Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Community One Foundation

Community One Foundation is a Toronto-based charitable foundation dedicated to empowering 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through financial support and public recognition. Originating in 1980 as the Gay Community Appeal and later the Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal, the organization has evolved into a key funder of grassroots initiatives, established nonprofits and community-led projects serving 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the Greater Toronto Area and Indigenous communities across Ontario.

Its flagship Rainbow Grants program provides project funding under several streams, including Arts & Culture, Community & Social Development, and Community Well-Being & Direct Services. Foundation Awards support registered charities and trusteeed groups with larger grants, while General Awards offer smaller grants to unincorporated groups, collectives and individuals without charitable status. Additional thematic funding includes the James Stewart Research and Education Award for research and education projects, and the Steinert & Ferreiro Award, a major cash prize recognizing outstanding 2SLGBTQIA+ leadership.

Founded in 1980 by lesbian and gay activists as a community appeal to raise funds for emerging organizations, Community One has helped sustain key institutions such as The 519, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Black CAP, PFLAG Toronto, People With AIDS Foundation Toronto and others. Over time, its early fundraising campaigns and events were formalized into the current Rainbow Grants structure, which has funded a wide range of initiatives in health and social services, arts and culture, and research, education and advocacy for more than four decades.

The foundation has also played a catalytic role in launching complementary initiatives such as the Bill 7 Award for 2SLGBTQIA+ students and the LGBT Giving Network, thereby strengthening philanthropy and fundraising capacity in the sector. In 2008, the organization adopted the name Community One Foundation to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves while maintaining a clear focus on grantmaking.

Community One Foundation directs its funding to projects that positively impact 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, with a strong emphasis on marginalized groups such as Two-Spirit, Indigenous, trans and non-binary people, racialized communities, youth, seniors and people living with HIV/AIDS. Funded projects span community festivals, mental health and wellness programs, arts productions, leadership development, educational resources, research initiatives and emergency support funds, including a significant COVID-19 relief fund for drag artists.

By publishing detailed lists of recipients and encouraging applications from groups with and without formal charitable status, Community One Foundation lowers barriers to access and helps build independent, community-controlled support networks. Its portfolio of grants and awards has contributed to the growth, resilience and cultural vitality of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities throughout the GTA and beyond.