April 8, 2026
More Nova Scotians are accessing mental wellness support where they need it, when they need it, thanks to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. The Foundation’s Community Grants Program complements clinical care and helps bridge gaps, supporting better mental health across the province. Funding also supports early, community-based initiatives that strengthen connection, belonging, and mental wellness before clinical care is needed.
“Through our grants, we respond to the needs identified by the community,” says Starr Cunningham, President & CEO of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. “And communities are highlighting the importance of connection — to services, to care, and to each other.”
Community Grant-funded projects are designed by community organizations to meet the unique needs of the populations they serve, including youth, women, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, seniors, Black and Indigenous Nova Scotians, new Canadians, and people and families living with mental illness or substance use disorder.
Strong connections, including a sense of belonging, are associated with better mental health outcomes, according to Mental Health Research Canada. This is reflected in the most recent Community Grant awards, with more than one-third of funded projects focused on building connection.
From SMART Recovery for people in the Tri-County Area seeking support for addiction recovery, to sharing Acadian culture for isolated or vulnerable adults in rural Cape Breton, to province-wide grief, bereavement and education programs, these projects reach every corner of Nova Scotia.
The full list of funded projects can be found here.
The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia awards Community Grant funding twice a year, made possible through the support of donors and the Nova Scotia Office of Addictions and Mental Health. Eligible projects can receive up to $25,000.
Applications for the next round of 2026-27 Community Grant funding will be accepted from July 2, 2026 until August 13, 2026, at 12 noon.
To learn more about eligibility and timelines, visit mentalhealthns.ca/grant-programs.
