Applications Now Open
Applications for the 2026 Reciprocity Health Fund are open from March 30 – April 30, 2026.
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The Reciprocity Health Fund is an endowment made possible by a donor wanting to have a positive impact on the health of people in and around the Tri-County area.
The goal of this fund is to reduce health inequalities in the Yarmouth, Digby, and Shelburne areas by providing organizations with the opportunity to expand or create new health-related services and activities.
The social determinants of health are the social and economic conditions that impact a person’s health such as income, education, employment, housing, social inclusion and geography.
Organizations must demonstrate a well-defined community health purpose, with projects that support preventative health measures/reduce health inequalities.
Projects/programs are to be delivered in Shelburne, Yarmouth and/or Digby counties.
Applicants are to be a qualified donee as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), other eligible group as defined by the CRA, or have partnered with an eligible organization.
What is a charitable partner?
There are many groups, individuals, and organizations whose purpose is beneficial to the community but who are not registered as charities or qualified donees with CRA. Charities and non-charities often partner to increase their community impact. For example, a youth-serving charity may partner with a non-charity youth group to offer a summer camp. The partnership enables the charity to reach more youth and allows the non-charity to provide activities that might not otherwise be available.
A panel of community members with relevant knowledge and experience will review each application and short-list those best meeting the granting criteria, including recommending grant amounts. CFNS has final approval to ensure projects fulfil the donor’s wishes.
Grants are issued annually, but may be awarded for multi-year projects with plans that describe ongoing evaluation and long-term viability.
The Reciprocity Health Fund has a total of $710,000 available to grant in 2026. Of this, $183,980 is already committed to multi-year grants awarded in 2024 & 2025. This leaves $526,020 available for new projects in 2026.
While there is no minimum or maximum funding request, we recommend applications between $10,000 and $50,000.
Multi-year funding requests accepted: Yes
Applications Open : March 30
Applications Close: April 30
Notification of Success: Early June 2026
Fund Disbursement: June 2026
Project Timeline: The majority of granted funds must be spent on project/program expenses within 12 months. For multi-year projects, grants will be received annually.
Please note, applications will be reviewed and considered using multiple criteria. Decisions will be based on the content of your responses but also take into account the goal of achieving a balanced portfolio of projects that represent diverse causes, regions, and beneficiaries across the Tri-County Area. As such, your program’s alignment with the Reciprocity Health Fund priorities may not be the only factor in determining which projects receive funding.
Applications for the Reciprocity Health Fund are open from March 30 – April 30, 2026.
