Municipal Wellness Grants

Municipal Wellness Grant Program 2025-2026

Overview and Guidelines

The Municipal Wellness Grants Program funds projects that promote workplace wellness for municipal employees and elected officials, through new initiatives, for example: activities, events, projects, or enhancements to existing initiatives.

• ​Eligibility: These grants are only available to municipalities participating in the NSFM Group Benefits program. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact Melanie Bower at . Your CAO must endorse your municipality’s proposal.
• Deadline: Complete the application form by March 31 at 4:30 pm. Submissions can be sent to Melanie Bower. Applications will be reviewed in April.

Selection: Proposals will be reviewed by the Health and Benefits Committee and approved by the Municipal Wellness Committee. The Project Lead for each proposal will be contacted directly and informed if they have been awarded funds or not.

Important Details

2025/26 Municipal Wellness Grant FAQ - 

​2025/26 Municipal Wellness Grant -Electronic Application Form - https://forms.gle/6JXWLofN93ysjLcL7

2025/26 Municipal Wellness Grant - Word Application Form - 

Essential Elements for Selection

• Promotes one or more of the five dimensions of health:
  • physical,
  • mental/emotional,
  • workplace/workload management,
  • financial,
  • social.
• Includes a well-defined rationale, objectives, and clearly explained methodology with expected outcomes.
• Benefits a significant number of employees and elected officials directly or indirectly.
• Outlines an evaluation process that will be used to determine how well objectives have been met.
• Explains how the project benefits will continue beyond the grant period of one year, as applicable
• Contains an appropriate and justified budget, with an explanation of associated costs.

Guidelines for Approval

• Proposals are invited for projects within the following dollar amount guidelines:
  • Benefits to municipal employees - up to $3000
  • Benefits to municipal employees and elected officials - up to $4000
• The selection committee reserves the right to award an amount different from what was requested
• This is not an equipment fund
  • However, if the project merits equipment, that component may be considered for funding. Applicants must demonstrate that the equipment is unavailable at the municipality, and is instrumental to the project.
• If a proposal is for partial funding of a larger project, a clear distinction must be made for what specifically is to be funded from the Municipal Wellness Grants Program
• Only one application per municipality can be submitted

Project Procedures

• The successful applicants will have one calendar year from the date the funds are released to spend the total fund amount and complete project activities.
• Updates on progress throughout the project timeline are required and encouraged. A short mid-term report is required. 
• A final report, including an expense breakdown, is required within one month following the project completion date as indicated in the proposal.
• Transfers of funds to other budget accounts are not permitted.
• Any unused funds must be transferred back to the Wellness Program account.
• The Association of Municipal Administrators Nova Scotia, reserves the right to communicate information about funded projects and their outcomes internally or externally, as deemed appropriate.​

2024 Municipal Wellness Grant Projects

Inquiries: Melanie Bower, Municipal Wellness Coordinator or 902-423-2215 ext 5.

Thanks are extended to the following organizations for consultation and use of their documents to guide the development of the Municipal Wellness grants program:

• Campus Mental Health Strategy Grants Program, University of Calgary
• Healthy Workplace Grants Program, formerly Capital District Health Authority