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
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- All industries

Canadian Experiences Fund - Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor)
- No Condition
- All industries

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

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

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

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

Arts Funding Program - IDEA Grants
- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

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

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

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

Sustainable Growth and Adoption Program (SGAP)
- From $40,000 to $100,000
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

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

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

- No Condition
- All industries

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

Weston Family Foundation - Prairie Grasslands Initiative
- No Condition
- All industries

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

Supportive Living Program (SLP)
- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

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

- 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
- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

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

Seniors Community Meal Grant
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Health care and social assistance
- Accommodation and food services

Canadian Experiences Fund - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)
- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
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Science Horizons Youth Internship Program
- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Utilities
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Registered Heritage Structure Maintenance Grants
- No Condition
- All industries

City Grant Program - Parks, Recreation and Community Events
- 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
- 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
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Booster Fund
- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- All industries

Yukon Francophonie Day
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

CALQ — Travel
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

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

Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature and Technology Sector (FRQNT)
- 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
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

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

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

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

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

- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Smart and Caring Community Grants
- No Condition
- All industries

Community Grants
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)
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Springford Family Foundation
- Maximum amount : 2,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Other services (except public administration)

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

Clean Fuels Fund — Indigenous-Led Projects
- No Condition
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

- Up to 25% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

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

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

- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- All industries
TD Bank Group - Corporate Donations and Sponsorships
- 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
- 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
- No Condition
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Family and Community Support Services Program
- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

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

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

Fonds signature métropole - Stream 1: Support for festivals and major events
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

AgriMarketing Program: Market Diversification for SMEs
- From $14,000 to $100,000
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Major Events
- Maximum amount : 800,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Cultural Spaces Grant Program - Small Grants for Cultural Spaces
- No Condition
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Local Events
- From $1,000 to $50,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Artistic Excellence Support Scholarship
- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program
- No Condition
- Manufacturing

RDN Grants - Oceanside Recreation Services Grant
- No Condition
- All industries

Breakthrough T1D Canada Mental Health and T1D Community Grants
- Maximum amount : 35,000 $
- Health care and social assistance

Community Grants and Partnerships
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- All industries

Toronto Arts Council - Discipline-Based Programs
- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Manitoba Council for International Cooperation Inc. - Community Solidarity Fund
- No Condition
- All industries

Community Cultural Partnership Program
- No Condition
- All industries

Supportive Housing Capital Grant program
- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance

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

- From $50,000 to $100,000
- Professional, scientific and technical services

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

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

SDTC — Scale Up Funding
- Maximum amount : 4,000,000 $
- Up to 33% of project cost
- All industries

The Artificial Intelligence innovation funding program (PIIA) - Part 1: Scope
- 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
- 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
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing

The Artificial Intelligence innovation funding program (PIIA) - Part 2 : SMEs
- 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
- From $5,000 to $10,000
- Construction
- Manufacturing

CAAIN — Livestock Innovation Program 2024
- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting