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.

Emission Reductions Intake
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)- From $75,000 to $50,000,000
- All industries

Call for Indigenous Producers for ISO Delegation to Prime Time
Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)- Maximum amount : 2,000 $
- Up to 51% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Indigenous Communities Fund
TELUS Corporation- From $5,000 to $25,000
- All industries

BOF Justice Grant Program
Black Opportunity Fund (BOF)- From $25,000 to $100,000
- Other services (except public administration)

Co-operators - Co-operative Development Program (CDP)
The Co-operators Group Limited- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Active Communities Fund
Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage- No Condition
- All industries

Genome Prairie — Precision Health Initiative
Genome Prairie- Maximum amount : 6 $
- Up to 45% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

Government assistance program for public transportation
Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility of Quebec- Up to 100% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing

BOF Arts & Culture and Criminal Justice Grant Program
Black Opportunity Fund (BOF)- From $25,000 to $50,000
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration

Green Community Grant Program
City of St. Albert- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

BOF & BCFC Grant and B3 Capacity Building Program
Black Opportunity Fund (BOF)- From $20,000 to $20,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Emergency Treatment Fund: Call for Proposals
Health Canada- No Condition
- All industries

Electric Vehicle Incentive
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 4,000 $
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Grants to hospital foundations
Fondation Sandra Schmirler Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

North Peace Savings Community Legacy Fund
North Peace Community Foundation- From $5,000 to $50,000
- Other services (except public administration)

Musicaction — Support for Indigenous Entrepreneurs
Musicaction- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

City of Fort St. John - Grants in Aid
North Peace Community Foundation- Up to 20% of project cost
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Fondation J. Armand Bombardier
J. Armand Bombardier Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Community Funding Grants
City of Fredericton- Maximum amount : 336,650 $
- All industries

Coastal GasLink Community Fund
North Peace Community Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Indigenous Genomics Training and Capacity Program – Alberta
Genome Alberta- Maximum amount : 400,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Articipate — Creation and Development Grant
Articipate- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC de Thérèse de Blainville — Entrepreneurial financial assistance program
MRC Thérèse de Blainville- No Condition
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Strong Roots Community Grant Program
North Peace Community Foundation- From $10,000 to $50,000
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Scugog Youth Initiative Grant
Township of Scugog- No Condition
- All industries
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Perennia — On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)
Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 85% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Conconi Family Foundation
Robert L. Conconi Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Manitoba Council for International Cooperation Inc. - Relief and Rehabilitation Fund
MCIC- From $10,000 to $25,000
- All industries

Gender Equity Action Fund
Government of New Brunswick- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

The Ontario Trillium Foundation - Seed Grants
OTF- From $10,000 to $100,000
- All industries

Tourism Product Diversification and Marketing Program — Business Planning and Transition Assistance
Government of the Northwest Territories- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 15% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Youth Mental Health Grant
Kindred Foundation- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Community Initiatives Grants
Francofonds Inc.- From $500 to $5,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Building BC - Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund
BC Housing, British Columbia Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing- No Condition
- All industries

The Canada Community Security Program (CCSP)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- All industries

Small Food Processor Scale-Up Program (SFPS)
Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF)- From $25,000 to $150,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Conference or Event Sponsorship Grant
City of Fort St. John- From $200 to $3,000
- All industries

Building BC - Supportive Housing Fund - Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ)
BC Housing, British Columbia Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing- No Condition
- All industries

Exploring Collaboration Grants
Richmond Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 2,500 $
- All industries

Manitoba Council for International Cooperation Inc. - Theme Fund
MCIC- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

Social Grants
The K M Hunter Charitable Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Community Festivals and Events Program
Manitoba Ministry of Sport, Culture, and Heritage- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- All industries

ARBJ — Company follow-up program (PSE)
Administration régionale Baie-James (ARBJ)- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

General Community Crisis Response Fund
City of Toronto- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

Manitoba Council for International Cooperation Inc. - Community Solidarity Fund
MCIC- Maximum amount : 6,000 $
- All industries

Green Transition Fund
Newfoundland and Labrador Ministry of Industry, Energy and Technology- From $75,000 to $3,000,000
- All industries

Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program
Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture of Newfoundland and Labrador- No Condition
- All industries

Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants
Community Foundation of Ottawa (OCF)- From $15,000 to $25,000
- All industries

Durham Community Foundation Community Grants
Durham Community Foundation- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

The Danniels Family Foundation
Canada Gives Foundation #CG0802- From $5,000 to $25,000
- All industries
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Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund
Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, Government of Nova Scotia- From $75,000 to $1,000,000
- All industries

Regional Grants
Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
Fondation Choquette-Legault
La Fondation Choquette-Legault- No Condition
- All industries

FAIS — FINANCIAL ALLOCATION 2025-26
Fondation pour les Aînés et l'Innovation Sociale (FAIS)- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

PacifiCan — Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI)
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)- Up to 100% of project cost
- Manufacturing

The Indigenous Lifeways Fund
Na’ah Illahee Fund- From $1,000 to $50,000
- All industries

Morden Area Foundation
Morden Area Foundation Inc.- No Condition
- All industries

Multicultural Initiatives Fund - Annual and Project Funding
SaskCulture- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Wholesale trade
- Educational services

Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities Program
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- All industries

Coopération bilatérale Québec-Bavière
Ministère du Québec des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie- No Condition
- All industries

Manitoba Council for International Cooperation Inc. - Development Fund
MCIC- From $6,500 to $130,000
- All industries

RDN Grants - Community Grants
Regional District of Nanaimo- No Condition
- All industries

- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- All industries

Economic Development Capacity Building
Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Saskatchewan Knights of Columbus Charitable Foundation - James & Lawrence Meier Grant
Saskatchewan K of C Charitable Foundation- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Indoor Space Improvement Grant
City of Yellowknife- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

Black-Mandated Funding Framework
City of Toronto- No Condition
- All industries

Annual Trustee's Program
The Pottruff Family Foundation- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Mille et UN Fund for Young People
Secrérariat à la jeunesse du Québec, La Ruche- From $10,000 to $200,000
- All industries

RDN Grants - Electoral Area 'A' Recreation and Culture Grants
Regional District of Nanaimo- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Indigenous and Northern Initiatives Fund
Manitoba Ministry of Indigenous and Northern Relations- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Sustainable Jobs Training Fund
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- From $8,000,000 to $15,000,000
- All industries

Social Enterprise Research Grants
Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Fonds local d’investissement
Quebec City- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- All industries

Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)
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Cast & Learn Grants
Anglican Diocese of Toronto Foundation- From $10,000 to $40,000
- Other services (except public administration)

Fonds régions et ruralité (FRR)
Quebec City- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- All industries

ICANN Grant Program
ICANN- From $50,000 to $500,000
- Information and cultural industries

Distress Line Equity Fund
Public Health Agency of Canada- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- All industries

Aide aux projets - Accueil
Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Information and cultural industries

Programme de restauration et de création de milieux humides et hydriques
Quebec Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- All industries

Innovator Award
Kenneth Rainin Foundation- From $150,000 to $300,000
- All industries

Stream 1: Incubator and Capacity Building
Public Health Agency of Canada- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
- All industries

Island Community Food Security Program
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)

First Nations Well Being Fund
First Nations Public Service Secretariat- Maximum amount : 35,000 $
- Transportation and warehousing
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Community Salmon Program
Pacific Salmon Foundation- From $1,000 to $25,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Agro-Environmental Services
Government of New Brunswick- Up to 100% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Stanley Creators Fund
The Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)

Research Library Program
The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Grassroots Grants
The Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal- From $500 to $5,000
- All industries

Neighbourhood Small Grants
Community Foundation of the North Okanagan- Maximum amount : 500 $
- All industries

- Minimum amount : 350,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

ELRL Community Grant Program
Elliot Lake Retirement Living- No Condition
- All industries

Call For Proposals: Increasing the Fluidity of Canada’s Supply Chains
Transport Canada (TC)- Maximum amount : 500,000,000 $
- All industries

AWS Imagine Grant Canada
Amazon Web Services- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- All industries

Mary Wakefield Animal Welfare Grants
Abbotsford Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 2,000 $
- All industries

Venetian Program
The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation- No Condition
- All industries
Event Funding Program
Ontario Brain Institute- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Research Grants on Education: Small
The Spencer Foundation- Maximum amount : 50 $
- All industries

Développement agroalimentaire
La Mitis RMC- No Condition
- All industries