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.

- From $100,000 to $300,000
- All industries

Global Programmes - Research & Innovation
- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services

MLSE Foundation - Community Action Grants
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

ViaSport - BC Sport Participation Program: Community Sport Program Development Fund
- From $1,000 to $3,000
- All industries

Global Programmes - Disaster Risk Reduction
- No Condition
- Public administration

Young Canada Works - Employment Programs
- No Condition
- All industries

Global Programmes - Capacity Building
- No Condition
- All industries

Community Investment Program - Circular Economy Initiatives Fund
- From $5,000 to $25,000
- All industries

Strengthening the Charitable Sector
- No Condition
- All industries

Global Programmes - Social Entrepreneurship
- No Condition
- All industries

Affordable Housing NOW
- Maximum amount : 30,000,000 $
- All industries

United Way East Ontario - School Food Infrastructure Fund
- No Condition
- All industries

- No Condition
- All industries

Mississauga Foundation - Pendle Fund
- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- All industries

Community Wellness Grant
- Maximum amount : 12,000 $
- All industries

Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program (SIP)
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Communities - Americas, Local Charity of the Year
- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)

Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program - National Holocaust Remembrance Program
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- All industries

Community Sponsorship Grants
- No Condition
- All industries

Corporate Grants Program
- From $5,000 to $20,000
- Other services (except public administration)

SFI Community Grants
- From $5,000 to $10,000
- All industries

Step Up for Mental Health Fund
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Community Foundation of Central Alberta - Olds Legacy Fund
- No Condition
- All industries

Retail Grants Program
- From $5,000 to $20,000
- Other services (except public administration)

The Moez & Marissa Kassam Equity Fund
- No Condition
- All industries
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Charity Alive Fund
- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)

Sleeman Better Water Grants
- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
- All industries

AccèsLogis Québec
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Educational services

Annual Grants Program
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Youth & Education Grant
- Maximum amount : 6,000 $
- Educational services

Canada Fund for Local Initiatives
- No Condition
- All industries

Nutrien Building Stronger Communities Together
- No Condition
- All industries

IEN-WMAN Mining Mini-Grant Program
- Maximum amount : 4,000 $
- All industries

Seeds of Hope Granting Program
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

International Grants
- From $3,000 to $20,000
- All industries

Research & Environment
- Maximum amount : 6,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Norman Lesh Philanthropy Award
- From $10,000 to $10,000
- All industries

Vital Grants
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

Strengthening our Community Fund
- No Condition
- All industries

Marian Hebb Research Grant
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Professional cultural organizations - Soutien aux projets ville de littérature UNESCO
- No Condition
- All industries

Programme d'appui à la francophonie canadienne
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

BOLT Grant Program
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction

- No Condition
- All industries

The Gordon Foundation
- No Condition
- All industries

The United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
- No Condition
- All industries

Canadian Experiences Fund - Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
- From $5,000 to $1,000,000
- All industries

Equity through Diverse Impact (EDI) Grant
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Find tailored funding for your business
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Youth Justice Fund
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries

- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

Canadian Experiences Fund - Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- All industries

United Way Central Alberta - Project Grants
- Maximum amount : 7,500 $
- Health care and social assistance

Action for Women’s Health
- From $1,000,000 to $5,000,000
- All industries

Professional Development Grant
- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- All industries

United Way Central Alberta - Professional Development Grants
- Maximum amount : 500 $
- Health care and social assistance

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership in New Brunswick
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Canadian Experiences Fund - Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
- Maximum amount : 58,500,000 $
- All industries

United Way Central Alberta - Capital and Equipment Grants
- Maximum amount : 500 $
- Health care and social assistance

Community, Youth and Cultural Funding Program - Sustaining Grants
- No Condition
- All industries

First responders’ mental health grants - Stream 2: applied research
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- All industries

Metcalf Foundation - Innovation Fellowship
- No Condition
- All industries

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

Nanaimo Foundation - Book of Giving Opportunities
- From $500 to $50,000
- All industries

Community Economic Development Program
- No Condition
- All industries

Major Community Initiatives and Events Grant
- No Condition
- All industries

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

First responders’ mental health grants - Stream 1 : services
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- All industries

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

Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) - Base Funding
- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
Community Needs Grants 2024
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

Canada Foundation for Innovation - College Fund
- From $60,000 to $1,000,000
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries

Solid Waste Management Innovation Fund
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- All industries

Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador - Free to Play
- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Access over 10 000 different funding opportunities
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- From $2,500 to $15,000
- All industries

Community Crisis Response Fund
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries
Municipal Climate Resiliency Grant
- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Public administration

Community Opportunity Readiness Program
- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- All industries

Community-Based Justice Fund (Indigenous Justice Strategy)
- No Condition
- All industries

Foreign Credential Recognition Program
- No Condition
- All industries

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

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

- No Condition
- All industries

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

Research Development Grants
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Rural Growth Initiative - Community Revitalization Program
- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- All industries

Knowledge Sharing and Mobilization (KSM) Grant
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Rural Growth Initiative - Community Capacity Building Program
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

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

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

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

Local Community Support - Donations and Sponsorships
- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Social Policy Capital Grants
- No Condition
- All industries

Partnership Development Grants
- From $75,000 to $200,000
- All industries

Community Relations and Partnerships
- No Condition
- All industries

ISC Community Giving Program
- Up to 1.5% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Registered Heritage Structure Revitalization Grant
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Livestock Strategy Program — Provincial Abattoir
- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Public administration

Great-EST Needs Grants
- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration