Funding Opportunities eNewsletter
March 30, 2021
Funding Opportunities Update
for Not-for-Profits and the Charitable Sector
The Funding Opportunities Update is created by the Region of Durham, Social Services Department.

We know that strong, well-funded not-for-profit and charitable sectors can better meet the needs of Durham’s diverse communities. We are committed to sharing information about grants and funding opportunities with our community partners.

Please share this newsletter with your own networks and contacts.

Want to sign-up for the newsletter OR want to be removed from our mailing list? Please let us know: email us at funding@durham.ca.
 
Important Tip! Register your organization online at the Transfer Payment Ontario website. This site provides information about available grants, how to apply for grants and how to check the status of your application.
COVID-19 Funding Opportunities

COVID-19 has presented all sectors with unprecedented challenges. As such, we are including a broad range of opportunities related to COVID-19 funding. You may receive them from more than one source. Non-profits and charities are experiencing particularly unique challenges that require new ways of providing services. Listed below are a few resources that offer guidance and local funding opportunities. As we learn about new funding opportunities or resources we will issue notifications.
Ontario Trillium Foundation: Community Building Fund

Application Deadline: April 28, 2021

COVID-19 has had an overwhelming impact on the arts and culture, heritage, tourism, sport and recreation sectors. These sectors are critical to the social and economic fabric of Ontario and its communities, and to support their broader recovery, the Ontario government is investing $105 million through the Community Building Fund.

This fund will support non-profits and Indigenous communities in these sectors that operate facilities and/or deliver experiences or programs for the public. The fund will enable organizations to remain viable so they can continue to improve quality of life and provide services, jobs, educational opportunities, and programming for Ontarians.

The Community Building Fund is being delivered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) across two distinct funding streams – Operating and Capital. Information about the Community Building Fund – Capital stream will be available later in 2021.

The Operating stream provides support for non-profits and Indigenous communities in the community arts and culture, heritage, tourism, sport and recreation sectors to help sustain their operations and create new attractions, experiences and events.
  
  • Grant term length: 6 or 12 months
  • Amount awarded: Minimum $10,000, Maximum $250,000
  • Applications will be accepted starting March 31, 2021
Canadian Tire Jumpstart: Sport Relief Fund

Application Deadline: May 2, 2021

Sport has the power to unite communities and the nation – the spark we’ll need more than ever post-pandemic. In its absence, the importance of sport and play has become more apparent than ever. But with ongoing stoppages, the organizations that Canadian kids rely on are more at risk than ever before.

The Jumpstart Sport Relief Fund has two funding streams. Qualified organizations may apply for either stream or both within each period, however, the requests must be clearly justified, and funding will be dependent on overall demand.

Operational Support Stream: Assists organizations with operational and administrative costs, including:

  • Rehiring or training of staff or new employees to meet changing needs;
  • Payment of past due/overdue accounts;
  • Organization Development, including fundraising/revenue generation strategies and operational efficiencies; and
  • Equipment procurement, personal protective equipment, and program delivery adaptations (including start-up expenses related to establishing online programming).

Maximum $15,000

Programming Support: Assists organizations with the costs of delivering sport and recreational programming, including:

  • Program supervisors, instructors, coaches;
  • Facility costs;
  • Equipment costs;
  • Costs incurred to meet return to play guidelines/provincial health protocols/regulations (e.g., PPE, cleaning supplies, individual equipment for participants, etc.); and
  • Transportation costs.

Eligible programs shall meet the following requirements:
  • Consist of at least 5 sessions/5 hours
  • Engage participants aged 4-18 years old from families in financial need or 4-25 years old for programs primarily serving children and youth with disabilities
Community Foundations of Canada: COVID-19 Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund

Application Deadline: Ongoing

The Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund (IPRF) is an Indigenous-led effort to respond to urgent community needs while taking a long-term view on building community resilience.  Any Indigenous-led organization or Indigenous-serving organization working to foster resilience in Inuit, Metis and First Nations communities anywhere in Canada can apply for resiliency funds ranging from $5,000 to $30,000.
Town of Whitby - Mayor's Community Development Fund

Application Deadline: Ongoing

Is your local organization working hard to help the Whitby community during the COVID-19 public health crisis? Submit your application today to be considered for a community grant of up to $5,000.

Granting Opportunities by Deadline (non-COVID)
Community One Foundation: Rainbow Grants

Application Deadline: April 9, 2021

Rainbow Grants provide funding to foster new and innovative services and programs that have a positive impact on the LGBTTIQQ2S community in the GTA, in the areas of:

  • health and social sciences
  • arts and culture
  • research, education and advocacy

Foundation Rainbow Grants are available for up to $7,500 and are open to registered charities or groups trusteed by a registered charity.

General Rainbow Grants are available for up to $1,500 and are open to groups or individuals without charitable status.

The James Stewart Rainbow Grant was created thanks to the generous bequest from James Stewart, the Toronto mathematician and musician who passed away in December 2015. As one of the Toronto-based LGBTQ+ charities to receive philanthropic support from Mr. Stewart's estate, Community One is honoured to offer this annual grant in his name. This grant is available to a registered charity for up to $10,000. The James Stewart Rainbow Grant focuses on one or more of the following key areas:

  • seed new and innovative projects to combat discrimination on the basis of sexual/gender identity and create an atmosphere of respect and acceptance
  • support needed but underfunded services to LGBT individuals and families
  • provide programming specifically aimed at supporting newcomers to Canada who have identified themselves with the LGBT community
Government of Canada: Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Quality Improvement Projects

Application Deadline: April 14, 2021

We will fund Indigenous communities, governments and organizations that are exploring ways to improve Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC).

Projects can last up to 19 months, and can not extend past March 31, 2023. You can apply for up to $750,000.

Objectives

We will fund projects that aim to achieve at least one of the following objectives:

  • defining what high-quality Indigenous ELCC means to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. This could include:
  • designing governance models that support Indigenous-led ELCC decision-making
  • testing different ways of developing partnerships, and
  • designing ways to measure results and success
  • finding ways to support ongoing education and training for IELCC leaders, management, and staff
  • building and strengthening local IELCC licensing rules and procedures, and
  • making tools and training that support IELCC staff who work with children with special needs
Government of Canada: Reconnect Festival and Event Program

Application Deadline: April 20, 2021

The 2021 Reconnect Festival and Event Program supports innovative programming and marketing for festivals and events. It helps to improve experiences for visitors and stimulate local community economic development and recovery. The program supports innovative events in Ontario that will:

  • provide safe experiences that encourage people to rediscover the beauty and diversity of Ontario’s communities
  • draw attendees, whether in-person or virtually
  • provide a positive economic impact
  • provide job opportunities for Ontarians in the tourism, culture and entertainment sectors
  • increase Ontario’s profile through media and/or broadcast exposure to instill interest in future travel to the province once it is safe to do so
Government of Canada: Canadian Heritage - Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage

Local Festivals Deadline: April 30, 2021

The Local Festivals component provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans or heritage performers. This includes the celebration of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations. Successful applicants may receive up to 100% of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $200,000 for festivals that:

  • present the work of local artists, artisans, or heritage performers;
  • actively involve members of the local community; and
  • are intended for and accessible to the general public.

Deadline is April 30 for festivals starting between January 1 and June 30

Community Anniversaries Deadline: April 30, 2021

The Community Anniversaries component provides funding to local groups for non–recurring local events, with or without a minor capital project. Eligible events and capital projects are those that commemorate the 100th anniversary or greater (in increments of 25 years) of a significant local historical event or personality.

Eligible capital projects such as community art projects, restoration of objects, community history books, statues and murals can be funded up to a maximum $25,000.

Successful projects may receive up to 100 per cent of eligible expenses to a maximum of $200,000 for events that:

  • present the work of local artists, artisans and heritage performers or specialists;
  • actively involve members of the local community; and
  • are intended for and accessible to the general public.

Deadline is April 30 for events that will occur during the next calendar year.
Government of Ontario: Youth Jobs Strategy - Summer Company

Deadline: May 23, 2021

Learning how to run your own student business is one of the best summer jobs you can have. You get to be your own boss while learning what it takes to manage a business. Sales, marketing, bookkeeping, customer relationship management and networking are just a few of the highly useful skills you’ll develop.

Maximum award: $3,000

Successful Summer Company applicants get:

  • up to $1,500 up front to help with start-up costs
  • up to $1,500 when you successfully complete the program requirements
Ontario Trillium Foundation: Resilient Communities Fund

Application Deadline: August 4, 2021

OTF is investing in projects of eligible non-profit organizations to aid their medium to longer-term recovery efforts, help with their stabilization and build their capacity and resiliency in the aftermath of COVID-19.

This fund is providing a flexible range of activities to address the diverse needs of organizations and to support them where they are at in their recovery and rebuilding. OTF’s Resilient Communities Fund investments to the non-profit sector will work to complement existing emergency response funding already in place by local, provincial, and federal funders by addressing medium to longer-term impacts to organizations.

This fund aligns with OTF’s mandate to support the capacity of non-profit organizations and build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario.
Government of Ontario: Summer Jobs for Students Programs

Application Deadline: Various Dates

Need a job this summer?

The Ontario government — and its partners — offers many programs to help students find summer jobs. You need to apply for most programs. In some cases, the government can connect you to people who can help you with your job search.

The deadlines and what you need to apply depend on the program. Click on the link for each program for more detailed information.

Not a student?

Learn about government job funds, programs and online tools available to help people under 30 build skills, find a job or start businesses all year round.
Canada Post Awards for Indigenous Students

Coming Soon: Application process begins in June

Canada Post gives $2,000 grants to Indigenous Peoples who have renewed their educational learning. You’re eligible to apply if you:

  • Are a Canadian and a member of a First Nation, Métis or Inuit community
  • Have been out of school for 1 year or more and are returning
  • Have already returned to school and completed 1 full year of studies
  • Have never received this award in the past (you can apply as many times as you want, but you can only receive the award once)
Funding Portals and Lists
Ajah's Fund Tracker

Ajah is a Montreal-based company that builds tools for the Canadian non-profit sector. Their online service, Fundtracker, helps organizations identify and connect with funders likely to support their cause.
Canada Council for the Arts

All program area grants are accessible through their portal and registration must be complete at least 30 days before you wish to apply.

Canada Council grants are now organized into six programs:

1.   Explore and Create;
2.   Engage and Sustain;
3.   Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples
4.   Supporting Artistic Practice;
5.   Arts Across Canada;
6.   Arts Abroad.
Founders Beta

Covid-19 is rapidly growing across the globe, USA, and Canada. This is a list of funding opportunities and resources that tackle Covid-19. This list includes research opportunities, business and start-up opportunities, as well as grass roots initiatives and government funding.
Government of Canada: Culture, History and Sport Funding

The Government of Canada offers a wide array of granting opportunities around culture, history and sport. See an alphabetical listing of grants available here.
Government of Canada: Employment and Social Development Canada

See a list of funding programs for jobs, training and social development projects.
Government of Canada: Public Health Agency of Canada

Grant and Contribution Funding Opportunities for programs under the Public Health Agency of Canada. See an alphabetical listing of grants available here.
Innovation Canada

Innovation Canada offers an online search tool that allows companies to search for relevant funding. 

Invest Durham

Find links to business loans and financing. 

Ontario Arts Council

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) provides grants to Ontario-based individual artists and arts professionals, ad hoc groups/collectives and organizations. Grants support a range of arts activities and disciplines.

The OAC offers two types of grant programs:
Project grants – one-time grants for specific projects, available to individual artists, ad hoc groups/collectives and organizations

Operating grants – ongoing support for Ontario-based, not-for-profit arts organizations and for-profit book and magazine publishers
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Telephone: 905-668-7711, Toll free: 1-800-372-1102
Website: www.durham.ca
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