Funding Opportunities eNewsletter
January 10, 2023
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.

Visit our Funding Resources page for funding opportunities that open between Updates and for links to resources that may help in the application process.
 
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.
Granting Opportunities by Deadline

Government of Canada: Canada Summer Jobs Program

Application Deadline: January 12, 2023

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years.
Business Advisory Centre Durham: Starter Company Plus

Application Deadline: Next cohort begins in January 2023. Apply now to be added to the wait list

Starter Company Plus Program is for existing business owners operating between 1 to 3 years (market ready/ready to sell), to expand (hiring employees, contractors or getting a location) or buying a business in Durham Region.

The Program provides:

  • The program has 3 mandatory training days over 2 weeks (9:00am – 3:00pm) covering Business Concept, Organization, Operations and Customer Relations
  • The chance to receive up to $5,000 in seed funding to kick off a new business or expand your current business
  • The experience of running a successful business that may help you obtain more traditional financing such as a bank loan if you so require in the future

This program is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Clarington Community Funding Program

Application Deadline: January 15, 2023

Clarington's Community Funding Program provides opportunities to Clarington's not-for-profit and volunteer-based organizations to grow and make a difference in our community. Our three-streamed approach provides options for start-up funding, growth and in-kind contributions.

Start-Up funding provides one-time start-up funding related to the development of a new group or initiative. Apply for this stream if you are starting a new project or initiative that you haven’t tried before. Pilot projects or initiatives where the outcomes are unknown would qualify for this funding. The potential or expected results should achieve a significant impact in the community.

Growth funding is available on an annual basis to organizations and event organizers committed to sustainable expansion or growth. This stream supports projects or initiatives that take an organization or event to the next level. It can be used to increase your reach in the community, increase attendance, or diversify your participants’ demographics. An effort to increase cultural diversity is also a focus of this stream.

In-Kind contributions include space or services that would typically have a fee associated with it at no cost to you or your organization. For eligible applicants interested in using Municipal services and support, this stream would offset that cost. Note: In-kind applications are open year-round.


TD Friends of the Environment Foundation

Application Deadline: January 15, 2023

Founded by TD Bank Group in 1990, the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) is a national charity that funds environmental projects across Canada. The Foundation supports a wide range of environmental initiatives, with a primary focus on environmental education and green space programs.

Eligible projects include schoolyard greening, park revitalization, community gardens, park programming and citizen science initiatives. For a full list, please see the Common Questions.

Submission Deadlines: January 15 and July 15

Government of Ontario; Summer Experience Program

Application Deadline: January 18, 2023

The Summer Experience Program (SEP) provides funding to eligible not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, and First Nation communities to create meaningful summer employment opportunities for students.

The summer employment positions must focus on activities supporting key sectors within the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Tourism Details: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport works closely with the tourism sector to help stimulate economic growth and investment and create an environment that allows Ontario to compete successfully in the rapidly changing world of travel and leisure. Tourism priorities for SEP positions:

  • Work in the tourism sector to attract new tourism investment and provide support to tourism regions, sector associations and Indigenous tourism organizations.
  • Support product development, marketing, workforce development and investment attraction programs and services.
  • Provide tourists with educational, cultural, recreational, and entertainment experiences and opportunities.
  • Support the tourism industry through COVID-19 recovery by establishing policies and programs that support tourism development.

Culture Details: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport is responsible for policies and programs that optimize the contribution of the entertainment and creative cluster, arts, , libraries, museums, and cultural agencies and contribute to Ontario’s economic vitality and quality of life. Culture priorities for SEP positions:

  • Work for arts and culture agencies and organizations to support them in building and sustaining the sector.
  • Support services or program development and delivery in the arts and culture sectors that enable stakeholders to protect and provide access to the arts, museums and libraries.

Sport Details: The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport supports sport development, participation, excellence and safety in the amateur sport and recreation sectors. It provides financial assistance to amateur athletes, enhanced coaching, training, and competitive opportunities. The Ministry also supports programs that give working families with children an affordable, safe, supervised after school option; supports provincial interests in trails; and delivers programming to target diverse populations such as people with disabilities, and Indigenous communities. Sport and Recreation priorities for SEP positions:

  • Contribute to delivery and sustainability of high-quality policies and programs that strengthen the sport and recreation sectors, encourage physical activity, and benefit all Ontarians.
  • Contribute towards enhancement of the province’s high-performance sport system enabling athletes to achieve success.
  • Support community-based organizations so they can deliver effective sport and recreation programming to diverse and vulnerable populations.

Government of Ontario: Personal Support Worker (PSW) Training Fund Program

Application Deadline: January 19, 2023

The Ministry of Health (MOH) works with Coordinating Organizations to administer the Personal Support Worker (PSW) Training Fund program, which supports a competent, stable and formally educated workforce in the home and community care sector through education and innovation.

The 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 program submissions will be managed within Transfer Payment Ontario through the MOH PSW Training Fund program Application Forms.

Eligibility

An eligible organization seeking re-imbursement from the PSW Training Fund program must:
provide home and community care services that are community support services or personal support services in accordance with the Connecting Care Act, 2019 and its regulations (specifically, the Home and Community care Services Regulation, O. Reg. 187/22); and

  • receive funding for the provision of those services in its capacity as:
  • be a contracted service provider organization to Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS) or to a Health Service Provider (HSP) or Ontario Health Team (OHT)
  • be an organization funded by the Ministry of Health, or
  • be an HSP or OHT funded by Ontario Health

Government of Ontario: 2023-2024 Community Service Order Program

Application Deadline: January 25, 2023

The 2023-24 Community Service Order (CSO) Program funds organizations in Ontario to deliver and provide community-based service opportunities allowing clients to complete court mandated community service work in accordance with a client’s court order.

The ministry is introducing a re-designed Community Service Order Program to ensure the program is responsive to the most recent trends in sentencing.

The revised Community Service Order Program will focus on:

  • eliminating the minimum and maximum (number of referrals) thresholds
  • funding structure is based on the capacity to provide CSO placements and not on a fee for service structure that uses number of referrals
  • consolidating delivery in 13 preferred catchment areas across the province
  • in-person services are preferable, however where clients require alternative or virtual services, the Transfer Payment provider can accommodate

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this program you must:

  • be a community-based, non-profit organization or First Nations, Inuit, and Metis organization with experience providing services and programs to justice involved individuals or groups
  • be an Ontario-based entity (your main operations occur and services are provided in Ontario) for at least two years prior to the date of your submission
  • demonstrate financial stability for the duration of the funding period as shown through financial statements, established financial policies and procedure
  • not be in default of the terms and conditions of any grant or loan agreement with any ministry or agency of the Government of Ontario

Government of Canada: Foreign Credential Recognition Program

Application Deadline: January 30, 2023

The objective of the Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP) is to improve the integration of skilled newcomers into the Canadian labour market. This includes:

  • Developing and strengthening Canada’s foreign credential recognition assessment and recognition capacity
  • Contributing to improving labour market integration outcomes of skilled newcomers, and
  • Supporting interprovincial labour mobility

Eligible organizations can apply for funding at a minimum of $500,000 and a maximum of $10,000,000.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) expects that successful projects may begin as early as August 2023.

Government of Ontario: Skills Development Fund

Application Deadline: *January 31, 2023

The Skills Development Fund (SDF) offers funding to organizations for innovative projects that address challenges to hiring, training or retaining workers, including apprentices to drive Ontario's economic growth.

SDF supports:

  • projects that address the labour shortage and stimulate growth in key sectors of Ontario’s economy
  • projects that will increase Ontario's long-term economic competitive advantage by creating a sustainable and resilient workforce
  • projects helping people with prior involvement in the criminal justice system, at-risk youth, those with disabilities, Ukrainian newcomers, and others facing barriers to employment

*Applications will be accepted for ministry review on a continuous basis until January 31, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. EST or until the funding has been fully committed.

Government of Canada: Canadian Heritage - Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage - Local Festivals

Application Deadline: January 31, 2023

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 per cent 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. 

Hydro One: Energizing Life Community Fund

Application Deadline: January 31, 2023

Applications are now open for organizations and municipalities to apply and share how they’re focused on safety to address pressing needs in their local community. We’re committed to supporting Ontario organizations and communities by funding projects that focus on the physical, psychological and emotional safety of Ontarians. By supporting organizations who energize life for so many, we are able to build safer and more resilient communities.

Funding criteria: Organizations must meet the following criteria:

  • Are an Indigenous community; non-political affiliation, Canadian registered charity or non-profit
  • Focused on improving community physical, psychological or emotional safety
  • Committed to cultural diversity in their communities through programs, services and funding
  • Have operations in Ontario
  • Able to report accurately and transparently on community investment activities and impact
  • Willing to collaborate on stakeholder and employee engagement opportunities
  • Meet other criteria as outlined in Hydro One’s Community Investment Policy.

Selected recipients will receive a grant of $25,000.

City of Oshawa: Oshawa Community Grants

Application Deadline: January 31, 2023

This program replaces the programs that the City of Oshawa previously used to support community organizations. The Anchor Grant, Partnership Grant, Waiving of Fees, and Financial Assistance Programs have been discontinued. The new Oshawa Community Grants Program offers support through four categories of grants:

Arts, Culture, Heritage and Environmental - Events: Total funds available in this category: $100,000

This grant covers festivals, events and gatherings that strengthen and develop the arts, culture, heritage, and environmental sectors through the provision of free programming for Oshawa residents and includes:

  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Celebrations, and
  • Gatherings

Eligible activities must be open to the public, specifically Oshawa residents, and free to all participants.

Arts, Culture, Heritage and Environmental - Development Projects and Special Initiatives: Total funds available in this category: $50,000

This grant supports one-off projects and activities that enhance the arts, culture, heritage and environmental sectors in Oshawa and includes:

  • Art projects in any discipline, including dance, literary, media arts, music, theatre, and visual art
  • Education and public programming with arts, culture, heritage or environmental themes
  • Environment preservation projects
  • Cultural development projects
  • Communication and marketing expenses that occur as part of the proposed project

Eligible projects must include a public presentation component, to ensure works will increase access and learning opportunities for residents and visitors and be free to all participants.

Strong Inclusive Communities: Total funds available in this category: $100,000

This grant includes initiatives that support healthy, safe and inclusive community development such as:

Education and awareness campaigns or programming
Food drives, food bank activity or community gardens
Support services for various diverse communities
Housing and shelter for diverse communities

Eligible projects must provide support to communities or individuals in Oshawa and be free to all participants.

Fundraising Events: Total funds available in this category: $50,000

Eligible projects will cover in-kind services for utilizing City facilities and spaces for general fundraising events that support charitable organizations, including:

Facility rental fees
Equipment rentals
Road closures
Other City support

Projects falling in this grant category will include Events, Festivals, Celebrations and Gatherings.

Ontario Trillium Foundation: Resilient Communities Fund

Application Deadline: February 1, 2023

The Resilient Communities Fund supports community-based organizations that deliver programs and services in Ontario and need funding to recover and build capacity, resilience and sustainability.

Eligible applicants can apply for a grant to develop and implement medium to long-term plans that address current organizational challenges they are facing to recover and build resilience.

Grants support organizations as they:

  • develop new approaches to generate revenue
  • start new activities to meet community need
  • adjust strategies and plans
  • plan for future challenges

Applicants are to select up to three project outcomes they want to achieve with their grant and can apply for funding to cover eligible costs needed to carry out the project.

Organizations that are approved for a Resilient Communities Fund grant from the December 7, 2022 deadline will not be eligible to receive a grant for the February 1, 2023 deadline.  

Catherine Donnelly Foundation: Housing Grants

Application Deadline: February 1, 2023

We prioritize the prevention and elimination of homelessness as well as the provision of safe and affordable housing. We advocate a shift from an emergency-response model to a rights-based approach that removes systemic barriers preventing marginalized and low-income populations from accessing housing.

Catherine Donnelly Foundation: Adult Education

Application Deadline: February 1, 2023

We support projects that use adult education processes to assist marginalized people to collectively name the racism, poverty, violence or other forms of exclusion and oppression they experience.

Women and Gender Equality Canada: Calls for Proposals to Address GBV Through Promising Practices and Community-Based Research

Application Deadline: February 3, 2023

Women and Gender Equality Canada works to advance equality for women and gender diverse people. It works to include people of all genders in Canada’s economic, social, and political life. Gender-based violence (GBV) costs women and gender diverse people their lives. It has profound effects on children. Estimates show that Canadians spend billions every year to deal with the aftermath. Those at highest risk live in rural and remote areas, are Indigenous women, Black women, women with disabilities, women of colour, gender non-binary and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

There are two objectives for this call for proposals:

For the Promising Practices stream: The objective is to fund projects to develop, put in place, and evaluate or to scale promising practices to strengthen the GBV sector.

For the Community-based Research stream: The objective is to fund research projects that build knowledge to help address the needs of the underserved in the GBV sector.

Notes:

You can only apply to one stream of the call for proposals and can only submit one application to this call for proposals.

You cannot apply to scale promising practices that are part of an unfinished project.

Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation: Donations Committee

Upcoming Meeting: February 7, 2023

Following in the footsteps of the Baagwating Community Association (BCA) which dissolved in 2016, the MSIFN Donation Committee has continued to help organizations, communities, and individuals with charitable giving. The MSIFN Maada'ookii Committee aims to resume the generous work of their predecessors.
In an attempt to streamline all request from individuals, authorized representatives, organizations, and sponsorship of organized sports, we have created four applications forms. Each form consists of a checklist and guidelines of what the MSIFN Maada'ookii Committee would like to review when considering a request for assistance.

Please note that if your request is approved by the MSIFN Maada'ookii Committee, those funds must be used within three (3) months of the approval date for the purpose intended, or returned to the Committee for redistribution.
Please choose the appropriate form, based on the following categories, for your request:

  • Financial Hardship: Form for individuals with a need derived from harsh and unforeseen circumstances.
  • Medical: Form for authorized representatives, i.e. Occupational Therapists, Social/Case Workers, Support Personnel, etc.,
  • Organizations: Form for representatives of charitable organizations/events, not-for-profits, businesses, etc.,
  • Sponsorships: Forms for sports teams or individual participants in organized sports.

The MSIFN Maada'ookii Committee plans to meet once a month to review requests. Please send in requests at least three working days prior to the next scheduled meeting for inclusion.

Government of Ontario: Seniors Active Living Centre Program

Application Deadline: February 9, 2023

The Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC) Program is an annual program that provides funding to approximately 300 established SALC programs across Ontario to deliver activities and services to Ontario’s older adults and seniors.

SALC programs promote wellness, social interaction and education to help seniors stay active, independent and engaged. SALC operators are encouraged to extend the reach of their programming and continue to offer remote or virtual programing to meet the needs of seniors in the community who may not feel comfortable returning to in-person programing or have difficulty accessing a SALC program’s location.

When planning their programming for 2023-24, SALC operators are encouraged to address one or more the following program priorities and identify which one(s) in their application:

  • Connect older adults with community programs and services.
  • Provide programing opportunities for seniors in underserved communities or to underserved populations.
  • Remove accessibility barriers to SALC programs and services.

Government of Canada: Community Services Recovery Fund

Application Deadline: February 21, 2023

The Community Services Recovery Fund is a $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support charities and non-profits as they focus on how to adapt their organizations for pandemic recovery. Now more than ever, charities and non-profits are playing a key role in addressing persistent and complex social problems faced by all communities. The Community Services Recovery Fund responds to what charities and non-profits need right now and supports organizations as they adapt to the long-term impacts of the pandemic.

Durham Community Foundation and United Way of Durham Region are working in collaboration with Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada, and the Canadian Red Cross to distribute funding.

This fund supports Community Service Organizations, including non-profit organizations, Indigenous Governing Bodies, and Registered Charities located across Canada.

Explore the resource section and sign up for a webinar on how to apply.


MLSE Foundation: Community Action Grants

Expressions of Interest Deadline: March 9, 2023

Our grant funds are dedicated to supporting Ontario-based organizations who are using sport and recreation to build a more equitable tomorrow. Community Action Grants enable us to grant up to $50,000 to organizations that are creating positive outcomes for youth in physical health, mental health, academic achievement, and work readiness.

What We Fund: Project proposals that align with one of the four (4) areas of impact and serve youth aged 6-29 who face barriers:

  • Healthy Body
  • Healthy Mind
  • Ready For School
  • Ready for Work

MLSE Foundation prioritizes the following demographics:

  • Youth who face socio-economic barriers
  • Black youth
  • First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth
  • Newcomers/Refugee youth
  • Girl-identified youth (in the case of gender-specific programming)
  • LGBTQ2A+ Identified youth
  • Youth who identify as having a disability- intellectual or physical

Government of Ontario: Rural Economic Development Program (RED)

Coming Soon: Applications open January 23, 2023

Ontario’s Rural Economic Development (RED) program provides cost-share funding to support activities that create strong rural communities in Ontario, and opens doors to rural economic development through:

  • funding assistance to address barriers to economic development, better position rural communities to attract and retain jobs and investment, and enhance economic growth
  • funding to build community capacity and support for economic development in Ontario’s rural communities
  • investments in rural communities to help diversify and grow local economies – making economic growth more inclusive so Rural Ontario continues to share in the province’s economic prosperity

Community One Foundation: Rainbow Grants

Coming Soon: 2023 grant information will be published in February 2023

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

Canadian Tire Jumpstart: Community Development Grants

Coming Soon: Applications open February 13, 2023

The Community Development Grant 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: Assists organizations to build capacity or to cover increased expenses to provide inclusive, safe sport participant experiences, such as but not limited to:

  • Build human resource capacity (program staff, coaches, volunteers), including hiring and training;
  • Hire subject matter expert for EDI training;
  • Increased rental costs or facility updates;
  • Organization development, including fundraising/revenue generation strategies and operational efficiencies; and
  • Rebuilding, expanding or starting a new organization.

Programming Support: Assists organizations with the costs of delivering sport and recreational programming, including but not limited to:

  • Program supervisors, instructors, coaches;
  • Facility costs;
  • Equipment costs; and
  • Transportation costs.

Laidlaw Foundation: Youth Action Fund

Coming Soon: 2023 call for applications expected to open March 1, 2023

The Youth Action Fund is a funding opportunity to tackle barriers impacting young people in the justice, education and child welfare systems.

Objectives:

  • Elevate the voices of young people with lived experiences in the justice, education, and child welfare systems
  • Support initiatives working on or advocating for early intervention
  • Promote equitable and accountable institutions and systems
  • Support initiatives working on or advocating for evidence-based policy
  • Support initiatives that are informed by youth, families and communities

Priority will be given, but not limited to initiatives that:

  • Support youth with lived experience in at least one or more of these systems: justice, child welfare, and/or education
  • Are Black youth-led and/or Indigenous youth-led
  • Take on a youth-centered approach
  • Promote or develop better practices for supporting youth impacted by justice, education, and/or child welfare systems
  • Connect services and advocacy across all three systems
  • Work to combat systemic racism and discrimination presented across all three systems
  • Engage families and communities and/or promote healthy relationships with caring adults
  • Demonstrate trusting partnerships

Farm Credit Canada

Coming Soon: Applications will open April 2023

At Trillium Mutual we are proud of our strong legacy of community support over many years. We are committed to the sustainability of rural Ontario and we realize we have an opportunity to support programs that will foster the success of this responsibility. Trillium ROOTS Community Fund focus areas include:

Agriculture: Agriculture applications must benefit sustainability and development of the agriculture industry in Ontario

Mental Wellness: Mental Wellness is single-time projects/programs that do not receive government funding

Healthcare: Healthcare applications must be capital in nature

Emergency Response: Applications must be capital in nature

Environmental/Sustainability: Applications must be capital in nature

Requests for funding are reviewed quarterly. We appreciate as much lead time as possible. The greater the advance notice we are given, the better decisions we can make regarding your application.

CMHC/SCHL: National Housing Co-Investment Fund - Black-Led Organizations

Application Deadline: No posted deadline

This option of the National Housing Co-Investment Contribution Fund increases access to housing funding for Black-led organizations. The contribution funding supports Black-led* organizations to build housing benefiting Black households. The Fund prioritizes partnerships between Black-led organizations and other partners like governments, non-profits and other such organizations.

Contribution Funding through the Co-Investment Fund supports organizations that have already partnered and secured funding but require more capital. It can be used to:

  • top-up funding – when you have most of your project funding secured and require top-up funding to close a funding gap
  • leverage other funding sources – get funding confirmation within 30 days of being prioritized that can then be used to secure funding from other sources

Contribution Funding provides:

  • an unsecured contribution that facilitates seamless integration into project financing structures. This can make it easier for you to attract other sources of funding.
  • more certainty on funding amounts* Please refer to the Viability Assessment Spreadsheet for more details.

* The Co-Investment’s Contribution funding amounts are based on lesser of per unit calculation, project needs or percentage of costs (Non-profits/coops = 40%.)

Government of Ontario: Summer Jobs for Students Program

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.

Government of Ontario: Reconnect Ontario - Marquee Event Fund

Application Deadline: Ongoing

The Reconnect Ontario Marquee Event Fund supports costs related to hosting:

  • major one-time events in Ontario
  • events that do not recur annually or biannually in Ontario
  • national or international events in Ontario

Eligible organizations must:

  • be legal entities
  • have been in existence for one year or longer, as of the date of submission of the application
  • have a bank account at a Canadian financial institution that conducts business in Ontario
  • not be in default of the terms and conditions of any grant or loan agreement with any ministry or agency of the Government of Ontario (for example, Ontario Trillium Foundation)
  • demonstrate proven organizational ability, technical capacity and fiscal prudence to successfully host a marquee event. This includes national and/or international event management experience and tourism business expertise

Events supported by the Reconnect Ontario Marquee Event Fund must have cash operating expenses totaling $1 million or more.

We will accept applications on an ongoing basis, however you must submit your application at least four months before your event start date.
Government of Ontario: Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF)

Application Deadline: Ongoing

OCAF has three specific aims:

  • to increase cultural tourism by providing investments to assist Ontario cultural organizations to promote, market and present one-off or first-time events, or a significant expansion of existing activity, which are designed to attract new tourists and visitors to cultural events;
  • increase the earned revenue capacity of the applicant organization; and
  • support events that foster economic growth and contribute to job creation.

OCAF has a two-stage application process which ensures that organizations do not dedicate significant time, effort and resources to an ineligible project. Please refer to “Important Dates” for a current list of stage 2 application deadlines.

  • First time applicants, and those requiring further information or assistance with the application, should contact OCAF staff prior to submitting a Stage 1 application.
  • Organizations must start the application process approximately eight months prior to an event.
  • OCAF has a two-stage application process which ensures that organizations do not dedicate significant time, effort and resources to an ineligible project.
  • Stage 2 applications should be assessed by the OCAF Board approximately six months prior to an event.
  • We are open to relaxing these timelines in light of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 health crisis. 
  • Please contact Thomas Vaughan at tvaughan@ocaf.ca to discuss the eligibility of your event.
Town of Whitby - Mayor's Community Development Fund

Application Deadline: Ongoing

The Mayor's Community Development Fund (MCDF) is a community development fund offered by the Town of Whitby to support local community groups, events, and initiatives that will benefit the community, including applications for COVID-19 support. The MCDF offers funding to local initiatives in our community through lead grants up to $25,000 and community grants up to $5,000.

The funding is raised through two events, The Mayor's Gala and the Mayor's Golf Tournament. Up to 50% of the proceeds raised by the Mayor's Golf Tournament and Mayor's Fundraiser will be awarded to a lead cause or charity. The balance will be awarded in smaller community grants.

If you apply, you can also request one of the following silent auction item packages:

  • Whitby/Brooklin Retailer Gift Basket ($150 value)
  • Whitby Recreation Gift Certificate ($250 value)
Funding Portals and Lists
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.
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
Parks and Recreation Ontario

A list of various funding opportunities, both governmental and non-governmental
The Funding Portal

The Funding Portal is a subscription-based national bilingual e-commerce platform and gateway to improve access to government funding. The Portal aggregates thousands of sources of funding within a searchable database.
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