorial organizations delivering municipal services
    • Indigenous communities or organizations  
    • Not-for-profit organizations registered in Canada (e.g., charitable organizations; volunteer organizations; community, professional, industry or other associations; land conservation organizations; and non-government organizations)

For-profit organizations or academic institution are not eligible to apply as lead applicants but can be collaborators on the plan or study. 

 

Expected Output:

Your plan or study must focus on the forests and trees in your community and be part of one or more of the following categories:  

  • urban forest strategy or plan
  • tree planting strategy or plan
  • urban forestry policy or guideline  
  • urban forestry community engagement strategy or plan  
  • urban forest assessment and analysis
Application Deadline:

We will accept and approve applications as they are received, and so you are encouraged to apply as soon as your application is complete. Applications will be accepted until April 15, 2026, or until the funding is fully subscribed. The Green Municipal Fund reserves the right to close the call for applications once funding has been fully allocated.

 

Eligible Costs:

*See the Eligible costs.

**Municipalities are only eligible to receive funding for one Urban forestry plan or study.  

*The following applicants may qualify for additional funding of eligible project costs:

  • Municipalities with populations fewer than 10,000, northern and remote communities will receive a cost share of 90%
  • Indigenous communities or municipalities applying in partnership with an Indigenous community will receive a cost share of 100%

Northern community: A community located in the North, which in the context of GMF funding is defined as the three territories and the northern portion of the following seven provinces, as defined by Statistics Canada codes: Newfoundland and Labrador (10), Québec (24), Ontario (35), Manitoba (46), Saskatchewan (47), Alberta (48) and British Columbia (59). 

Remote community: In the context of GMF funding, communities listed on the Canada Revenue Agency list of places located in prescribed zones (formerly referred to as “Northern communities”).

Indigenous community: In the context of GMF funding, an Indigenous community (which includes First Nations, Métis and Inuit) is eligible to apply if a province or territory has passed an act or a regulation that affords a community the status of a municipality, if the Indigenous community is undertaking an eligible project in partnership with a municipal government, or if the Indigenous community has a shared service agreement for any purpose with a municipal government related to municipal infrastructure, climate change or adaptation. 

What we fund

We fund plans or studies focused on the sustainable expansion and resilience of community forests and trees, such as urban forest management plans. Your plan or study must contribute to future tree planting initiatives in your community.

Your plan or study must outline how your community will implement the results of this work to make real, measurable changes. It must also consider socio-economic benefits, community climate change resilience, biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Your community can receive funding for plans and studies that will prioritize equity-deserving communities and address systematic inequalities in tree planting locations, resource distribution and access to the long-term benefits of trees and urban green spaces.  

What your plan or study needs to achieve

Your plan or study must focus on the forests and trees in your community, and it will need to be characterized as one of the following categories of eligible plans or studies.  

This list is not exhaustive, and we encourage municipalities to explore projects that align with their unique urban forestry challenges and community needs. 
 

Urban forest strategy or plan

These are long-term strategies or action plans to manage, enhance and protect the entire urban forest.    

For example:  

  • urban forest strategy or management plan (or update to an existing strategy or plan)  
  • urban forest operational plan (e.g. implementation, long-term maintenance, monitoring)  
  • urban forest asset management plan  
Tree planting strategy or plan

These are strategies or plans specifically aimed at guiding community-wide or regional tree planting efforts, with a focus on achieving strategic tree planting goals and priorities, such as increasing tree abundance.  

For example:  

  • tree planting strategy or framework  
  • tree planting master plan  
Urban forestry policy or guideline

These are policies or guidelines that help shape effective urban forestry policies, such as those that govern tree preservation, planting and maintenance.

For example:  

  • tree or urban forest bylaws  
  • technical guidelines, manuals, standards and specifications  
  • urban forestry best-practices and operational design standards  
Urban forestry community engagement strategy or plan

These are plans to involve community members in urban forest management and education.  

For example:  

  • urban forest collaboration and partnership plans (e.g. stakeholder or rightsholder engagement plans)  
  • community education and engagement strategy  
  • capacity building strategy for tree planting and maintenance 
Urban forest assessment and analysis

These are projects that involve gathering, analyzing and assessing data and information to better understand and manage urban forests.  

For example:  

  • tree inventory  
  • land cover analysis (e.g. canopy cover, plantable area)  
  • planting site inventory  
  • canopy growth modelling  
  • planting prioritization study (e.g. urban heat, equity)  
  • forest structure and function study (e.g. biodiversity, connectivity, ecosystem services)  
  • urban forest climate vulnerability assessment  
  • urban forest current conditions assessment/baseline analysis (e.g. criteria and indicators assessment)
  • urban tree risk assessment (e.g. environmental, financial) 


Required documents 

Required documents will differ depending on the type of applicant. See the application guide for details.  

 

Question 1

Which of the following best describes your organization?

For-profit organizations or academic institution are not eligible to apply as lead applicants but can be collaborators on the plan or study. 

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

Question 1a

Do you have a partnership in place with a Canadian municipality? (You will be required to submit a municipal council resolution stating municipal partnership).

Question 2

Will this be the first time the lead municipality receives GMF funding for an Urban forestry plan or study?

Question 2a

Will this be the first time the lead municipality receives GMF funding for an Urban forestry plan or study?

Question 3

Will your plan or study contribute to future tree planting initiatives in your community?

Question 4

Will your plan or study outline how your community will implement the results to make real, measurable changes?

Question 5

Will your plan or study be undertaken and completed in the next two years? 

It sounds like your plan or study could be a good fit for our funding.  

The next step is to download the application guide and confirm your eligibility by completing the pre-application form through FCM’s funding portal and following the instructions in the application guide to complete it.

To further discuss your application, contact a GMF representative to schedule an appointment:  

1-877-417-0550  

gmfinfo@fcm.ca

Book a meeting with a GMF representative 

No recommendation

This funding is intended to support Canadian municipal governments and eligible partners with urban forestry plans and studies. Unfortunately, your organization cannot access this funding because you are not partnered with a municipality on this plan or study.  

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

Municipalities are only eligible to receive funding for one urban forestry plan or study. If you have already received approval for this funding, you are not eligible.  

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

Municipalities are only eligible to receive funding for one urban forestry plan or study. If you have already received approval for this funding, you are not eligible.  

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

Your plan or study must contribute to increasing your community’s capacity for future tree planting initiatives.

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

Funded urban forestry plans and studies should be able to clearly describe and implement the tangible, positive changes within their community.  

Learn about key technology and tools that you can use to measure, analyze and make decisions about your tree canopies in our Factsheet: Urban forestry technology and tools.

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

Unfortunately, this funding requires your plan or study be completed in the next two years.  

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

This funding is intended to support Canadian municipal governments and eligible partners with urban forestry plans and studies. Unfortunately, your organization cannot access this funding because you are not partnered with a municipality on this plan or study.  

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

Municipalities are only eligible to receive funding for one urban forestry plan or study. If you have already received approval for this funding, you are not eligible.  

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

Municipalities are only eligible to receive funding for one urban forestry plan or study. If you have already received approval for this funding, you are not eligible.  

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

Your plan or study must contribute to increasing your community’s capacity for future tree planting initiatives.

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

Funded urban forestry plans and studies should be able to clearly describe and implement the tangible, positive changes within their community.  

Learn about key technology and tools that you can use to measure, analyze and make decisions about your tree canopies in our Factsheet: Urban forestry technology and tools.

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

No recommendation

Unfortunately, this funding requires your plan or study be completed in the next two years.  

Check out our resources for practical, hands-on tools and knowledge that can support your community’s efforts to expand its canopy.

Sign up for FCM Connect to stay informed about GMF funding, resources and training.

Discover other GMF funding available to local governments to fund infrastructure and support a net-zero Canada. 

Access urban forestry coaching

You can access free coaching from urban forestry professionals to improve the quality of your application and receive answers to technical questions about your plan or study. If you are interested in speaking with a coach to support your application, please ask your GMF representative to refer you.

Coaches can help you with:

  • Scoping your project and reviewing methodology
  • Maximizing project benefits  
  • Ensuring your project is informed by best practices in urban forestry

Please refer to our coaching webpage for more information on this service. 

How to apply 

  1. Complete the Readiness check.
  2. Download and review the application guide.
  3. Review the funding details in Appendix A of the application guide.
  4. Review the list of pre-requisites and supporting documents in Appendix B of the application guide.
  5. Review eligible and ineligible project costs.  
  6. Consult Appendix D: Reporting requirements of the application guide to ensure that your project’s budget includes sufficient resources to meet reporting requirements.
  7. Visit FCM’s funding portal to create your profile and request a PIN to access the system or access your existing profile.  
  8. Obtain the necessary pre-application form through FCM’s funding portal.    
  9. Submit a pre-application form through FCM’s funding portal.

Quebec municipalities 

FCM is working with Quebec's ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation (MAMH) to ensure FCM can fund Urban forestry plans and studies 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

Learn more about the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative

Discover the ways GMF is supporting communities in planting the right trees in the right places.

Have you completed the Readiness check and determined you could be eligible? 

To further discuss your application, schedule an appointment with a GMF representative: