Wellness@Work Grant Program

Applications for the 2025-2026 fiscal year are closed. The current page is being updated with information for the 2026-2027 grant cycle.

Wellness@Work is proud to have operated the grant program since 2018, funding 235 unique initiatives across the University of Guelph to date.

For the 2025–2026 fiscal year, Wellness@Work has increased its investment in the program, funding 39 new initiatives across U of G. Also, the University of Guelph-Humber funded 6 additional initiatives through its own funding stream, bringing the total number of funded initiatives in 2025 to 45.

Background

The goal of the initiative is to promote the well-being of the whole person, and build caring campus environments that are vibrant and inclusive, open and respectful, where University members and visitors alike know they are valued, and working together to build healthier communities.

The Wellness@Work Grant Program encourages faculty and staff across all campuses and research stations at the University of Guelph to help promote wellness in their workplace through the implementation of a tailored health‐promoting program, approach, or idea in their workplace.

Grant Opportunities

You play a key role in fostering a healthy campus community. This initiative provides an opportunity to be innovative as you test out a new healthy workplace idea in your department.

When the grant program is open for applications, departments/groups can apply for a seed grant for their initiative. The number of grants available will be dependent on the number of applications received and the amount distributed for each successful grant.

Departments/groups are encouraged to collaborate with other groups to submit a joint application. In the application review process, selected applications with similar goals or ideas may be matched to collaborate on their workplace wellness idea.

Funding Stream for Guelph-Humber Initiatives

For the 2026-2027 Wellness@Work Grant application period, the University of Guelph-Humber (Guelph-Humber) has allocated funds for grant initiatives that are planned and implemented at Guelph-Humber’s campus in Toronto. With this funding, Wellness@Work will have a specific stream of the grant program available to those who work at Guelph-Humber and are submitting a grant application. Applicants will be subject to the same application and evaluation process as the rest of the grant program. When applicants complete their grant application and select "University of Guelph-Humber" as the location, they will automatically be put into the Guelph-Humber stream of funding for the Wellness@Work Grant Program. Please refer to the deadlines below for more information. There will be a separate information session taking place at noon on April 16, 2026 for those applying for Guelph-Humber grant initiatives. Also, note the slight differences in deadlines for program implementation.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by the Wellness@Work Advisor. Programming and ideas must fit within one or more of the following three priority elements of the Wellness@Work Initiative:

physical well-being;
psychological well-being; and/or
social well-being

To promote a mentally healthy workplace, grant applications focused on the following psychosocial factors identified as opportunities for growth in the 2024 Wellness@Work Comprehensive Survey will be prioritized:

Clear Leadership & Expectations
Growth & Development
Psychologically Supported Self-Care (burnout prevention and promotion of resilience)

Approved and Non-Approved Costs

Expenses related to physical changes to your workspace or safety equipment for your team do not fall within the scope of this grant program.

Please review the application form and FAQ document for further details on the grant program with a more detailed list of approved and non-approved items.

Departments are responsible for the up-front cost of the grant program and are only reimbursed their approved amount at the end of the grant program.

Important Considerations

Where possible, grant programs should leverage internal resources from the University and facilitate programs on campus instead of in community locations. For example, if facilitating exercise classes for your department, leveraging the resources from Athletics & Recreation. Or if providing food through your program, ensure that Hospitality Services or other on-campus food providers are used. Locations such as Ridgetown, Guelph-Humber, or research stations may not have access to the same internal resources as those working on the Guelph Campus. This is taken into consideration during the evaluation process.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted via Qualtrics by 5pm May 14, 2026. On April 8, 2026 the application link will be posted.

If you would like to view the application questions in advance, please view the relevant links below.

Important dates

April 8, 2026: Applications open
April 14, 2026: Grant info session 1:30pm - 2:30pm for all U of G (proposed initiatives for Guelph Campus, Ridgetown, and Research Station). Register now!
April 16, 2026: Grant info session 12:00pm-1:00pm for University of Guelph-Humber employees. Register now!
May 14, 2026 at 5 pm: Deadline to submit applications
May 29, 2026: Applicants notified of decision
November 2026: Mid-term progress check-In
February 26, 2027 at 5pm: Guelph-Humber stream funding spending deadline and all financial documentation submitted. Final report due.
March 31, 2027, at 5 pm: Funding spending deadline and all financial documentation submitted. Final report due.

Readiness Checklist

I have…

Approval from my direct supervisor
Support and endorsement from my AVP or Dean (or for UofGH support from Supervisor/Department Head/Program Head) to submit a grant application and approval to cover up-front costs;
Conducted an informal needs assessment to determine what would interest and benefit colleagues in my department/group;
Considered the health benefits and potential outcomes of the program or idea on the staff/faculty;
Been thoughtful about how to create an accessible and inclusive program for diverse employees;
Determined how the program or idea will be evaluated/outcomes measured;
Discussed how this initiative might be able to be sustained and continued beyond the one year funding available; and
Reviewed the application form and the FAQ document to ensure all information necessary to complete the grant application has been included.

Questions?

Email Wellness@Work Advisor, Isidora Nezic, at nezici@uoguelph.ca.

Thank you to the University of British Columbia for generously sharing materials and information from their Healthy Workplace Initiative Fund, which has inspired the Wellness@Work Grant Program.

Slideshow Banners