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Grant Opportunity for Water Co-ops: Up to $20,000 for Planning and Development

Rural Alberta's water co-ops play a critical role in delivering water to communities. Whether your co-op is facing challenges with water source sustainability, operational planning, governance or member engagement, the 2026 Co-operative Development Program (CDP) offered by The Co-operators has an opportunity worth exploring.

The 2026 Co-operative Development Program

The Co-operators is offering grants of up to $20,000 to support co-operative business development and planning. For 2026, they're prioritizing three areas:

  • Environmental Resilience
  • Inclusive Economy
  • Social Wellness

Water co-ops may find opportunities to align their planning needs with one or more of these priorities.

What the Grant Can Fund

This grant supports business development and planning activities, not infrastructure or equipment. Here's what qualifies:

Eligible expenses:

  • Feasibility studies and market research
  • Business planning
  • Marketing and promotion
  • Member engagement
  • Legal and financial supports

Not eligible:

  • Capital expenditures (pipes, pumps, meters, tanks, hardware)
  • Ongoing operational expenses (utility bills, wages)
  • Insurance, travel, fundraising or deficit reduction

How Your Water Co-op Could Use This Grant

The opportunity with this program is its flexibility. If your co-op has been putting off important planning work due to budget constraints, this could be your opportunity. Consider whether your co-op could benefit from:

  • Professional studies and assessments to better understand your water source, evaluate long-term sustainability or research options for future development.
  • Strategic and business planning to guide your co-op's direction, model future costs or develop frameworks for decision-making in uncertain times.
  • Governance and legal support to modernize bylaws, clarify policies or strengthen your organizational structure.
  • Member engagement and education to build stronger connections with your community, promote water stewardship or improve communication.
  • Skills development to train volunteers or support workforce development that benefits both your co-op and the broader community.

Grant Requirements

  • Maximum grant: $20,000
  • The grant cannot exceed 50% of your total project budget (meaning you need to budget at least $40,000 total if requesting the full $20,000).
  • Your co-op must be legally incorporated and submit articles of incorporation with the application.
  • Deadline: April 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET)

Is This Grant Right for Your Co-op?

If your co-op has been discussing projects that would improve your co-op's capacity, sustainability or service delivery but doesn’t have the budget to move forward, this grant is worth exploring. 

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