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.

Community, Youth and Cultural Funding Program - Project Grants
City of Thunder Bay- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- All industries

Community Economic Development Program
FedNor, Industry Canada- No Condition
- All industries

Nation Building
The New Relationship Trust- Maximum amount : 120,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries

The Woolwich Community Fund Grants
Waterloo Region Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

Major Community Initiatives and Events Grant
City of Victoria- No Condition
- All industries

Nanaimo Foundation - Give Where You Live Fund
Nanaimo Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

First responders’ mental health grants - Stream 1 : services
Alberta Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- All industries

New Horizons for Seniors Program - Pan-Canadian Projects
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- From $1,000,000 to $5,000,000
- All industries

Affordable Housing Grants
City of Edmonton- No Condition
- All industries

TC Christmas Fund Grant
Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Research Funding
Earthwatch Institute- From $20,000 to $80,000
- All industries

Canada Foundation for Innovation - Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund
John R. Evans Leaders Fund; Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF)- No Condition
- All industries

Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) - Base Funding
Government of British Columbia- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador - Community Fund
The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador- Maximum amount : 2,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)

Language Grants
The New Relationship Trust- Maximum amount : 8,000 $
- All industries

Canada Foundation for Innovation - College Fund
John R. Evans Leaders Fund; Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF)- From $60,000 to $1,000,000
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries
Community Needs Grants 2024
Canadian Women's Foundation- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

Solid Waste Management Innovation Fund
Multi Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador - Free to Play
The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) Program
The New Relationship Trust- Maximum amount : 4,000,000 $
- All industries

Canada Foundation for Innovation - Innovation Fund
John R. Evans Leaders Fund; Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF)- Maximum amount : 4,000,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- All industries

The Catalyst Fund
Roddenberry Foundation- From $2,500 to $15,000
- All industries

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

Community Opportunity Readiness Program
Indigenous Services Canada- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- All industries
Municipal Climate Resiliency Grant
The Intact Foundation- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Public administration
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Community-Based Justice Fund (Indigenous Justice Strategy)
Federal Department of Justice- No Condition
- All industries

Foreign Credential Recognition Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- No Condition
- All industries

Sponsorships and Charitable Partnerships
Desjardins Group- No Condition
- All industries

LRCC — Metis Women Entrepreneurship Program
Louis Riel Capital Corporation (LRCC)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Canada Foundation for Innovation - Exceptional Opportunities Fund
John R. Evans Leaders Fund; Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF)- No Condition
- All industries

The Positive Effect: Positive Actions
REACH Nexus- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Advancing Agri-Food Processing
Government of New Brunswick- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Sponsorship Requests
Saputo Inc.- No Condition
- All industries

Ward Community Event Fund
City of Calgary- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Research Development Grants
British Columbia Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR)- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Rural Growth Initiative - Community Revitalization Program
Prince Edward Island Department of Rural and Regional Development- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- All industries

Goodspark Fund
Desjardins Group- No Condition
- All industries

- From $2,000 to $10,000
- All industries

Knowledge Sharing and Mobilization (KSM) Grant
British Columbia Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR)- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Rural Growth Initiative - Community Capacity Building Program
Prince Edward Island Department of Rural and Regional Development- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

Anti-racism Grants Program
City of Edmonton- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Milton Community Fund
Town of Milton- Up to 25% of project cost
- All industries

Ontario Power Generation - Province-wide Empowerment Grant Program
OPG- No Condition
- All industries

Build Strong
TransCanada Corporation- From $2,500 to $25,000
- All industries

Local Community Support - Donations and Sponsorships
Fondation Bon Départ de Canadian Tire du Québec inc.- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Community Improvement Grant
City of Grande Prairie- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

Social Policy Capital Grants
City of Vancouver- No Condition
- All industries

Partnership Development Grants
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)- From $75,000 to $200,000
- All industries

Community Relations and Partnerships
Air Canada Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

ISC Community Giving Program
Information Services Corporation (ISC)- Up to 1.5% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
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Aide financière aux festivals et aux événements touristiques - Stream 3: Development and growth
Quebec Ministry of Tourism (MTO)- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- All industries

Registered Heritage Structure Revitalization Grant
Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

- Maximum amount : 7,500 $
- All industries

Livestock Strategy Program — Provincial Abattoir
Government of Prince Edward Island- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Public administration

Aboriginal Arts and Culture Leadership Grant
SaskCulture- From $15,000 to $30,000
- All industries

Canada Foundation for Innovation - Major Science Initiatives (MSI) Fund
John R. Evans Leaders Fund; Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF)- No Condition
- All industries

Aide financière aux festivals et aux événements touristiques - Stream 4: One-time Events
Quebec Ministry of Tourism (MTO)- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- All industries

Spark Funds
Victoria Foundation- From $5,000 to $15,000
- All industries

Stephen and Michelene Worobetz Foundation Grants
Saskatoon Community Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc. - Sponsorship and Corporate Giving Program
Longo's- No Condition
- All industries

Canada Foundation for Innovation - Northern Fund
John R. Evans Leaders Fund; Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF)- From $250,000 to $2,500,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

CPKC Has Heart Community Fund
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries
Corporate Sponsorships and Donations
Assumption Life Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Grants, Giving & Corporate Sponsorship Support
Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Good Neighbour Program
Meridian Credit Union- No Condition
- All industries

Aide financière aux festivals et aux événements touristiques - Stream 1: Festivals and Major Tourist Events
Quebec Ministry of Tourism (MTO)- Maximum amount : 1,250,000 $
- All industries

Save Energy Grants
FortisAlberta- Minimum amount : 1,000 $
- All industries
First Nations Market Housing Fund
First Nations Market Housing Fund- No Condition
- Real estate and rental and leasing

Alberta Security Infrastructure Program Grant
Alberta Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Aide financière aux festivals et aux événements touristiques - Stream 2: Festivals and Events of Tourist Scope
Quebec Ministry of Tourism (MTO)- From $90 to $750,000
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction

Canada Foundation for Innovation - John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF)
John R. Evans Leaders Fund; Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF)- Maximum amount : 800,000 $
- All industries

Balancing our Triple Bottom Line
Interfor- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Yukon Francophonie Day
Office of the Commissioner of Yukon- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

Social and Community Development Grants
City of Kamloops- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- All industries

Exchanges Canada Program - Youth Exchanges Canada
Department of Canadian Heritage (LJI)- No Condition
- All industries
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Contributions to Canada Healthcare Organizations
Baxter Allegiance Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Northern Youth Cultural Fund
SaskCulture- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

Museum Grant Program
SaskCulture- From $1,500 to $50,000
- All industries

Community Interaction Program - St. Lawrence Action Plan
Environment and Climate Change Canada; Government of Quebec- No Condition
- All industries

United Way Greater Toronto - Jane Finch Community Action Grants
United Way Toronto & York Region, The United Way of Peel Region, The United Way of Greater Toronto- From $25,000 to $75,000
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Wholesale trade

Living City Grants
City of North Vancouver- From $1,500 to $3,000
- All industries

Spirit of Coquitlam Grant
City of Coquitlam- No Condition
- All industries

Community Sustainability Micro-Grant Program
City of Charlottetown- No Condition
- All industries

BMO Gives
Bank of Montreal- No Condition
- All industries

Tourism, Culture and Sport Enhancement Fund
County of Simcoe- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

The Lyle S. Hallman Foundation - Children's Initiatives
The Lyle Shantz Hallman Charitable Foundation, The Lyle S. Hallman Charitable Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Community Funding Program - Project Funding
City of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- All industries

Social Meals Enhancement Grant
United Way British Columbia- From $10,000 to $50,000
- All industries

Anti-Racism Impact Grant
United Way British Columbia- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program - Projects component
Department of Canadian Heritage (LJI)- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- All industries

International Development Grants
The Peter Gilgan Foundation (PGF)- No Condition
- All industries

GTA Community Grants Program
The Peter Gilgan Foundation (PGF)- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

Children, Youth & Families Grants
The Peter Gilgan Foundation (PGF)- From $10,000 to $100,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Indigenous Youth
The Peter Gilgan Foundation (PGF)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- All industries

Canada Cultural Investment Fund - Limited Support to Endangered Arts Organizations
Department of Canadian Heritage (LJI)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- All industries

Metcalf Foundation - Inclusive Local Economies Program: Opportunities Fund
The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation- Maximum amount : 90,000 $
- All industries

Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Internships
The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
- All industries

Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund
The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
- All industries

Building Communities through Arts and Heritage - Legacy Fund
Department of Canadian Heritage (LJI)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Community Partnership Capital Programs - Community Partnership Minor Capital Program
City of Ottawa- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries