Several Medicine Hat nonprofits recipients of citizen well-being enhancing grants. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

By Jayk Sterkenburg

IN THE COMMUNITY

Over $250K in grants allocated to Medicine Hat and area nonprofits

May 27, 2025 | 2:49 PM

Several Medicine Hat and Redcliff nonprofits were the recipients of grants allocated Tuesday to support community projects.

Over $250,000 was presented to 36 charitable organizations total by the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta as part of its Community Grant program.

Niki Gray, executive director of CFSEA, said what nonprofits are facing right now is a lack of reliable funding.

“Whether their government funding and initiatives change, or priorities change at the government level or different private and public foundations- people are struggling with operating costs,” she said.

“Being able to shift mindsets on helping organizations be able to operate and initiate their programs in a meaningful way- they need to have operating dollars to be able to do that.”

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Gray said priority areas of the foundation are Connection and Belonging, Work and Economy, and Basic Needs that include health, housing and food.

Gray said what nonprofits are facing right now is a lack of reliable funding.. Bob Schneider/CHAT News

CFSEA’s grant program is designed to enhance well-being for citizens and to strengthen the region’s nonprofit and voluntary sectors.

The fund is supported to ensure the most pressing and evolving needs in the community are addressed.

CFSEA said the grant process presents the opportunity to support organizations that are creating meaningful, lasting impacts.

Projects and their recipients in Medicine Hat include the Meals and Wheels Program at the Veiner Centre, and revitalization efforts of The Monarch Theatre.

The opening ceremonies of the 2026 Special Olympics Summer Games were also supported this year through grants.

An emergency shelter oven was financed for the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society, and a safe space upgrade is now possible for the Medicine Hat Pregnancy Support Society.

Neighbourhood Associations of Medicine Hat also received $25,000 in funding towards their Oasis Project, which will allow older residents to stay in their homes longer.

Shantel Ottenbreit, community resource worker and chair of NAMH, said the funding for the project will be able to support the mental and physical wellbeing of older residents in the city.

She said the project aims to hire a part-time coordinator to meet the needs of these residents and determine services they need to not have to move into care sooner than necessary.

Ottenbreit said funding towards the Oasis Project will allow older residents to stay in their homes longer. Bob Schneider/CHAT News

Ottenbreit said the funding provided by the CFSEA is vital for small organizations and nonprofits.

“We know that government is getting tighter and there’s more and more needs that need to be funded,” she said.

“The money just isn’t there in the same way. But when it’s local and they understand the local context, and they understand local needs, it’s such a wonderful thing to be supported by a local organization,” she added.

“And to really be able to report back and share, ‘This is the difference that it’s making in our community. And this is how the funds that you’ve allocated made a difference in the people who live here.’”

Ottenbreit said the grant process is a great opportunity for people to be able to give locally, and for the money to stay in the community.

The next Community Grant cycle by CFSEA will be open to applications in early August.