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.

Regina Rosen Food First Fund
Community Foundation for Kingston & Area- No Condition
- All industries

NSERC Alliance – Alberta Innovates Advance Program
Alberta Innovates- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Toronto Urban Health Fund (TUHF)
City of Toronto- No Condition
- All industries

AQT - Young Enterprise Awards
Association québecoise des technologies- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries

The Economic Security Program for Cree Hunters
Cree Hunters Economic Security Board (CHESB)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

SVP Teens Grant
SVP Teens Waterloo Region- From $3,000 to $5,000
- Health care and social assistance

Canada's Ocean Supercluster — Technology Leadership Project Program
Canada's Ocean Supercluster (OSC)- Minimum amount : 400,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Utilities
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Industry Expansion Program
Government of Manitoba- No Condition
- All industries

Improving Crop and Livestock Health and Quality
Government of New Brunswick- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund
Waterloo Region Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Off-Road Vehicle Financial Assistance Program - Wildlife and Habitat Protection Stream
Quebec Wildlife Foundation- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Transportation and warehousing
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Women's Program
Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE)- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)

Racial Equity Fund
Waterloo Region Community Foundation- From $10,000 to $30,000
- All industries

OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Northern Healthy Communities Fund
Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)

innovÉÉ — PARTENAR-IA — Industry
innovÉÉ- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Post-Farm Food Safety Program
Government of British Columbia- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Racial Equity Research Grants
The Spencer Foundation- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- All industries

ARBJ — Entrepreneurial Skills Development Program
Administration régionale Baie-James (ARBJ)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Sustainable New Agri-Food Products & Productivity Program — Clean Tech in Agri-Food
Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN)- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Future Fisher Program
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 12,000 $
- Up to 2% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Annual Global Funding
SaskCulture- No Condition
- All industries

The Low Carbon Economy Fund — Indigenous Leadership Fund
Government of Canada- Maximum amount : 6,000,000 $
- All industries

Childcare Program Stabilization Grants
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Health care and social assistance
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Sustainable Development Support Program for Mining Sector Companies — Stream B
Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF)- Up to 50% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Heritage grants - Heritage Incentive Program
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 4,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Durham Region Para Sport and Recreation Funds
Durham Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Arts Across Canada — Circulation and Touring
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

OCI — Critical Industrial Technologies initiative (CIR)
Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)- From $50 to $1,000,000
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Research Grants on Education: Large
The Spencer Foundation- From $125,000 to $500,000
- All industries

International Development and Relief
The K M Hunter Charitable Foundation- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Métis Cultural Development Fund
SaskCulture- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Community Addictions Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Fund
Department of Health and Community Services of Newfoundland and Labrador- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

NBIF — Emerging Concepts and Technologies Program
New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF)- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Workforce Training and Employment — Labour Market Partnerships
Government of Manitoba- No Condition
- All industries

Funding for First Nation and Inuit Policing Facilities (FNIPFP)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- No Condition
- Public administration

Community Development Fund
Government of Yukon- Up to 90% of project cost
- All industries

Kindred Cares Grants
Kindred Foundation- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Accreditation program for private archives
National Library and Archives of Quebec (BANQ)- No Condition
- All industries

Workforce Training and Employment — Self Employment
Government of Manitoba- No Condition
- All industries

TACC Business Equity Program
Tale'awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- All industries

Job Creation Partnerships (JCP)
Government of Nova Scotia- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Community Arts Investment Program (CAIP) - Arts Organizations Stream
City of London, London Arts Council- From $20,000 to $35,000
- All industries

Eurogia Cluster's 29th Call for proposals – Clean Technologies
National Research Council Canada (NRC)- No Condition
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

Disaster Financial Assistance Program — Non-profits
Government of Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Innovative Solutions Canada — Zero emissions technologies for industrial process heating
National Research Council Canada (NRC)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Manufacturing

CMF — Distributor Program
Canada Media Fund (CMF)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 49% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Northern Industries Innovation Fund
Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT)- From $10 to $50,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Economic Diversification Fund (FDE) for the MRC des Sources territory
Ministère de l'économie, de l'innovation et de l'énergie du Québec (MEIE)- No Condition
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
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La Ruche — ImpACTE Fund
La Ruche- From $5,000 to $25,000
- All industries

innovÉÉ — ÉFÉC
innovÉÉ- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Other services (except public administration)

Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Up! Program
Innovation Guelph- From $200,000 to $10,000
- All industries

Community Priorities Grants
Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

Product and Market Development Program — Agricultural Industry Organizations
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade

Prince's Operation Entrepreneur
Prince's Trust Canada- Maximum amount : 390,000 $
- All industries

CBDC Young Millionaires Program
Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC)- Maximum amount : 200 $
- Educational services

N.B. Indigenous Agriculture Development Program
Government of New Brunswick- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Value-adding Equipment Program
Government of Nova Scotia- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Gen AI Call for Projects
Scale AI Cluster- Minimum amount : 750,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Ontario Creates Industry Development Program
Government of Ontario- From $5,000 to $35,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

EcoAction — Stream 1: Community-led freshwater action across Canada
Canada Water Agency (CWA)- From $25,000 to $100,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Educational services

Adoption and Permanency Fund
Victoria Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

CRIBIQ — PSO-Bioproducts and bioprocesses
Consortium de recherche et d'innovations en bioprocédés industriels au Québec (CRIBIQ)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

French Language Services Program
Government of Nunavut- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Support program for organizations working with people experiencing homelessness
City of Trois-Rivières- Up to 2% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

Livestock Strategy Program — Pollination Expansion
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Arts and Culture Grant
City of Mississauga- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 65% of project cost
- All industries

AFA — Film and Video Individual Project Funding
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)- Maximum amount : 18,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Supportive Housing Capital Grant program
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP)
Government of British Columbia- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Investment Readiness Program
Canadian Women's Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

CanNor Jobs and Growth Fund — Not-for-Profit
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)- Up to 90% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance

Transportation Assets Risk Assessment (TARA) Program
Transport Canada (TC)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Transportation and warehousing

Connect2
Government of Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Public administration
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Community Enhancement Program — Enhance Your Community Stream
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Affordable Housing Renovation Program
City of Montreal (MTL)- Maximum amount : 575,000 $
- Up to 45% of project cost
- Real estate and rental and leasing

Saskatchewan Arts Board Grants
Government of Saskatchewan- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Youth-led Community Health Grants Program
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute; Saskatchewan Ministry of Health- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant
Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

Mineral Exploration Support Program For Critical And Strategic Minerals
Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF)- From $40,000 to $400,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Brant Community Foundation - City of Brantford Community Grant Program
BCF- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration

CAAIN — 2024 – 2025 Open Competition
Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN)- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Community Boost
CAA Niagara- From $10,000 to $10,000
- Other services (except public administration)

Product and Market Development Program — Agri-Businesses
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Tremplin Grant – Indigenous Arts
Conseil des arts de Montréal- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Investor Education and Protection Grants Program
Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Finance and insurance
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Indigenous Healing and Wellness Grants
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Northwest Territories Arts Council Funding
NWT Arts Council- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Digital Equity Accelerator
HP Inc.- From $100,000 to $100,000
- Other services (except public administration)

Enabling Agricultural Research and Innovation
Government of New Brunswick- Maximum amount : 90,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Farm Technology Program
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

CREATE ACTION
Sony Electronics Inc.- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)

Strategic Improvement Assistance
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- All industries

CICE 2023 Directed Call for Innovation — Measurement, Monitoring and Verification (MMV) of Carbon Management
Government of British Columbia- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Creative Entrepreneurship Program
Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Gender-Responsive Climate Finance Window
Convergence Finance- From $40,000 to $500,000
- Finance and insurance
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Other services (except public administration)

Humanities Program
The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Export Funding NB
LearnSphere- From $5,000 to $15,000
- Up to 65% of project cost
- All industries

Artist to Market Program (AMP)
Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (NWT)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation