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.

Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program - Events component
Department of Canadian Heritage (LJI)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- All industries

Canadian Experiences Fund - Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor)
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)- No Condition
- All industries

Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Great-EST Needs Grants
Elgin-St. Thomas Community Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Evans Tree Grants
Elgin-St. Thomas Community Foundation- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)

Elevating Voices Grant
Pattison Outdoor- Maximum amount : 400,000 $
- All industries

New Canadians Event Fund
Yukon Department of Tourism and Culture- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- All industries

Rural Economic Development program — Strategic Economic Infrastructure Stream
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

AgriMarketing Program
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- From $14,000 to $100,000
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Programme des autres initiatives (PAI)
Ministry of Culture and Status of Women of Alberta- No Condition
- All industries

Community Project Grants
Kamloops Foundation- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- All industries

Mississauga Foundation - Smart and Caring Children and Youth
The Community Foundation of Mississauga- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- All industries

Arts Funding Program - IDEA Grants
Capital Regional District- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Ethnocultural Community Support Program (ECSP)
Manitoba Ministry of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Waterloo Region International Plowing Match Fund Grants
Waterloo Region Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 4,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Explore Québec on the Road Program
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Sustainable Growth and Adoption Program (SGAP)
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)- From $40,000 to $100,000
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Strategic Fund – Community Life
Canadian Heritage- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund - Grants
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- All industries

Farm Credit Canada - FCC Community Funding
Farm Credit Canada (FCC)- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries

Indigenous 360
Manitoba Arts Council- No Condition
- All industries

The Sisters of Providence Care of St. Vincent de Paul Community Impact Fund - Older Adults Connecting & Belonging (OACB) Stream
Community Foundation for Kingston & Area- No Condition
- All industries

Weston Family Foundation - Prairie Grasslands Initiative
The W. Garfield Weston Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Cultural Grants Program - Cultural Equity and Accessibility Funding (CEAF)
City of Vancouver- No Condition
- All industries

Supportive Living Program (SLP)
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Discover how much grant funding is available for your business
Subsidize your projects with grants!
Use our free grant estimator to quickly identify the available grant amounts for which your company may be eligible.

Stewardship Seed Funding
Regional District of Nanaimo- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

LEVEL BIPOC Grants
Vancouver Foundation- From $150,000 to $150,000
- Up to 67% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Summer Camp Grant Program
Niagara Community Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

First Peoples' Cultural Council - Heritage Program
First Peoples' Cultural Foundation- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Seniors Community Meal Grant
Prince Edward Island Department of Social Development and Seniors- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Health care and social assistance
- Accommodation and food services

Canadian Experiences Fund - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Science Horizons Youth Internship Program
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Utilities
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Registered Heritage Structure Maintenance Grants
Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador- No Condition
- All industries

City Grant Program - Parks, Recreation and Community Events
City of Richmond Hill- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) - Grid Innovation Fund
Ontario Power Authority (OPA)- From $1,000,000 to $4,750,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Transportation and warehousing

Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta - Community Grants
Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund
ChildCareBC, Government of British Columbia- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

McGregor Morris Fund
Elgin-St. Thomas Community Foundation- From $200 to $1,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Booster Fund
The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- All industries
Programme d'accessibilité des établissements touristiques
Ministère du Tourisme du Québec- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- All industries

CALQ — Travel
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Aboriginal Participation Fund (APF) — Early exploration support
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature and Technology Sector (FRQNT)
Québec Research Fund- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Aboriginal Participation Fund (APF) — Advanced exploration and development support
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program for Indigenous Creators
Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Information and cultural industries

Défi-Québec, an entrepreneurial city
Quebec City- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Funding WORBE: Workplace opportunities: Removing barriers to equity
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries
- Finance and insurance
- Other services (except public administration)

2026 Recreational, Sports, and Outdoor Infrastructure Financial Assistance Program
Gouvernement du Québec- Up to 66% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration

Downtown residential construction subsidy program
City of Gatineau- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Construction
- Real estate and rental and leasing

Future Focus Funding
Rozsa Foundation- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Find tailored funding for your business
Discover more grants on the helloDarwin platform
Look through over 4,000 grants, tax credits, loans and more financial aid on the helloDarwin application.

Intercultural Conversations
The Cole Foundation- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Discretionary Grants
The Manitoba Law Foundation- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- All industries

The Temiskaming Foundation - For Kids Sake Fund
Tri-Town Foundation- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

The Temiskaming Foundation - Community Fund Grants
Tri-Town Foundation- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Nova Scotia — Export Development Program
Government of Nova Scotia- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

Port Coquitlam Community Foundation - Community Grant
PoCo Community Foundation- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Community Capital Projects Grant
City of Lethbridge- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Beem Foundation
Beem Credit Union- From $2,500 to $10,000
- Finance and insurance
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Smart and Caring Community Grants
Abbotsford Community Foundation- No Condition
- All industries

Community Grants
Our Food Future Guelph-Wellington, City of Guelph- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)

Springford Family Foundation
Parksville-Qualicum Community Foundation- Maximum amount : 2,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Other services (except public administration)

Social Responsibility Fund (SRF) Community Grant Program
City of Vancouver- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Clean Fuels Fund — Indigenous-Led Projects
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- No Condition
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Media Production Fund
Government of Yukon- Up to 25% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Equipment and Technology Advancement Program
CWB Welding Foundation- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Construction
EconoLease Community Grants Program
Silverchef Canada- From $5,000 to $5,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Accommodation and food services

Tourism Growth Program — Indigenous Projects for Quebec
Indigenous Tourism Québec (ITQ)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

E K M Health Foundation
Eastern Kings Memorial Health Foundation- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Westoba Inspire
Westoba Credit Union LTD.- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries
TD Bank Group - Corporate Donations and Sponsorships
TD Bank, The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)- Up to 20% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Cold Weather Preparedness Grant
United Way British Columbia- From $1,000 to $10,000
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Support program to help victims of crime and promote their recovery - Stream 1
Quebec Ministry of Justice- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Family and Community Support Services Program
Alberta Ministry of Community and Social Services- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Community Safety and Well-being Fund - Building Safer Communities Grant Program
Region of Durham- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- All industries

Investing in Women's Futures
Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Emergency Relief Community Sport and Recreation Grant
The Provincial Sport Organizations Council- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Nova Scotia Black Community Housing Fund
Community Housing Transformation Centre- No Condition
- Construction
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Health care and social assistance
McConnell Foundation - Montréal Grants Program
The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
- All industries

Technology showcase program for buildings and innovative wood solutions
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Manufacturing

SDTC — Seed Funding
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)- From $50,000 to $100,000
- Professional, scientific and technical services

NGen — AI For Manufacturing Challenge 2024
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen)- From $1 to $2,100,000
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Sustainable Development Technology Canada — Scale Up Funding
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)- Up to 33% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

SDTC — Scale Up Funding
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)- Maximum amount : 4,000,000 $
- Up to 33% of project cost
- All industries

The Artificial Intelligence innovation funding program (PIIA) - Part 1: Scope
PROMPT- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Other services (except public administration)

PROMPT — PARTENAR-IA
PROMPT- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

PRIMA — PARTENAR-IA — Academic
Advanced Materials Research and Innovation Hub (PRIMA)- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing

The Artificial Intelligence innovation funding program (PIIA) - Part 2 : SMEs
PROMPT- Maximum amount : 350,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Other services (except public administration)

Career Launcher Apprenticeship Program
Colleges and Institutes Canada- From $5,000 to $10,000
- Construction
- Manufacturing

CAAIN — Livestock Innovation Program 2024
Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN)- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting