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.

Building Safer Communities Program - Organizational and Youth Sector Capacity-building Project Grants
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Prairies Performing Arts Initiative (PPAI)
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)- From $100,000 to $750,000
- All industries

Business Planning, Skills Development and Agriculture Education
Government of New Brunswick- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Conference/Seminar/Workshop Grants
Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Preservation Projects
GRAMMY Museum- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Family Violence Prevention Grant
Alberta Ministry of Children and Family Services- From $25,000 to $200,000
- All industries

Building Safer Communities Program - Youth Engagement Project Grants
City of Vancouver- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Financial Inclusion Granting Program
Alterna Savings- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

Scientific Research Projects
GRAMMY Museum- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Recreation Partner and Facility Investment Program
City of Edmonton- Minimum amount : 50 $
- All industries

Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty
The New Relationship Trust- No Condition
- All industries

General Financial Assistance Program
Chambre des notaires du Québec- No Condition
- All industries

Community Projects - Capital Grant Program
City of Moose Jaw- Minimum amount : 500 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Community Enrichment Fund
Lactalis Canada- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)

Alberta Culture Days Grant
Alberta Ministry of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Journalism Futures Fund - Organizational Funding Stream
Inspirit Foundation- From $50,000 to $200,000
- Information and cultural industries

Enfant Soleil - Equipment Fund
Opération Enfant Soleil- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries

Clearwater Cares
Clearwater- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Organizational Grants
Inspirit Foundation- Minimum amount : 50,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)

Musical Performances by Charitable Ensembles
London Community Foundation (LCF)- No Condition
- All industries

Sport Tourism Events
City of Brampton- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

New Capacity Stream
Alberta Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services- Maximum amount : 450,000 $
- All industries

Freshslice Cares
Freshslice Pizza- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Research & Sector-Building Grants
Inspirit Foundation- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Operational Funding
City of Saint John- From $1,000 to $20,000
- All industries
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The Home Program
City of Calgary- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- All industries

Partnership (Grant) Applications
DivaCup- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)

United Way Simcoe Muskoka - Women United
United Way of Greater Simcoe County- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Age-Friendly Communities Grant
Nova Scotia Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

- No Condition
- All industries

Grant financing for ICT research partnerships
PROMPT- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

United Way Simcoe Muskoka - Reaching Home
United Way of Greater Simcoe County- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions Program - Inuit Language Promotion and Protection Grants
Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

Donations and sponsorships
Hydro-Québec- No Condition
- All industries

Social Innovation Research Fund
New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 66% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)

Mississauga Foundation - Novo Nordisk Chronic Disease Fund
The Community Foundation of Mississauga- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Lab-to-Market Fund
New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF)- Up to 33% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

SurreyCares Community Foundation - Free to Play
SurreyCares- From $5,000 to $50,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Health and Wellness Days
Québec Breast Cancer Foundation- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Designated Heritage Property Grant Program
City of Kitchener- From $500 to $5,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Major Contributions Grant
Gwaii Trust Society- From $25,000 to $200,000
- Construction
- Public administration

Emerging Projects Fund
New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF)- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

SurreyCares Community Foundation - Community Prosperity Fund
SurreyCares- Maximum amount : 25,000,000 $
- All industries

Interministerial Women's Secretariat Grant Program
Prince Edward Island Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population- No Condition
- All industries

Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions Program - Inuit Societal Values
Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- All industries

Grants, Donations and Sponsorships
Takeda Canada- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Reaching Home Grant
Central Okanagan Foundation- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- All industries

Group Travel Assistance Grant
Gwaii Trust Society- Maximum amount : 6,000 $
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

SurreyCares Community Foundation - SurreyCares Community Grants
SurreyCares- No Condition
- All industries

Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions Program - Youth & Elders Committees
Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries
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Initiatives program (FIP)
Tourisme Montréal- Up to 80% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Youth Centred Communities Grant
Gwaii Trust Society- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Exchanges Canada Program - Youth Forums Canada
Department of Canadian Heritage (LJI)- No Condition
- All industries

Donation Programs
Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)

Food Sovereignty Grant
Gwaii Trust Society- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Community Grants and Partnerships
Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- All industries
Toronto Enterprise Fund (TEF) - Sustain Existing ESEs
Enterprising Non-Profits Toronto, enp-TO- No Condition
- All industries

Partnership Funding - Servus Feel Good Fund
Servus Credit Union- No Condition
- All industries

Community Innovation Grant
Gwaii Trust Society- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions Program - Heritage Core Funding
Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- All industries

Active NL
Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Recreation Newfoundland- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Development of Official-Language Communities Program (Official Languages Support Programs) - Infrastructure Projects
Department of Canadian Heritage (LJI)- No Condition
- All industries

Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions Program - French Language Arts and Culture Development
Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Information and cultural industries

Community Grants - Municipal Community Wellbeing Grants
Town of Banff- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries
Toronto Enterprise Fund (TEF) - Scale ESEs
Enterprising Non-Profits Toronto, enp-TO- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Vital Community Grants
Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough- No Condition
- All industries

Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems - Interdisciplinary Challenge Teams
Genome Canada- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund
Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and Ministry of Sport (OCAF)- No Condition
- All industries
Toronto Enterprise Fund (TEF) - Catalyze New ESEs
Enterprising Non-Profits Toronto, enp-TO- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)

HIV Endgame Funding Program
Ontario HIV Treatment Network- From $25,000 to $150,000
- Health care and social assistance

Major Arts and Culture Organizations Grant
Region of Waterloo- Up to 10% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Program Funds
The Presbyterian Church In Canada- Maximum amount : 8,000 $
- All industries

Condition of Youth
Fondation Sibylla Hesse- No Condition
- All industries

Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions Program - Elder Initiatives
Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions Program - French Language Services Program
Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage- Maximum amount : 50 $
- All industries
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Rio Tinto Alcan Canada - Rio Tinto Aluminum Canada Fund
RioTinto Alcan- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Community Investment Grant Program
Credit Union Atlantic- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- All industries

Accessibility Grants
Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development of Newfoundland and Labrador- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Event & Organization Sponsorship
Conexus Credit Union- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions Program - Cultural Communications Program
Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation Fund
South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, Inc.- From $5,000 to $35,000
- All industries

Kootenay Savings Community Foundation
Kootenay Savings Credit Union- No Condition
- All industries

Grants to Youth Organizations
Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development of Newfoundland and Labrador- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- All industries

Charitable contributions, donations and grants
Merck Canada Inc.- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Support for Korean Studies Resources
Korea Foundation- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Educational services

Community Arts Investment Program (CAIP) - Artist Collective Stream
City of London, London Arts Council- No Condition
- All industries

Creative Saskatchewan - Feature Film & TV Production
Creative Saskatchewan- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

AWS InCommunities Calgary Fund
ChangeX- From $500 to $10,000
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)

Community Sponsorships
Assiniboine Credit Union- No Condition
- All industries

Support for Korea-Related Cultural Events
Korea Foundation- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Adapted Sport and Recreation Grant
City of Regina- No Condition
- All industries

Lorne and Evelyn Johnson Foundation Grants
South Saskatchewan Community Foundation, Inc.- From $5,000 to $15,000
- All industries

Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions Program - Elders and Youth Facilities
Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- All industries

Orange Shirt Day Fund
Manitoba Ministry of Indigenous Reconciliation- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

ServiceNow Community Improvement Fund Canada
ChangeX- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
- Educational services

The Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund (EDRF)
WCEL- Maximum amount : 19,700 $
- All industries

GLOW Indigenous Health Grant: Guiding Local Opportunities for Wellbeing
CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks- Up to 33% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

Critical Food Infrastructure Grant
United Way British Columbia- No Condition
- All industries

Development of Official-Language Communities Program (Official Languages Support Programs) - Community Life Component
Department of Canadian Heritage (LJI)- No Condition
- All industries

School Food Infrastructure Grant
United Way British Columbia- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries