Supporting Community‑Led Climate Action Through Local Investment
Kingston Community Climate Action Fund – City of Kingston
Role: Dan Hendry (Consulting Support)
Year: Not specified
Local action has always been central to how I think about responding to global challenges. That perspective is what led me to support the City of Kingston, through my own consulting work, as the City worked to incubate and strengthen the Kingston Community Climate Action Fund over the course of several years.
Photo Supplied By: City of Kingston Website
The fund represents an important shift in how climate action happens at the community level. It creates a mechanism for residents and organizations to directly invest in local projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also strengthening Kingston’s resilience to climate change. My role focused on helping turn that concept into something practical, accessible, and sustainable for community use.
A significant portion of my work centred on building awareness and engagement around the fund, ensuring that community organizations and residents knew it existed and clearly understood how to participate. I supported the development and refinement of the application process, working to make it more approachable for groups seeking to advance climate‑focused projects.
Once community partners were selected, my role became more hands‑on. I worked one‑on‑one with organizations across Kingston, supporting them as they moved from idea to implementation. This support often involved helping partners clarify their fundraising strategies, marketing approaches, and communication goals, enabling them to reach their funding targets and deliver meaningful impact through the fund.
Acting as a bridge between the City and local organizations was a key aspect of this work. By supporting capacity‑building at the grassroots level, I helped partners navigate both the expectations of a municipal funding program and the practical realities of delivering effective climate initiatives on the ground.
Working on the Kingston Community Climate Action Fund reinforced for me that sustainability is not driven by a single institution. When local non‑profits, charities, and community groups are given the tools and resources they need—whether they are working on electric vehicle charging infrastructure, energy‑efficiency retrofits, or other climate solutions—the impact extends far beyond any individual project.
Seeing these organizations succeed, strengthen their capacity, and bring community‑based climate solutions to life has been deeply rewarding. Knowing that the foundations we helped build continue to support green innovation in Kingston today makes this work especially meaningful to me.
Related Links & Media: https://www.cityofkingston.ca/climate-change-and-environment/climate-change/kingston-community-climate-action-fund/
Community Solutions — Dan Hendry