Toronto’s Micro-Grant Sparks Community Growth with $1,000 Donations

BREAKING: Toronto’s community-building initiative just received a significant boost as the Toronto Foundation and Volunteer Canada launch their successful micro-grant program, providing $1,000 grants to local organizations. Mercedes Riestra, leader of Latinas in Action, transformed a single grant into a vibrant community event, showcasing the power of small donations to create lasting connections.

In August 2024, Latinas in Action hosted a lively picnic at Thomson Memorial Park in Scarborough, attracting 150 attendees. The event featured local vendors offering free tamales, face-painting, Zumba classes, and resource sharing for job opportunities and education registration. “We made it streeeetch,” Riestra emphasized, highlighting the impact of every dollar spent.

Latinas in Action allocated just $120 to secure the park venue and utilized $800 for event activities, leaving enough funds to support senior programming during Latino Heritage Month in October. “For us, $1,000 is a huge amount,” Riestra, originally from Argentina, stated, reflecting on her community’s resourcefulness.

The success of this initiative has drawn attention, with the 2024 program generating over 350 applications and engaging 3,600 people.

“It was just so exciting we knew we had to run it again,”

said Joanne McKiernan, executive director of Volunteer Toronto.

The upcoming cycle for the Civic Spark Micro Grants program will open applications from December 5, 2025, to January 18, 2026. The goal is to continue fostering community engagement and friendship among diverse groups.

In a remarkable example of community collaboration, Randy Alexander from the queer arts collective True Colors shared how their grant facilitated storytelling opportunities for queer seniors in the St. James Town neighborhood, fostering intergenerational friendships and planning a joint Christmas dinner.

Latinas in Action is eager to apply for another micro-grant to address the isolation many senior immigrants face. “Sometimes they’re here to support their children, but they have problems with the language,” Riestra explained, emphasizing the need for community connections.

With the success of the 2024 program, including a remarkable 93 percent of participants reporting new friendships, the initiative is poised for continued growth. This demonstrates how small acts of generosity can ripple through a community, creating a profound impact.

As the movement gains momentum, expect to see more heartwarming stories and community-building initiatives emerge from Toronto’s micro-grant program. Stay tuned for updates as applications open for the next round, offering a chance for even more residents to come together and thrive.