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.

CMHC - Affordable Housing Fund - New Construction - Community Housing Sub-Stream
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)- No Condition
- All industries

Indigenous Participation Fund - Mineral development advisor stream
Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Support for Community Negotiations Fund
Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation- No Condition
- All industries

Outdoor Recreation Fund
Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia- From $2,000 to $10,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Maple Leaf Community Fund
London Community Foundation (LCF)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Zero Plastic Waste Initiative
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)- From $25,000 to $250,000
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Public administration

RBC Foundation - Sponsorships
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)- No Condition
- All industries

BC Winter Games Legacy Grants
City of Kimberley- No Condition
- All industries

2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund
Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE)- No Condition
- All industries

Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund (ACHF)
City of Windsor- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

Respiratory Grants
TB Vets Charitable Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Love My Hood Matching Grant
City of Kitchener- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- All industries

Community Environmental Improvement Grant
City of Kitchener- No Condition
- All industries

CMHC - Seed Funding
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)- Maximum amount : 350,000 $
- All industries

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

Ontario Autism Program Workforce Capacity Fund
Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services- From $50,000 to $400,000
- All industries

Employment Assistance Services (Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
- All industries

CMHC - Shelter Enhancement Program (SEP) - Renovation
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- All industries

A.S.E.S.S. Funding
Trico Charitable Foundation- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)

Shelter Operations
Indigenous Services Canada- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

RBC Foundation - RBC Foundation Community Spaces Grant (Build stream)
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)- From $25,000 to $2,500,000
- All industries
Catalyst and Transformation Fund
Cultural Careers Council Ontario- No Condition
- All industries

Grant Opportunities
Global Grand Challenges- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Call for letter of intent
Public Health Agency of Canada- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- All industries

Fondation Québec Philanthrope - Mental Health Support Program
Fondation communautaire du grand Québec- From $25,000 to $25,000
- All industries
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The Lewitt Family Foundation
LewFam Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

CMHC - Housing Supply Challenge
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)- No Condition
- All industries

Indigenous Violence Prevention Grants Program
Newfoundland & Labrador Ministry of Women and Gender Equality- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- All industries

Fondation Québec Philanthrope - Armel-Larochelle Program
Fondation communautaire du grand Québec- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

Seeking Support
Boeing Canada Inc.- No Condition
- All industries

Movement for Good
Ecclesiastical Insurance- From $2,000 to $2,000
- All industries

The Intersectoral Action Fund
Public Health Agency of Canada- From $25,000 to $250,000
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries

Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund - Reconciliation Action Grants
The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund- From $1,500 to $15,000
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia
The Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC)- No Condition
- All industries

Aura Cacia Positive Change Project
Frontier Co-op, Simply Organic, Co-op Market- From $30,000 to $100,000
- Up to 33.333336% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

CMHC - National Housing Strategy Solutions Labs
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)- From $25,000 to $250,000
- All industries

Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund - Capacity Building Grants
The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund- Maximum amount : 175,000 $
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Sustainable Jobs Stream - Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy - Union Training and Innovation Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
- All industries

Training and Regional Events
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture- Maximum amount : 35,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Community Infrastructure Grants
The Western Communities Foundation- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Public administration

Indigenous Food Systems & Agriculture Skills & Training Program (ISAT)
B.C. Investment Agriculture Foundation- From $25,000 to $80,000
- All industries

- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Information and cultural industries

Cinema
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Funding of organizations for regional projects
Quebec Ministry of Housing and Territory- Maximum amount : 800,000 $
- Up to 5% of project cost
- All industries

Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program
B.C. Investment Agriculture Foundation- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Calgary Learns - Program Grants
Calgary Learns Association- No Condition
- Educational services

Creative and Critical Writings
Arab Fund for Arts and Culture- Maximum amount : 35,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Support for Indigenous Victims of Crime Initiative: Call for Proposals
Federal Department of Justice- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- All industries

CMHC - National Housing Strategy Research and Planning Fund
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)- From $75,000 to $250,000
- Up to 25% of project cost
- All industries

Thunder Bay Community Foundation Grants
Thunder Bay Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries
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CMHC - Affordable Housing Fund - Indigenous and Northern Communities
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)- No Condition
- All industries

Fund Supported Charities
BC Government Employees Community Services Fund Trust- Up to 40% of project cost
- Other services (except public administration)

Fondation Québec Philanthrope - Free to Play
Fondation communautaire du grand Québec- From $50,000 to $150,000
- All industries

The Leflar Foundation
The Eva Leflar Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

- From $5,000 to $6,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- All industries

1989 Jeux du Canada Games Foundation
Sask Sport Inc.- No Condition
- All industries

Spruce Credit Union Legacy Grant
The Prince George Community Foundation- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)

Recreation Grant - Ongoing Projects and Initiatives
City of Whitehorse- No Condition
- All industries

Indigenous Food Systems and Agriculture Partnership Program (IFSAP)
B.C. Investment Agriculture Foundation- Maximum amount : 80,000 $
- All industries

Strategic Industry Growth Initiative
Government of Prince Edward Island- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 85% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Annual Grant Program - Community Impact Grant
The Prince George Community Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

General Fall Grants
Oxford Community Foundation- From $500 to $10,000
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Edmonton Immigrant and Refugee Communities Grant Program - Seed Grant
City of Edmonton- Maximum amount : 4,000 $
- All industries
RecreationNL - Eat Great and Participate Funding Program
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador- Maximum amount : 1,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Prince George & Region Prosperity Fund
The Prince George Community Foundation- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
RecreationNL - Teen Challenge Physical Activity Funding Program
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador- Maximum amount : 250 $
- All industries

Recreation Grant - New Projects and Initiatives
City of Whitehorse- No Condition
- All industries

Sports for Kids Grant
Vancouver Fire Fighters' Charitable Society- From $500 to $20,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Fraser-Fort George Endowment Fund Grants
The Prince George Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 4,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

InTO the Ravines Grant
Park People- Maximum amount : 1,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)

Annual Grant Program - General Support Grants
The Prince George Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

TD Park People Grants
Park People- From $2,000 to $2,000
- Other services (except public administration)

Recreation Grant - Training and Leadership Development
City of Whitehorse- Maximum amount : 2,500 $
- All industries

SCF Micro Grants
Sarnia Community Foundation- From $200 to $500
- All industries

The Sifton Family Foundation
The Mowbray and Doris Sifton Family Foundation- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
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Community Cultural Partnership Program
Prince Edward Island Cultural Development Division, Innovation PEI- Maximum amount : 2,500 $
- All industries
RecreationNL - Parasport and Recreation for Persons with a Disability Funding Program
Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador- No Condition
- All industries

Petrolia Community Fund Grants
Sarnia Community Foundation- From $200 to $2,000
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Wildlife Conservation
Audain Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Innovation
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Fighting Hunger Grants
Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Neighbourhood Grant Program - Celebration and Activity Grant
City of Chilliwack- From $150 to $4,000
- All industries

Donor-Advised Grants
Sarnia Community Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Environmental Literacy
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)- No Condition
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)

Scotiabank - ScotiaRISE
Bank of Nova Scotia- No Condition
- All industries

Literacy Fund
Indigo Love of Reading Foundation- Up to 90% of project cost
- Educational services

Social innovation for Montréal’s east end – Call for projects
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)- From $15,000 to $50,000
- All industries

Partnerships for Her Voice, Her Choice (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights) - Call for Proposals
Partnering for Climate, Global Affairs Canada- From $2,000,000 to $20,000,000
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

National Bank Financial Group - Sponsorships
National Bank of Canada (NBC)- No Condition
- All industries

BACCF Annual Granting Program
Brampton and Caledon Community Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Neighbourhood Grant Program - Grass Roots Grant
City of Chilliwack- From $150 to $4,000
- All industries

Small Projects Stream
Infrastructure Canada- From $30,000 to $1,000,000
- All industries

Indigenous Capacity Support Program
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- All industries

Vision Zero in Road Safety Grant Program
BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Public administration

Alberta Conservation Association - ACA Conservation, Community and Education Grants
John D & Catherine T Macarthur Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Career Focus
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC); Service Canada- Up to 80% of project cost
- All industries

Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) — Studies projects
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- Minimum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Sponsorships and Corporate Programs
Alterna Savings- From $100 to $5,000
- All industries

Adopt-A-School
Vancouver Sun Children's Fund Society- No Condition
- Educational services

ACORN Fund for Youth
London Community Foundation (LCF)- No Condition
- All industries