Business Financing in Canada
Funding is a crucial element for any business looking to start, grow, or innovate. In addition to traditional options such as bank loans or relying on investors, there is a frequently underestimated alternative: grants. This detailed guide explores the various sources of grants available, as well as the financial services and sustainable funding strategies for businesses in Canada. By following the outlined steps, entrepreneurs can identify grants suited to their projects, whether they are government programs, innovation funds, or initiatives specifically targeting certain sectors. Grants are an advantageous solution, often non-repayable, allowing businesses to fund their projects without resorting to debt.

Inclusive Spaces Program Grant
Government of Alberta- Up to 10% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Atlantic Fisheries Fund — Science Partnerships
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Documentary + Factual Development Fund
Creative BC- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Skills Development Fund (SDF) — Capital Stream — SEED Pathway
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

CALQ — Distribution of works in Quebec
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

TD — Friends of the Environment Foundation Grant (TD FEF)
TD Bank (TD)- No Condition
- Educational services
- Public administration

Canada Arts Presentation Fund - Development
Department of Canadian Heritage (LJI)- No Condition
- All industries

Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 2
Ministère de l'économie, de l'innovation et de l'énergie du Québec (MEIE)- Maximum amount : 350,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Sector development program
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Canadian Institutes of Health Research — Project Grant : Fall 2025 and Spring 2026
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)- Up to 46% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

CanExport Community Investments
Invest Canada – Community Initiatives (ICCI) Program; The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service- From $3,000 to $500,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Business / Arts - artsvest Regional
artsvest; Business for the Arts; Council for Business & Arts in Canada- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Alberta Innovates — Voucher Program
Government of Alberta- From $10,001 to $100,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) — Well Decommissioning and Special Projects Pre-Approval
Government of Saskatchewan- From $500 to $10,000
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) in the Prairie Provinces
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)- From $250,000 to $5,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

Ontario Labour Market Partnerships (OLMP)
Ministry of Colleges and Universities- No Condition
- All industries

Québec city — Supporting the development of the Saint-Roch district
Quebec City- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Finance and insurance
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) — Dugout, Pipeline and Well Rebate
Government of Saskatchewan- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Invest Nova Scotia — Greenshoots
Government of Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 40 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

INSPIRE Fund
Northern Savings Credit Union- From $5,000 to $50,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Music PEI — Microgrants
Music PEI- Maximum amount : 300 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

United Way Winnipeg - Organizational Development Grants
United Way of Winnipeg- No Condition
- All industries

Creation Grants
Canadian Roots Exchange- From $2,500 to $150,000
- Health care and social assistance

Venture Investment Program
Government of the Northwest Territories- Maximum amount : 15,100 $
- All industries

RBC Foundation - Community Investments
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- All industries
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New Entrant Farm Business Accelerator Program (NEFBA)
Government of British Columbia- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Community Funding Program - Capital Funding
City of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Outdoor Play
The Lawson Foundation (BJLFF)- No Condition
- All industries

Buy BC Partnership Program — Producers, Processors and Cooperatives
Government of British Columbia- From $5,000 to $2,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade

Arts Across Canada — Arts Festivals and Presenters
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)- Up to 60% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Public Voice Fund
Small Change Fund- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)

Made in Saskatchewan Technology Program (MIST)
Government of Saskatchewan- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Nova Scotia Seafood Innovation and Technology Adoption Program (NS-ITAP)
Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation- Maximum amount : 99,900 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Youth and the Environment
The Lawson Foundation (BJLFF)- No Condition
- All industries

Territorial and sectoral development program — Stream 1.2
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $5,000 to $300,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Consolidating the entrepreneurial life cycle in the ecological transition
City of Montreal (MTL)- Up to 80% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Educational services

ISO/Netflix Indigenous Production Apprenticeships and Cultural Mentorships Grant
Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

OTF — Family Innovations Scale Grant
Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

thriveFORWARD
Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (NCFDC)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Agriculture Development Fund
Government of Saskatchewan- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Early Child Development
The Lawson Foundation (BJLFF)- No Condition
- All industries

Child & Youth Diabetes
The Lawson Foundation (BJLFF)- No Condition
- All industries

Agriculture Awareness Initiative Program (AAIP)
Government of Saskatchewan- From $250 to $50,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Forest Biomass Program — Innovative bioproduct manufacturing stream
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing

STIP — Local Road Bridge Program
Government of Alberta- Up to 75% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing

Special Opportunity Grants Program
Freshwater Future- No Condition
- All industries

EPRTNT — Structuring the tourism offer
Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est- From $30,000 to $100,000
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Irrigation Program — Irrigation Development Program
Government of Saskatchewan- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 67% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Indigenous Intellectual Property Program Grant — Small scale initiative stream
Innovation Canada- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

Operate - Sustain
Arts Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 550,000 $
- All industries
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Ontario Dairy Processing Modernization Initiative
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Honey Bee Health Initiative
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

NGen — Advanced Manufacturing Homebuilding Challenge
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen)- No Condition
- Manufacturing

Operate - Activate
Arts Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Creating, Knowing and Sharing — Indigenous Organizations
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Charitable Gaming Grants
Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Native Women’s Association of Canada — National Apprenticeships Program
Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC)- From $10,000 to $20,000
- Construction
- Manufacturing

PrairiesCan — Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI)
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Social economy support program (PSES) – Stream 2
Social Economy Cluster — Central Quebec- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing

Ontario Creates Business Intelligence Program
Ontario Creates- Minimum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Celebrate Prince George Community Grant
City of Prince George- From $5,000 to $10,000
- All industries

AFA — Theatre Individual Project Funding
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)- Maximum amount : 18,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

PacifiCan — Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative — Indigenous Stream
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)- No Condition
- Manufacturing

AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)- Maximum amount : 18,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Vancouver Sport Hosting Grants
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Federated Co-operatives Limited - Community Investment Fund
The Co-operators Group Limited- From $500 to $10,000
- All industries

Pride London Festival Endowment Fund
London Community Foundation (LCF)- No Condition
- All industries

NGO Stabilization Fund
Government of the Northwest Territories- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Public Understanding
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Alternative Land Use Services Program
Government of Prince Edward Island- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

- Maximum amount : 400,000 $
- All industries

Energy Innovation Program — On-road Transportation Decarbonization
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- No Condition
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Collective Entrepreneurship Capital Investment Program
Quebec Ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Higher Education
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Innovate BC — BC Fast Pilot program
Government of British Columbia- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
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Future Farmer Program
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

PRCCM – Stream 2
Gouvernement du Québec- Up to 90% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

ACOA Jobs and Growth Fund — Non Profit
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)- No Condition
- All industries

Burlington Arts and Culture Fund
City of Burlington- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
- All industries

Great Lakes Local Action Fund
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks of Ontario- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- All industries

Seafood Accelerator Program — Market Access Food Safety Program
Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Heritage Grants - Heritage Conservation Grants Program
City of Vancouver- No Condition
- All industries

Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Grant Program
City of Moose Jaw- No Condition
- All industries

The Low Carbon Economy Fund - Low Carbon Economy Challenge
Government of Canada- Minimum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

AFA — Public Art Galleries Operating Funding
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)- Up to 22% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Community Interaction Program — Restoration and/or protection of biodiversity
Government of Canada- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Other services (except public administration)

Regional Initiatives Fund (FAIR)
Ministère de l'économie, de l'innovation et de l'énergie du Québec (MEIE)- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Irrigation Program — Irrigation Efficiency Program
Government of Saskatchewan- From $250 to $50,000
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Municipal Community Grants Program
Town of Cobourg- No Condition
- All industries

SaskTenders
Government of Saskatchewan- No Condition
- All industries
- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)

CMF — Program for Racialized Communities (PRC)
Canada Media Fund (CMF)- Maximum amount : 750,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

QEPD — Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund - CED (QC)
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

PSO – Organic food
Consortium de recherche et d'innovations en bioprocédés industriels au Québec (CRIBIQ)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 27% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Promotion Program – Industry Initiatives Stream
Telefilm Canada- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries

ERA — Advanced Materials Challenge
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)- From $250,000 to $5,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Three Phase Network Access Program
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- Maximum amount : 7,500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Community Catalyst Grant
Prince Edward Island Department of Health and Wellness- Maximum amount : 7,500 $
- All industries

The Sisters of Providence Care of St. Vincent de Paul Community Impact Fund - ACEs & Resilience Stream
Community Foundation for Kingston & Area- No Condition
- All industries