Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants

With extreme weather becoming more frequent, unpredictable, and severe, we’re proud to help more communities become more resilient through our Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants.

This year’s program is investing $200,000 to support local projects dedicated to helping communities with extreme weather adaptation and mitigation.

We’re proud to recognize the five recipients of our 2025 Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants program, each working to protect their communities from the growing impacts of extreme weather.

2025 Local Grant recipients

The Couchiching Conservancy (Ontario)

The Couchiching Conservancy's Climate Resiliency and Flexible Stewardship Project combines climate-vulnerability mapping, emergency planning, and proactive forest and grassland management to help communities in the Carden Conservation Corridor reduce flood and wildfire risks. The project will also build local capacity through community workshops, volunteer training, and citizen science programs.

Organisme de bassins versants: Société de conservation et d’aménagement du bassin de la rivière Châteauguay, OBV SCABRIC (Québec)

OBV SCABRIC's Decentralized Bioretention Training project will help communities in its operating area adapt to flooding and drought risks through training for municipalities and related organizations on best practices for sustainable stormwater management, including small-scale bioretention systems and nature-based solutions.

Long Point Biosphere Region (Ontario)

The Long Point Biosphere Region's North Shore Resilience Project aims to reduce impacts from flooding, erosion, and high water levels along Lake Erie's north shore to protect homes and municipal infrastructure. The project will use dune restoration with native grasses along 140m of coastline to strengthen coastal defenses in partnership with numerous community and conservation groups. Community engagement and educational initiatives will foster participation and awareness of sustainable coastal practices, building resilient communities across the region.

Living Lakes Canada (British Columbia)

Living Lakes Canada's Mapping Water Resources for Wildfire Suppression project will help communities in southeast BC adapt to increasing wildfire risks and drought conditions. The project will create detailed maps of water resources and other important features, which will be shared with emergency responders to reduce response times and protect homes and infrastructure.

Hamilton Conservation Foundation (Ontario)

Hamilton Conservation Authority's Saltfleet Wetland Restoration Project will help reduce flooding and erosion in East Hamilton by restoring natural wetland functions. With work now advancing toward the third wetland, the expanding system is designed to store and slow runoff and improve downstream conditions during heavy runoff events. The project will also provide opportunities for community education and stewardship.

Since its launch in 2024, the Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants have provided over $488,000 to local organizations. The initiative is part of the Wawanesa Climate Champions program that invests $2 million annually to help people and organizations on the front lines who are working to build more resilient communities.

Application Components

Project Eligibility

Review the project eligibility and criteria below to learn about the types of organizations and projects that qualify within this granting initiative.

Budget Template

Download and complete the Budget Template form. You must include a completed Budget Template with your application.

Budget template

Online Application Form

Complete and submit your grant application.

Our grant application process is now closed.

Project eligibility and criteria

What activities can the grant be used for?

This grant funding is available to support those groups and organizations helping to increase community resilience against the impacts of our changing climate, specifically projects working to adapt to or mitigate the effects of extreme weather such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes, hailstorms and other catastrophic weather events.

The project must:

address a local challenge posed by extreme weather and clearly describe how the project will help mitigate or adapt to extreme weather events
align to one or more of our pillars: Environmental Guardians, Community Protectors, Youth Stewards
help build climate resilience for the long term
have measurable impact and broad community benefits
include a project budget and timeline
take place in Canada and be completed within 12 months of receiving the grant (Dec 1, 2025 to Dec 1, 2026)

Funding cannot be applied to normal operations of an organization. For a full breakdown of eligible and ineligible expenses, view the downloadable “Budget Template.”

Who can apply?

Any of the following organization types may apply:

Non-profit/charitable organizations
Non-government organizations (NGO)
Indigenous communities
Social enterprises
Academic institutions
Municipal or provincial government entities

Applications from disproportionately affected communities may be prioritized.

Who is not eligible?

Potential applicants

Individuals or individual pursuits
For-profit organizations
Religious organizations
National organizations – this initiative is designed to support local communities and organizations
Political campaigns, individuals, and parties that have political relations

Projects/initiatives

Multi-year funded projects
Event sponsorships
Conferences
Endowment campaigns
Fundraising events
Playgrounds

Q&A

How long does it take to complete an application?

The application form takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Before you begin, be sure to have a well thought out project, including a budget plan, timeline, and explanation of how your project will help your community adapt or mitigate against extreme weather.

Can I start my application form and save it or edit my application at a later date prior to submitting?

No. Once you begin the application form, please be prepared to submit it in its entirety.

What must be included with my application?

Applications are considered complete when they include the following:

Completed Budget Template
Completed online application form

When are applications due?

The application period is open now. Submit your application before September 26, 2025 at 11 p.m. (Central Time) for consideration.

When will the applicants selected for a grant award be contacted?

We will contact selected applicants in early November.

How much grant money can I apply for?

Applicants can apply for up to $50,000 per project.

How many grants will be awarded?

We are aiming to select four (4) grant recipients to receive $50,000 each for a total of up to $200,000 in grant funding. We may choose to award additional grants if the full funding amount is not exhausted by the initial four grant recipients.

How will the grants be selected?

A committee of Wawanesa Insurance employees will review each application and select the final grant recipients.

When can project work begin?

The project must take place and be completed within 12 months of receiving grant funding (Dec 1, 2025 to Dec 1, 2026).

Where can projects take place?

Projects must take place within Canada.

What if I still have questions about my application or the application process?

Please contact communityimpact@wawanesa.com with any questions you have.

Application submissions will be evaluated by a committee of select Wawanesa employees. This Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants initiative is subject to the Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants initiative Terms & Conditions. By applying for a grant, all applicants are aware of and accept all of the Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants initiative Terms & Conditions.