The Transit Access Grant (TAG) program partners with local non-profit groups to support low-income Edmontonians in need of urgent and very short-term transportation support to meet their basic needs.
This program, previously known as Donate A Ride, provides eligible social serving organizations with single-use, 90-minute Arc tickets for distribution. TAG partners support a diverse demographic of Edmonton residents.
This grant is intended to provide short-term transportation access for low-income individuals who require limited, temporary support to meet their most immediate basic needs. These needs may include applying for government financial programs, accessing food, housing, and medical support, or searching and initial training for employment.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for the program, organizations must:
- Be a non-profit organization.
- Have been in operation for at least 1 year.
- Be in good standing with the City of Edmonton.
- Provide essential social services and support to low-income Edmontonians..
- First-time applicants must register their organization within the Community Investment Grant Portal
- Have capacity to conduct TAG administrative duties including: TAG ticket inventory management, TAG ticket distribution and subsidy program transition reporting. This is required for ongoing eligibility.
View the Transit Access Grant Guide for more detailed information.
How to Apply?
The Transit Access Grant (TAG) is now accepting applications, and organizations are required to submit them by the second Friday in February and the second Friday in July. TAG tickets are distributed twice a year. Applications take roughly 4 weeks to process and no late applications will be accepted.
To apply for the grant, visit the Community Investment Grant Portal. If you have not done so already, you will need to register your organization.
Learn How to Register for Your Account
For questions or additional support about the Community Investments Grant Portal, please contact grants@edmonton.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
The demand is always greater than the supply of TAG tickets. The overall number of available TAG tickets is calculated taking into account the current population and the poverty rate in the city of Edmonton.
Yes. There is an annual limit for all applicant organizations, and a reduced limit for first time applicants in their first year. Please consider your request carefully based on the size of your agency/clientele and the agency’s capacity to support clients with longer-term transit fare assistance programs (for example, Ride Transit* and Senior subsidy programs).
*Note: 12 Arc tickets are equivalent in value to a full month of unlimited Ride Transit access in Edmonton, but only provide transportation for 6 round trips.
No. Organizations may only apply once for all their programs.
Yes, there are several exclusions. TAG tickets cannot be:
- Used for non-profit group staff or volunteers
- Provided as prizes or gifts
- Used to provide access to leisure or volunteer activities
- Resold
- Used for ongoing access to transit, or in excessive amounts
Arc tickets expire a year from the date of issue. Unused TAG tickets that will expire before the TAG recipient group can use them must be returned to ETS.
