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.

OAC — Market Development Travel
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- From $1,000 to $2,000
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

The Marion Ethel Kamm and Frederick John Kamm Foundation
Marion Ethel Kamm and Frederick John Kamm Charitable Trust- Up to 80% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

Multi-Species Research and Development Fund
Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Prairieaction Foundation - CARE Grant Program
Prairie Action Foundation Corporation- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

- Up to 25% of project cost
- All industries

OAC — Music Recording Projects
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

La Ruche — Mille et UN Fund
Gouvernement du Québec- From $5,000 to $100,000
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) — Business Intelligence and Networking
Government of the Northwest Territories- From $1,000 to $8,000
- All industries

Grants and Loans
The Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Community Recreation Enhancement Grant
City of Red Deer- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

Improving Access to Veterinary Care
PetSmart Charities of Canada- From $150,000 to $750,000
- All industries

Advance Brampton Fund
City of Brampton- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries

Indigenous Genomics Training and Capacity Program – Ontario
Genome Canada- Maximum amount : 400,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

EPRTNT — Hosting
Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est- From $50,000 to $100,000
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Accommodation and food services

Local Food Infrastructure Fund - Large Scale Projects
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- No Condition
- All industries

CQDM — PARTENAR-IA — Industry
Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- All industries

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage - Community Historical Anniversaries Programming
Canadian Heritage- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Vehicle Retrofit Program — Persons with disabilities
Government of New Brunswick- Maximum amount : 8,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing

Community Facility Enhancement Program Large (CFEP)
Government of Alberta- From $125,000 to $1,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Alberta — Efficient Grain Handling Program
Government of Alberta- From $500 to $100,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Interactive Digital Media Fund — Concept Definition
Government of Ontario- From $10,000 to $50,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

GreenShield Cares
Green Shield- No Condition
- All industries

MASC AgriInsurance
Government of Manitoba- Up to 40% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Musicaction — International Commercialization – Stream 2 - Career development in a target market
Musicaction- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

IP financing - Women
Innovation asset collective (IAC)- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
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Efficient Farming Products
Hydro-Québec- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Human Development Fund
The Basilian Fathers of Toronto- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)

The Baz Foundation
The Marlin Spring Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

OAC — Dance Projects
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Aero Montreal — Accelerator 360°
Aéro Montreal- Up to 63% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Community & Neighbourhood Grant
City of Winnipeg- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- All industries

United Way Greater Toronto - Cooksville Community Action Grants
United Way Toronto & York Region, The United Way of Peel Region, The United Way of Greater Toronto- Minimum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

Edmonton Public Teachers Charity Trust Fund
Edmonton Public School Board Teachers Charity Trust Fund- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Disaster Response
PetSmart Charities of Canada- No Condition
- All industries

Environmental Stewardship and Climate Change Program
Government of Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Nunavut Mine Training Fund
Government of Nunavut- No Condition
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

NLCU Charitable Foundation
NLCU Charitable Foundation Corporation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

2SLGBTQIA+ Beyond Belonging Grant Program
City of Edmonton- From $10,000 to $100,000
- All industries

Agricultural and Sector Show Support Program – Stream 1.3
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 115,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Grow Ontario Market Initiative
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade

Times Colonist Literacy Grant
Times Colonist Literacy Society- No Condition
- Educational services

Charitable Giving - Partner Grant Program
Evangelical Lutheran Foundation of Eastern Canada- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- All industries

The Accelerator
Fast Forward (ffwd)- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative
Government of Ontario- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Canada Book Fund Support for Organizations — Not-for-Profit
Canadian Heritage- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Flavelle Family Foundation
Sir Joseph Flavelle Foundation- From $50 to $10,000
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Quebec city — Valo-Capitale — commercialization of innovation
Quebec City- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Athlete Assistance Program (AAP)
Canadian Heritage- Maximum amount : 27,500 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Canadian Goods Abroad program
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Heritage Preservation Partnership Program - Historic Resource Conservation Grants
Alberta Culture and Status of Women- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- All industries
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Industry Development Partnerships
Independent Production Fund- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Community Economic Development Funding Program
City of Ottawa- From $5,000 to $50,000
- All industries

Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- No Condition
- All industries

Tourism Market Readiness Subsidy Program
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador- Maximum amount : 2,500 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Accommodation and food services

Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) - Harvester Training
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

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

Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) — Sector Support Capital Expansion Incentive
Government of the Northwest Territories- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Community Challenge grant
ParticipACTION- Maximum amount : 1,000 $
- All industries

Commercialization, Consulting and Mentoring
LearnSphere- Maximum amount : 16,250 $
- Up to 65% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction

Annual Research Grants
Canadian Dermatology Foundation- From $10,000 to $100,000
- Health care and social assistance

Ontario — Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)- Up to 35% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing

Loisir et Sport Montérégie — Transport Fund
Loisir et Sport Montérégie- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Sherbrooke — Renovation assistance program for commercial premises and facades
Ville de Sherbrooke- From $500 to $50,000
- Retail trade

The Physicians' Services Incorporated Foundation - New Investigator Grants
PSI Foundation- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Arts Infrastructure and Programming Fund
Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation- Maximum amount : 9,000 $
- All industries

OAC — Accessibility Fund: Project Support
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Technology Funding
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Manufacturing

PARTENAR-IA — CRIAQ — Academic
Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec (CRIAQ)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Seafood Accelerator Program – Product Development and Technical Support
Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Forest Operations Modernization Program
Gouvernement du Québec- From $5,000 to $250,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Harm Reduction Grants
City of Regina- From $50,000 to $150,000
- All industries

Energy Savings for Business Program
Government of Alberta- From $500 to $250,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade

Alberta Self-Employment Program
Government of Alberta- No Condition
- All industries

The Physicians' Services Incorporated Foundation - Healthcare Research by Community Physicians
PSI Foundation- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

MRC de D’Autray — Self-Employment Support Measure (STA)
MRC de D'Autray- No Condition
- All industries
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Bourses d’études supérieures pour des étudiants de deuxième et de troisième cycle
Fondation du Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie- From $7,500 to $10,000
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Community Transportation Program
Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- All industries

Regional partnership and digital transformation agreement for tourism 2022-2025 – Attractions, activities and facilities
Tourisme Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean- From $30,000 to $95,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Nunavut Entrepreneurship Incentive
Government of Nunavut- No Condition
- All industries

Youth Gang Prevention Fund (YGPF)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Export Marketing Assistance Program
Ontario's North Economic Development Corporation- Maximum amount : 90,000 $
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
Subventions pour des projets dans la communauté qui favorisent l’adoption de saines habitudes de vie
Fondation du Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Youth Climate Action Fund Micro-grant
City of Guelph- From $1,500 to $7,000
- All industries

Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills
Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

PISAQ – Stream 3
Gouvernement du Québec- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Financial Assistance Program from the Fonds de la sécurité routière
Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility of Quebec- Maximum amount : 350,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing
Subventions pour des projets qui favorisent de saines habitudes de vie dans les écoles primaires du Québec
Fondation du Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Educational services

Commemorate Canada Program
Canadian Heritage- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

UERAB Grants
City of Medicine Hat- No Condition
- All industries

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

Safety Grants Program
The HIROC Foundation- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Grants for emerging artists: Creative Spark Vancouver
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Awards & Grants
The Davies Charitable Foundation- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Hire for Talent
Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC)- No Condition
- All industries

MRC La Matapédia — Program for Restoring Underutilized Agricultural Lands 2023-2025
MRC La Matapédia- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Quebec International — Starting a business and making it grow
Québec International- No Condition
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Finance and insurance
- Health care and social assistance

Falls prevention and healthy aging grant
Northern Health Authority- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

KSW Calgary Holocaust Education & Commemoration Fund
Jewish Community Foundation of Calgary- No Condition
- All industries

Agriculture Stewardship Program
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Matching Investment Fund
Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC)- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing