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.

Food Security and Supply Chain Fund
Government of Ontario- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Youth Mental Health Fund
Public Health Agency of Canada- No Condition
- All industries

AgriScience Program — Projects – Not-for-profit
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program — Indigenous Languages Component
Canadian Heritage- Up to 100% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Public administration

Renter Services Grants
City of Vancouver- From $5,000 to $50,000
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative in southern Ontario - Pillar 2: AI Adoption
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)- No Condition
- All industries

Genome Funding Opportunities
Genome British Columbia- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Health care and social assistance

Agricultural Clean Technology Program — Research and Innovation
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative in southern Ontario - Pillar 1: AI Productization and Commercialization
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- All industries

Interactive Fund
Government of British Columbia- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

- No Condition
- All industries

ACOA — Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (REGI)
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)- No Condition
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Educational services
- Public administration

Biology Casework Analysis Contribution Program (BCACP)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Maximum amount : 36,702,835 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Public administration

Canada Book Fund Support for Organizations — For-Profit
Canadian Heritage- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Biofood Innovation Program Component 5 – Support for knowledge transfer and dissemination
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $8,000 to $143,750
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Up to 95% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program
Innovation Initiatives Ontario North- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

OAC — Media Arts Organizations: Operating
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Yukon Heritage Training Fund
Yukon Historical & Museums Association- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

AFA — Artist Manager Program Funding
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

EI Premium Reduction Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- No Condition
- All industries

Nunavut Filmmakers Funding — Nunavut Spend Incentive Program
Nunavut Film Development Corporation- From $25,000 to $40,000
- Up to 27% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Call for Proposals: Collaboration centre for strengthening Integrated Youth Services across Canada
Health Canada- No Condition
- All industries

Motorola Solutions Foundation
Motorola Foundation- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Hydro-Québec program for the enhancement of natural environments
Quebec Wildlife Foundation- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
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City of North Vancouver Community Grants
City of North Vancouver- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

TAO — TAC Accessibility Grant
Toronto Arts Council (TAO)- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

CleanBC — Commercial Express Program
CleanBC- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services

MRC Brome-Missisquoi — RénoRégion Program
MRC Brome-Missisquoi- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

The 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub
2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC)- No Condition
- All industries

Alberta — Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP)
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)- From $2,000 to $300,000
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Plug In Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Artist Studio Award program
City of Vancouver- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Giving Voice Grants
British Columbia Minister's Advisory Council on Indigenous Women (MACIW)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Quebec Research Fund — Society and Culture Sector (FRQSC)
Québec Research Fund- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Territorial and sectoral development program — Stream 2.2
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $5,000 to $250,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Strategic Innovation Fund — Digital Generator – Stream 2
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Grant funding
Ontario Ministry of Finance- No Condition
- All industries

Economic Trust of the Southern Interior BC (ETSI-BC) - Supporting Business Resilience & Growth
Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust (SIDIT)- No Condition
- All industries

Building Safer Communities Program Grants (BSCP) - Organizational and Youth Sector Capacity-building Project Grants
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Tourism Growth Program in British Columbia
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 15% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

- No Condition
- All industries

PRIMA — INNOV-R SME
Advanced Materials Research and Innovation Hub (PRIMA)- Maximum amount : 450,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

NGen — Advanced Manufacturing Quantum Program
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen)- From $1,000,000 to $2,000,000
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Mining Research and Innovation Support Program
Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF)- Maximum amount : 600,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Economic Development Fund — Tier 1
Government of Yukon- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- All industries
Sponsorships, Grants & Donations
Astrazeneca Canada Inc- No Condition
- All industries

Lakeshore Community Benefit Fund Grant
Municipality of Lakeshore- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Agricultural and Sector Show Support Program – Stream 1.1
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 225,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MRC Beauce-Centre — E-commerce assistance program
MRC Beauce-Centre- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Find tailored funding for your business
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Quebec Sponsorships
Sun Life Financial- No Condition
- All industries

Festivals and Special Event Grant
City of Whitehorse- No Condition
- All industries

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund (EIF) — Non-Profits that Serve Underrepresented Communities
ventureLAB- From $10,000 to $10,000
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Information and cultural industries
- Other services (except public administration)

Learn 2 Earn
EmployAbilities- Maximum amount : 6,800 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Co-operators - Co-operators Community Funds
The Co-operators Group Limited- No Condition
- All industries

SMART Cluster’s 8th call for proposals – advanced manufacturing
National Research Council Canada (NRC)- No Condition
- Manufacturing

RDAR — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)
Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR)- From $2,500 to $75,000
- Up to 85% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

PEI - Export Trade Assistance
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Staffing UP
Government of Yukon- Up to 60% of project cost
- All industries

Energy Innovation Program — FEED Studies for Carbon capture, utilization and storage
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- Maximum amount : 50,000,000 $
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Community Impact Funding
United Way of Thunder Bay- No Condition
- All industries

New Horizons for Seniors Program - Community-Based Projects
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- No Condition
- All industries

LRCC — Business Grant & Loan Program
Louis Riel Capital Corporation (LRCC)- Maximum amount : 99,999 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- All industries

AgriMarketing Program — Kosher and Halal Investment
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Infrastructure de recherche et développement
Quebec City- No Condition
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

innovÉÉ — Accord
innovÉÉ- From $100,000 to $350,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Provincial Funding for French Language Services
British Columbia Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat- No Condition
- All industries

Organic Industry Development — Specialized Equipment
Government of Prince Edward Island- From $400 to $60,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Nunavut Filmmakers Funding — Story Telling Fund
Nunavut Film Development Corporation- Maximum amount : 7,500 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Musagetes Grant Program
The Guelph Community Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Drilling Technology Challenge
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)- From $250,000 to $8,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation & Southern Ontario Prosperity Program — Indigenous
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)- No Condition
- All industries

Community Funding - Project Funding
City of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Community Response Grants
United Way of Sarnia-Lambton- No Condition
- All industries

Formations de courte durée (COUD) — Water professions
Commission des partenaires du marché du travail (CPMT)- Up to 100% of project cost
- Utilities
Access over 4000 different funding opportunities
Try the helloDarwin platform today and find programs that fit your needs
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Justice and Reconciliation Fund
The United Church of Canada Foundation (UCCF)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

- No Condition
- All industries

PANAM recognition program
City of Montreal (MTL)- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

OAC — Diffusion – French-language projects
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

ERA — 2025 Industrial Transformation Challenge
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)- From $500,000 to $15,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Manufacturing

Call for Indigenous Producers for ISO Delegation to Content London
Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 51% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Community Funding - Emergency Funding
City of Ottawa- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Enfant Soleil - Care Environment Fund
Opération Enfant Soleil- No Condition
- All industries

Community Funding - Civic Events Funding
City of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Vision Fund - Seed Grants for Innovative Ministry
The United Church of Canada Foundation (UCCF)- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

Innovative Solutions Canada - Vehicle theft prevention
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Community Funding - Emerging Community Need Funding
City of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

STIP — Resource Road Program
Government of Alberta- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Unifor Social Justice Fund
CAW Social Justice Fund- No Condition
- All industries

Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program — CleanBC Communities Fund
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy- No Condition
- Utilities

Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF)
Government of Ontario- Up to 50% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing

Rangeland Sustainability Program (RSP)
Government of Alberta- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Community Development Funding
Affinity Credit Union- No Condition
- All industries

Emergent Need Grants
Salt Spring Island Foundation- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Alberta Innovates — Tech2Farm
Alberta Innovates- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Sponsorship and Donations
Affinity Credit Union- No Condition
- All industries

Ministerial initiative “Agricultural succession and entrepreneurship”
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $5,000 to $25,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Community Funding - Snow Go Programs
City of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 450 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

Community Economic Development Fund
Government of Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- All industries

Bee BC Program
Government of British Columbia- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting