This article is part of our Strengthening Communities Through Climate Adaptation series. Each piece shares practical ideas and offers real-world strategies to help communities plan, fund and carry out climate adaptation projects that reflect their local priorities.
Climate adaptation takes time, resources and coordination. Even with some available grants, the reality is that no single funding opportunity is going to cover the scope of what municipalities are facing. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t smart ways to get started, move forward and build something that can last.
The key is finding strategies that make the most of what’s available now while creating opportunities to bring in more support later. This includes stacking funding sources, phasing projects, making incremental improvements, drawing on training and planning tools, and working with neighbouring communities on shared goals. It also means recognizing that adaptation is rarely a one-department job. It’s a long game, and it works better when it’s shared.
The layered approach: Combining funding and support
Stacking—or combining multiple funding sources—can fill financial gaps and help projects move forward. But funding isn’t the only layer that matters. Support also comes in the form of partnerships, regional collaboration and shared tools that make the work more manageable.
Try this:
- Use the Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool to get a sense of where your municipality stands and where to focus next.
- Use GMF’s Climate-Ready Plans and Processes funding to develop a strong climate adaptation plan.
- Once you have a better understanding of what your specific climate challenges are, access GMF’s Feasibility Study funding to determine if your plans will work well for your community. As a bonus, this will make it easier to unlock GMF’s Implementation Projects funding later.
- When you’re ready you can apply for GMF’s Implementation Projects funding to bring your ideas to life.
- Pair GMF funding with other provincial, federal or private funding opportunities to cover different components of your project.
- Tap into your community’s existing infrastructure budgets. For example, if roads or stormwater systems are already being upgraded, integrating climate adaptation measures makes good financial sense.
- Collaborate with neighbouring municipalities to co-develop plans, share project leads or coordinate submissions that stretch local staff capacity.
The phased approach: Start small and build momentum
Climate adaptation doesn’t have to mean all-or-nothing. In fact, trying to do everything at once can stall progress. A phased approach allows communities to focus on what’s achievable now, while setting the stage for larger investments down the line.
Try this:
- Begin with smaller, lower-cost interventions that reduce immediate risks or improve public spaces, such as natural flood barriers, shade trees, or installing green infrastructure.
- Unlock GMF’s Feasibility Study funding to refine the scope of the project and identify cost-effective, scalable solutions.
- Phase in larger infrastructure upgrades over multiple budget cycles to spread out costs and align with available funding and utilize funding opportunities for strategic parts of the plan.
- Factor in future climate conditions when designing infrastructure. Investing in resilience upfront often adds just a small percentage to capital costs but can prevent far greater expenses down the line.
- Consider other provincial, federal or private funding opportunities that you might not be eligible for now but may be in the future and plan accordingly. GMF’s Implementation Projects funding or its Capital Projects funding are great options to explore.
Go further with collaboration and training
Adaptation gets easier when the work, and the learning, is shared. Many communities are finding ways to strengthen their approach by connecting with peers, building internal capacity and learning from trusted organizations already working in this space.
Whether it's’ a course, a coaching session, or a collaborative planning process, these opportunities can help teams feel more equipped, aligned and ready to move forward.
Try this:
- Join a community of practice to connect with peers working on similar challenges
- Seek out one-on-one coaching or mentorship to support planning or project design
- Enroll in training programs from organizations with deep municipal or climate adaptation expertise
- Coordinate with neighbouring communities on joint plans, aligned projects, or shared consultants
- Share lessons learned or seek out success stories from communities like yours
Get started
The reality is climate adaptation isn’t about finding a single solution. It’s about combining what’s available, what’s achievable, and what’s most urgent. That includes funding, but also includes partnerships, tools and shared knowledge.
By stacking funds, phasing implementation, and working with others, your municipality can move from planning to action—even if the path forward isn’t linear. The goal isn’t to solve everything, it’s to keep moving, together.
Want to learn more? Explore GMF’s Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative to see how you can get started.
Explore more from this series:
- Nature is community infrastructure
- Adaptation is an investment that works for your bottom line
- Climate adaptation: You might be closer than you think