Funding Opportunities eNewsletter
August 4, 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.
Granting Opportunities by Deadline
Canadian Women's Foundation: Community Needs Grant

Application Deadline: August 6, 2021

The Canadian Women’s Foundation is now accepting proposals for Community Needs grants. We will select approximately 23 grants up to a maximum of $20,000 each.

In response to pressure the COVID-19 pandemic has been putting on gender justice and women’s organizations, the Foundation is launching a new annual grant stream designed to provide one year of flexible funding to organizations to meet a range of needs
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Applicants may apply for funds to cover program costs and/or operational expenses, such as covering staff salaries or relief staff, adapting services for an online environment, piloting a new approach, etc. Proposals will be expected to demonstrate how the funds will be used and how that spending will contribute to efforts to serve women, girls, Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary people in their communities. 
Durham Community Foundation: Annual Grant Stream

Application Deadline: August 6, 2021

There is a total of $93,250 available to grant in the following key areas:

Key Area: Available Grant

Seniors: $33,000
Unrestricted: $18,275
Ajax: $16,000
Scugog: $15,100
Youth: $10,875

Unlike previous years, funding is not tied to seed or support a specific program or service.

As a registered charity that also relies on core funding to remain strong and resilient, Durham Community Foundation is opening up the grant stream this year to operational funding grants.

We value your work in the community and we hope this will provide you with the opportunity to allocate funds to where it is needed the most within your organization.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart: Sport Relief Fund

Application Deadline: August 8, 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
Government of Canada: Local Food Infrastructure Fund

Application Deadline: August 13, 2021

The Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) is a 5-year, $60 million initiative ending March 31, 2024. It was created as part of the Government of Canada's Food Policy for a healthier and more sustainable food system in Canada. The LFIF is aimed at community-based, not-for-profit organizations with a mission to reduce food insecurity by establishing and strengthening their local food system.

This intake of LFIF mobilizes an additional $10 million announced in Budget 2021, to provide rapid-response grants to help prevent hunger through investments in infrastructure needs. The impact must be targeted and immediate, and must be directly related to addressing food insecurities and increasing the accessibility of healthy, nutritious and ideally local foods within their community(ies).

Eligible projects

Projects must be infrastructure specific, community-driven and dedicated to improving access to safe and healthy foods for Canadians at risk of food insecurity. For the purpose of this fund, Canadians at risk of food insecurity may include, but are not limited to:

  • Indigenous Peoples
  • persons who are homeless or street-involved
  • low income households
  • persons living in isolated or rural communities
  • persons with disabilities

Eligible projects must be for simple infrastructure requests such as purchasing a walk-in refrigerator for a food bank, or installing a greenhouse in a remote community. Complex projects, including major renovations, and multi-year projects will not be considered under this funding intake, as impacts must be targeted and immediate. Project activities must be completed by March 31, 2022.

Applications will be accepted until August 13, 2021 (depending on funding availability). Applicants may submit a proposal at any time before the deadline for a minimum ask of $15,000 to a maximum ask of $100,000.
TD Ready Challenge

Application Deadline: August 26, 2021

Each year, the TD Ready Challenge invites eligible organizations to submit applications that offer solutions for a problem statement that is connected to one of the four drivers of change of the TD Ready Commitment: Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health.

The 2021 TD Ready Challenge Problem Statement is focused on addressing predicted learning loss in math and reading for disproportionately impacted students in grades K-12 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has disrupted elementary and high school education across North America. The transition to alternative ways of teaching has created challenges for both students and teachers due to uneven implementation and unequal access to technology. That's why this year, the focus of the 2021 TD Ready Challenge is on supporting innovative solutions to address the predicted learning loss in math and reading for disproportionately impacted students in grades K-12 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The 2021 TD Ready Challenge seeks to provide financial support to organizations that have designed innovative, scalable and/or replicable solutions to help address the predicted pandemic-caused learning loss in math and reading faced by disproportionately impacted students in grades K-12 in communities across North America.

The Grants:

The 2021 TD Ready Challenge will continue with offering a total commitment of $10 million CAD, which will be available through one-time grants ranging from $375,000 CAD to $1 million CAD each for Canadian organizations and $325,000 USD to $1 million USD each for US organizations. for initiatives that address this year's problem statement.
Canada Post Awards for Indigenous Students

Application Deadline: August 31, 2021

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)
Government of Canada: Canadian Heritage - Museums Assistance Program

The Museums Assistance Program (MAP) supports heritage institutions and workers in the preservation and presentation of heritage collections. The program fosters the preservation of Indigenous culture and facilitates access to heritage collections for all Canadians. It also promotes professional knowledge, skills and practices related to key museum functions.

Canada-France Agreement Component

Application Deadline: August 31, 2021

Canada-France Agreement (March 31, 2019) The Museums Assistance Program (MAP) – Canada-France Agreement component provides funding for joint missions between French and Canadian heritage organizations, to create ties and enhance competencies of museum professionals.
Partnerships may relate to research on development and diversification of audiences. Projects that further the development of official language minority communities are given a priority for funding support.
Municipality of Clarington Community Funding Program

Application Deadline: August 31, 2021

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. For applicants who have been operational for one or more years.

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.

Ontario Trillium Foundation: Community Building Fund

Coming Soon: Applications are available starting September 1, 2021. Application deadline is September 29, 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.

Community Building Fund – Capital stream

Support for the repair, renovation or retrofitting of existing sport and recreation infrastructure to address public health requirements related to COVID-19 and community need.

Deadline:
Applications are available starting September 1, 2021
Application deadline is September 29, 2021 at 5 PM ET
Information about the application, eligibility requirements, application coaching and information sessions will be available soon.
Ontario Trillium Foundation: Youth Opportunities Fund

Expression of Interest Deadline: September 29, 2021

YOF provides grants and capacity-building to grassroots groups and collaboratives to improve the wellbeing of youth and families with a focus on Indigenous and Black communities.

Youth Innovations Test Grant: Are you a youth-led grassroots group or a youth-adult partnership? Apply for a Youth Innovations Test grant for a project designed to support other youth in your community in one of these three areas:

  • Research a new concept or issue
  • Strategize around issue(s) affecting people you want to support
  • Test a new project idea

Youth Innovations Scale Grant: Are you a youth-led grassroots group or a youth-adult partnership with over two years of experience delivering a community project? Apply for a Youth Innovations Scale grant to increase your project's reach or impact.

  • Enhance an existing project for a deeper impact on youth. This means adding new components or making refinements to your existing project model to increase your impact.
  • Expand a project to reach more youth. This means increasing the number of young people who can access your project for example by adding more locations or times for project delivery.

Family Innovations Test Grant: Are you a grassroots group led by parents, guardians, and caregivers? Apply for a Family Innovations Test grant for a project designed to support other parents, guardians, and caregivers in your community in one of three areas:

  • Research a new concept or issue
  • Strategize around issue(s) affecting people you want to support
  • Test a new project idea

Family Innovations Scale Grant: Are you a grassroots group led by parents, guardians, and caregivers? Apply for a Family Innovations Scale grant to support a project that you’ve been delivering for over two years, and that is designed to engage parents, guardians, and caregivers in your community.

Parent-guardian-caregiver groups can;

  • Add to an existing project for a deeper impact with parents, guardians, and caregivers or
  • Expand a project to reach more parents, guardians, and caregivers

System Innovations Grant: Real change goes beyond any single organization or isolated program. Are you part of a collaborative (a group of two or more organizations) designing and/or implementing strategies for systems change? Apply for a System Innovations grant to lay the groundwork for systems change and/or to take steps to create system-wide change.

The grant funds one or both of the following:

  • Groundwork: Planning and preparing for systems change
  • Implementation: Putting research, theories of change, and plans into action

About Organizational Mentors: An Organizational Mentor (OM) provides administrative support, project mentoring, and financial accountability to YOF grassroots groups. An OM's role is similar to that of trustees, an emerging governance platform, a platform, or a charitable home.

All groups applying to the Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) Youth Innovations and Family Innovations Streams must partner with an OM and enter into a collaborative agreement.
Government of Ontario: COVID-19 Relief Fund for Francophone Non-Profit Organizations

Application Deadline: September 30, 2021

The Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario (AFO) and the Government of Ontario are proud to jointly launch the Covid-19 Relief Fund for Francophone Non-Profit Organizations.

The AFO is aware of a large number of Francophone non-profit organizations that are struggling as a result of significant revenue reductions related to covid-19 restrictions.

The AFO has been mandated by the government to manage the redistribution of the one million dollar fund to provide non-repayable contributions of up to $50$000 to directly support the one-time costs associated with the economic consequences of the pandemic.

The AFO will focus on not-for-profit organizations, including existing Francophone social enterprises and co-operatives. The AFO has a strong network in Francophone communities across Ontario to reach as many organizations as possible that have been affected by COVID-19.

Admissibility:

  • Are you a non-profit organization (NPO) (including charities, social enterprises and cooperatives)?
  • Does your organization operate in French and serve Francophone communities in Ontario?
  • Is your head office located in Ontario?
  • Was your organization registered before January 1, 2020, and was active during the 2019-2020 fiscal year?
  • Has your organization been negatively affected, and is able to demonstrate a loss of its self-generated revenue and/or an interruption of its services and/or an increased demand for services since the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis?
Government of Canada: Canadian Heritage - Museums Assistance Program

The Museums Assistance Program (MAP) supports heritage institutions and workers in the preservation and presentation of heritage collections. The program fosters the preservation of Indigenous culture and facilitates access to heritage collections for all Canadians. It also promotes professional knowledge, skills and practices related to key museum functions.

Access to Heritage Component

Application Deadline: November 1, 2021

The Access to Heritage component promotes access to heritage across different geographic regions of Canada. Eligible projects are related to travelling exhibitions, to assist heritage organizations in reaching new audiences.

Partnerships may relate to research on development and diversification of audiences. Projects that further the development of official language minority communities are given a priority for funding support.


Indigenous Heritage Component

Application Deadline: November 1, 2021

The Indigenous Heritage component supports the preservation, presentation and management of Indigenous cultural heritage in Canada. It also promotes public awareness and understanding of the diverse cultures of Indigenous Peoples.

Partnerships may relate to research on development and diversification of audiences. Projects that further the development of official language minority communities are given a priority for funding support.


Collections Management Component

Application Deadline: November 1, 2021

The Collections Management component aims to improve professional knowledge, skills and practices to strengthen professional standards related to key museum functions for collections management in Canada. It also supports the development and delivery of resources or services that will benefit multiple museums.

Partnerships may relate to research on development and diversification of audiences. Projects that further the development of official language minority communities are given a priority for funding support.
Ontario Trillium Foundation: Resilient Communities Fund

Coming Soon: Applications are available starting November 10, 2021. Application deadline is December 8, 2021

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the non-profit sector and its ability to support and serve communities across Ontario.

We recognize that post COVID-19 recovery support will be essential to ready non-profit organizations to deal with new and emerging needs for both them and their communities by building their organizational capacity and their ability to deliver programs and services.

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.
Canadian Women's Foundation: Investment Readiness Program (IRP)

Coming Soon: Will reopen in Fall 2021

These grants assist organizations to support and encourage their growth and participation in the social innovation and social finance ecosystem. The grant program will focus on preparing the ground for new projects to address women’s needs in Canada in various sectors, working with diverse and underserved communities. 
Community One Foundation: The Steinert & Ferreiro Award

Coming Soon: Nominations will open in Fall 2021

The Steinert & Ferreiro Award celebrates the unsung heroes of our community. An individual will be presented with a commemorative award and a $10,000 cash prize. The recipient must agree to accept the award in-person and be publicly acknowledged for their contribution.

Eligibility

All individuals who have made a significant contribution through the arts and sciences in promoting the understanding and acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, intersex, queer and two-spirited communities in the Greater Toronto Area are eligible to be nominated. The arts and sciences may include the humanities (literature, philosophy, etc.), the social sciences (law, psychology, politics, history, social work, community development, etc.), fine arts (music, theatre, film, etc.), and physical sciences (engineering, biology, medicine, etc.). Unsuccessful nominations can be eligible for consideration for the following year’s award by checking the appropriate box at the bottom of the nomination form.
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
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
Parks and Recreation Ontario

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

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