Fundraising to Pay the Power Bill?
Community Halls Are Eliminating Energy Bills With Grant-Funded Upgrades
Our Community Halls Are In Trouble
Every year, hall volunteers fundraise just enough to pay the heating bill and keep the doors open.
$5,000…
$6,000…
Sometimes more.
Money you raise through raffles, bottle drives, and community dinners.
That time and money should stay in your community. Instead, it pays for heat and lights.
Energy costs are rising and volunteers are stretched thin.
Some halls are reducing winter hours, others are closing their doors completely because they can’t afford their energy bills.
You shouldn’t have to choose between staying warm and staying open.
But There’s A Model That Works
What if your hall didn’t have to go it alone?
What if 10 or 12 halls applied together?
When halls apply together, funders see coordinated regional impact, not one-off requests.
Instead of competing for small grants, your hall becomes part of a coordinated funding submission designed to secure larger support.
As part of the Spring Cohort of Community Halls Saving Energy, you get:
A documented path forward
Lower energy bills
Fewer emergency repairs
Year-round comfort
You focus on your community. We focus on the work.
“It's certainly less stressful for the volunteers now. It allows us more funds for community run events as well.”
– Reg Crewe, Hall Treasurer
Pictou County Cohort Results
20 community centres came together in Pictou and applied for funding.
Together they received $1,350,000 to help all of their halls eliminate energy bills.
Collectively, they eliminated $115,000 in annual oil and electricity bills.
One of these community centres, Churchville Hall, received the following upgrades:
Extra Insulation | LED Lighting | Cold-Climate Heat Pumps | Solar Panels
Before the upgrades, the hall couldn’t afford to stay open over the winter months.
Now they’re operating year-round with a $0 energy bill.
Events are back on. Bills are gone. Fundraising stays in the heart of the community.
These halls faced the same rising bills and burned-out volunteers. By applying together, they secured funding none of them could have accessed alone.
“It was too expensive for us to heat the hall in the winter until we got the solar panels and facility upgrades. Now we have an incredible number of events happening, and it's really been a boon to the community.”
– Doug Fletcher, Hall Volunteer
Funding Opens Again Soon
We Think You’d be a Strong Fit if:
Non-profit owned and operated (not municipally owned)
Run by volunteers and/or limited staff
Struggling to heat the space or facing rising bills
This intake is focused on small, volunteer-run halls under 10,000 sq. ft.
Local community or church halls, fire halls, legions, converted schoolhouses, shelters, and resource centres are often a great fit.
We are not accepting ice rinks, pools, or large( >10,000 sq. ft.) facilities at this time.
How We Help
We work with one group at a time to support community halls through two key phases.
Phase 1: Discovery and Planning
We apply for and secure funding to assess your building.
Your plan shows where energy is being lost and upgrade pathways that make sense.
Phase 2: Capital Funding and Upgrades
We bundle halls into cohorts and prepare coordinated funding applications.
Each hall receives upgrades based on its specific building needs and approved funds.
We identify and coordinate local contractors.
Your board approves their proposals and work before anything proceeds.
Volunteers rest easy knowing the space is comfortable and affordable to maintain.
Who Makes Decisions?
Your board approves all upgrades and contractors before the work proceeds.
You’re under no obligation to proceed with any upgrades and can pause your project anytime.
Contracts for the work are held directly between your hall and the contractor.
We coordinate work but do not take ownership of your building or assets.
“This is an innovative project which has a huge impact on the various centres throughout our county. Thanks for making this happen!”
– Debi MacIntosh, Hall Volunteer
Spring Cohort Intake is Now Forming
We are accepting up to 12 halls for our upcoming coordinated funding submission.
We work closely with each participating hall to assess its full needs, limiting the number we can help each year.
There is no cost to join the waitlist.
There is no obligation to move forward.
If your hall is not selected or funding is not approved, you walk away with clarity and no financial commitment.
Reserve your spot to ensure your hall is considered for this year’s coordinated funding submission.
Spots are reviewed on a rolling basis.
If your hall wants to eliminate energy bills and protect its future, now’s the time to step forward.
“ Navigate Energy was a game-changer for Bide Awhile Animal Shelter. They listened to our needs, sourced quotes from reputable installers, and guided us through the rebate process seamlessly.”
– Liesje, Bide Awhile Animal Shelterr