Role of Community Living Owen Sound and District in the funding ecosystem
Community Living Owen Sound and District (CLOSD) is a community-based, registered charitable organization dedicated to supporting people with developmental and intellectual disabilities to live, work and participate fully in their community. While its primary role is the direct delivery of supports and services such as infant, child and family supports, community participation, supported independent and group living, employment services and the Passport Program, the organization also plays a modest but structured role as a funder through bursaries and awards.
Through its Awards & Scholarships portfolio, Community Living Owen Sound and District distributes financial assistance to individuals once per year at its Annual General Meeting. These bursaries recognize achievement and support further education or personal development for community members connected to its mission. This complements the organization’s broader work of enabling inclusion, learning opportunities and community engagement for people with disabilities.
Funding programs and bursaries
The organization administers at least two recurring bursaries, with amounts and timelines published on its website. For example, for 2025 it lists the T.D. Mayer – Community Living Bursary and the J. Irvine Brown Award, with specific dollar amounts and the note that each bursary is awarded annually at the AGM in June. Each opportunity has a dedicated information page, outlining its purpose and providing an online application route, which signals a formalized application and selection process.
These bursaries function as scholarships or small grants to individuals, supporting education, skill development, or inspiring possibilities in line with the agency’s vision of people living out their hopes and dreams regardless of disability. The awards are integrated into the organization’s governance calendar and are highlighted in the “Awards & Scholarships” section of the site.
Publics served and overall impact
CLOSD primarily serves children, youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Owen Sound and the surrounding district, along with their families and caregivers. Its funding activity is targeted rather than broad-based: bursaries and awards go to individual recipients who demonstrate alignment with the organization’s values and objectives. Beyond direct financial support, Community Living Owen Sound and District also channels donated funds into program enhancements that expand opportunities for participation, recreation, learning and independent living.
The organization’s annual reports, made available online, provide transparency about its financial stewardship, program outcomes and the scale of people and families supported each year. Donors can contribute via one-time gifts, monthly donations, tribute and legacy giving, or gifts of securities, all of which help sustain both service delivery and the bursary offerings.
Transparency, governance and accountability
As a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency, Community Living Owen Sound and District adheres to regulatory requirements for financial reporting and tax receipting. Annual reports with financials are published on the website, underscoring accountability and responsible management of funds. The awards and scholarships are clearly described with stated amounts, timing and application information, giving prospective applicants and supporters confidence in how funds are distributed.
Through this combination of direct services and targeted financial assistance, CLOSD contributes to a more inclusive local funding ecosystem for people with disabilities and those pursuing education or initiatives that reflect its mission.