Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Pillar Nonprofit Network

Pillar Nonprofit Network is a registered charity headquartered in London, Ontario, dedicated to strengthening the impact sector. It supports charities, nonprofits, grassroots initiatives and social enterprises through capacity-building programs, consulting, shared space, and direct financial and in-kind support. Its work is rooted in equity, anti-oppression, and community collaboration, with a focus on London and the broader Southwestern Ontario region.

Pillar delivers a portfolio of programs and services that help organizations increase their positive social, cultural and environmental impact. These include governance training, advocacy and public policy support, youth engagement and volunteerism initiatives, and extensive education offerings through the Pillar Impact and Learning Centre.

Beyond training and advisory services, Pillar acts as a funding provider in several ways. The Inclusive Community Events Program offers complimentary meeting and event space at Innovation Works to small, equity-denied groups that meet clear eligibility criteria. Access is granted through an application process and is supported by donors and sponsors, making it a form of in-kind grant to community organizations.

The Pillar Community Impact Program (PCIP) has provided selected grassroots initiatives and organizations with customized services such as consulting, workshops, training and coaching. Recipients are chosen via an external advisory panel, and in recent years seven organizations received support valued at over $60,000 in total, helping them overcome financial barriers to capacity building.

Through its Social Enterprise work, Pillar manages the Pillar Start-Up Fund, a revolving loan fund of more than $1 million co-managed with Libro Credit Union. The fund provides affordable loans between $10,000 and $100,000 to early-stage social enterprises across Southwestern Ontario that are committed to social, cultural or environmental impact. The process includes an initial inquiry, eligibility screening, coaching to prepare an application, review by a volunteer panel, and a pitch, with flexible terms up to five years.

Pillar’s programs serve a wide range of actors in the impact ecosystem: nonprofits, charities, cooperatives, social-purpose businesses, youth and community organizers. Its thematic priorities closely align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing equity and justice, climate action, systemic change and strong local impact.

Through Impact Consulting, Pillar supports board governance, equity and inclusion strategies, social enterprise development and social finance initiatives. It also plays a backbone role for social innovation projects such as Innovation Works, VERGE Capital and CityStudio London, helping design loan funds, impact investment ecosystems and community bond initiatives.

By combining direct financial tools like the Start-Up Fund, in-kind supports such as free event space, and intensive capacity-building services, Pillar helps smaller, under-resourced, and equity-denied organizations access the resources they need to grow. Annual impact reports, audited financial statements and CRA filings published on its website provide transparency about its activities and the evolution of its support to the community over time.