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.

OTF — System Innovations Grant
Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 15% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Strategic Investments Program — Nunavut Business Investment Fund
Government of Nunavut- No Condition
- All industries

General Business Loans
Two Rivers Community Development Centre- Maximum amount : 1,150,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- All industries

Sustainable Development Support Program for Mining Sector Companies — Stream D
Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Lands and Economic Development Services Program
Government of Canada- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction

Alberta Media Fund — Alberta Made Production Grant
Government of Alberta- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Dairy Innovation Program (DIP)
Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) funding
City of Airdrie- No Condition
- All industries

AFA — Queen's Platinum Jubilee Scholarship for Visual Arts
Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Policy Development Contribution Program
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- No Condition
- Public administration

Alberta Innovates — Methane Emissions Reduction Program
Alberta Innovates- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Support for Projects Facilitating Access to Creative Spaces
Conseil des arts de Montréal- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Cultural Infrastructure Development Program
Gouvernement du Québec- From $100,000 to $20,000,000
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration

Truth and Reconciliation Fund
South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, Inc.- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

PISAQ – Stream 1
Gouvernement du Québec- From $7,000 to $150,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- All industries

Moffat Family Fund - Moose Jaw & District
South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, Inc.- From $1,000 to $20,000
- All industries

Public transit development assistance program – Stream 1 : Financial assistance for urban public transit
Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility of Quebec- Up to 65% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing
- Public administration

Communities and Artists Shifting Culture (CASC) - Cultural Project Grants Program
City of Vancouver- From $2,500 to $15,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Tremplin Grant - Indigenous Arts
Conseil des arts de Montréal- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

J. Armand Bombardier Bursary Program
J. Armand Bombardier Foundation- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- Educational services

Fund to support attraction and sustainable settlement in Côte-Nord
Tourisme Côte-Nord- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Official Languages Economic Development Initiative in Quebec — Not-for-profit
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)- Up to 50% of project cost
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Heritage Program Grants - Heritage Resources Conservation Grant
Manitoba Ministry of Sport, Culture, and Heritage- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Support for D/deaf Artists or Artists with Disabilities (Individuals, Collectives and Organizations)
Conseil des arts de Montréal- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

London Community Grants Program - Innovation Grant Stream
City of London, London Arts Council- No Condition
- All industries
Discover how much grant funding is available for your business
Subsidize your projects with grants!
Use our free grant estimator to quickly identify the available grant amounts for which your company may be eligible.

Inclusion Program
Government of Saskatchewan- Maximum amount : 2,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Small-Scale Food and Beverage Processing Equipment Program
Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP) — Youth Internships — Not-for-Profit
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor)- No Condition
- All industries

Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program (PEFIP) — Stream 1
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Listen, Hear Our Voices — Small projects
Library and Archives Canada (LAC)- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Business and Professional Development for Publishers — Grants
Government of New Brunswick- Maximum amount : 2,500 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

B.C. Indigenous Agriculture Development Program – Stream 2
Government of British Columbia- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 51% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MTRIC — Start Program
Metal Transformation Research and Innovation Consortium (MTRIC)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Heritage Program Grants - Military Memorial Conservation Grant
Manitoba Ministry of Sport, Culture, and Heritage- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund
Government of Canada- Minimum amount : 75,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Inuktut Versioning Fund
Nunavut Film Development Corporation- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 33% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Touring Program
Conseil des arts de Montréal- Up to 80% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program — Stream 2
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- Up to 85% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Arts-based programming
Paul Barber Foundation- From $15,000 to $120,000
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Yukon Film Predevelopment Fund
Government of Yukon- From $15,000 to $15,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

- Up to 33% of project cost
- Public administration

Uplifting single mothers grant
Paul Barber Foundation- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Alberta Innovates — Enabling Better Health through Artificial Intelligence
Alberta Innovates- Maximum amount : 800,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Perennial Crop Development Establishment
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Extraordinary Grants for Major Church Development/Redevelopment
The Presbyteries of Toronto Conference Corporation- Up to 20% of project cost
- Other services (except public administration)

ACOA Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative — Indigenous Stream
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)- Up to 100% of project cost
- Manufacturing

SFU VentureLabs
Simon Fraser University VentureLabs- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North — For-Profit
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)- No Condition
- All industries

Heritage Property Grant Program - Cost sharing grant
City of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Capital Grants for Church Development/Redevelopment
The Presbyteries of Toronto Conference Corporation- Up to 20% of project cost
- Other services (except public administration)
Find tailored funding for your business
Discover more grants on the helloDarwin platform
Look through over 4,000 grants, tax credits, loans and more financial aid on the helloDarwin application.

Junior Exploration Assistance Program
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador- Maximum amount : 225,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

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

ACOA Jobs and Growth Fund — Indigenous Stream
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Production Program
Creative BC- From $50,000 to $200,000
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Teen Tech Grants
Best Buy Canada- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Net Annual Revenue Grants
The Presbyteries of Toronto Conference Corporation- Up to 20% of project cost
- All industries

OTF — Seed Grant
Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)- From $10,000 to $100,000
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

INVEST North Program — Investment — Launch Stream
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Learning and Engagement Accelerator Fund (L.E.A.F)
The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group- From $10,000 to $50
- All industries

First Peoples Economic Growth Fund – Business Contribution Fund
First Peoples Economic Growth Fund Inc. (FPEGF)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Community Enhancement Program — Rural Enhancement Funding Stream
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- All industries

Mackenzie Together Grants
Mackenzie Together Charitable Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Ville de La Tuque — RRF stream 4 - Support for vitality
Ville de La Tuque- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

Manitoba Climate Action Fund (CAF)
Government of Manitoba- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Northern and Regional Economic Development Program
Government of Alberta- From $20,000 to $300,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- All industries

Johansen Larsen Foundation
Johansen-Larsen Foundation (JLF)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program – Youth Focused Projects
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- All industries

Toronto Cultural Festivals Funding Program
City of Toronto- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Toronto Imagination, Manufacturing, Innovation and Technology (IMIT) Program
City of Toronto- Up to 70% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Call for Indigenous Producers for an ISO Delegation to Cannes International Film Festival
Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)- Maximum amount : 4,500 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Resiliency Grants
Bowen Island Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

CQRDA — PARTENAR-IA — Academic
Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l’aluminium (CQRDA)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Climate and Equity Lab Grants
Gore Mutual Insurance Company Foundation- From $50,000 to $52,500
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

AgriStability — Québec
La Financière agricole (FADQ)- Up to 40% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Strategic Charitable Partnership Grant
Gore Mutual Insurance Company Foundation- No Condition
- All industries
Access over 4000 different funding opportunities
Try the helloDarwin platform today and find programs that fit your needs
The helloDarwin application makes it easy to unlock grants so your business can grow faster—with less hassle and more impact.

Nanaimo Youth Resilience Grants
City of Nanaimo- Maximum amount : 1,156,699 $
- All industries

Spring Grants
The Community Foundation of Orillia and Area- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Economic Development Organization Operating Support Program (PAFODE) — Component 1 : Operating support for organizations supporting entrepreneurship
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- All industries

York Region Community Investment Fund
The Regional Municipality of York- No Condition
- All industries

Tourism Growth Program in southern Ontario
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Community Tourism Destination Development Fund
Government of Yukon- Maximum amount : 375,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

The Thames Valley Education Foundation - The Learning Enhancement Fund
Thames Valley District School Board- Maximum amount : 500 $
- Educational services

Mission Inclusion - Support for Quebec Organizations - Community Projects
Jules and Paul-Émile Léger Foundation; L'OEUVRE LÉGER; LEGER FOUNDATION- Maximum amount : 55,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)

AgriAssurance Program — Kosher and Halal Investment – Not-for-profit
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- Maximum amount : 350,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Heritage Program Grants - Community Museum Project Support Program
Manitoba Ministry of Sport, Culture, and Heritage- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

The Thames Valley Education Foundation - The Caring Fund
Thames Valley District School Board- Maximum amount : 500 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Emergency And Climate Change Adaptation Fund
Tourisme Montréal- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Canada Community Security Program (CCSP)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Ottawa Community Foundation - Free to Play
Community Foundation of Ottawa (OCF)- From $20,000 to $100,000
- All industries

OCI — Innovating Digital Health Solutions (IDHS)
Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Health care and social assistance

Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP) — Entrepreneurship and Business Development
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)- No Condition
- All industries

On-Farm Efficiency Program
Government of Alberta- From $500 to $150,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

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

Self-Employment Assistance
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador- No Condition
- All industries

ERA — Tailings Technology Challenge
Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)- From $1,000,000 to $15,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Tourism Growth Program in Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)- Up to 15% of project cost
- Accommodation and food services

Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) - Indigenous Energy Support Program
Ontario Power Authority (OPA)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- All industries

Refugee Resettlement Fund Grant
Dufferin Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 4,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Heritage Preservation Partnership Program - Research Grants
Alberta Culture and Status of Women- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) Program
Transport Canada (TC)- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Real estate and rental and leasing