Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The Peter Gilgan Foundation (PGF)

Grant programs and types of support

The foundation offers a range of grant types tailored to organizations’ needs. In its Children, Youth & Families program, for example, eligible applicants can access project grants (typically single-year support for specific programs), capacity-building grants to strengthen internal systems and capabilities, and general operating grants for repeat grantees whose core mission closely aligns with the foundation’s strategy. Grants generally range from about $10,000 to $100,000 per year, and PGF typically aims to be one of several funders rather than the sole supporter of a project.

Across its programs, PGF prioritizes organizations that are rooted in the communities they serve and often led by people with lived or proximate experience. It values clear theories of change, realistic goals, and a focus on durable, measurable improvements in people’s lives rather than short-term outputs alone. In addition to portfolio-based grantmaking, the foundation also makes large, targeted donations to hospitals and health networks, supporting major capital projects and research initiatives in areas such as brain health and early cancer detection.

Application process and general criteria

For most open programs, the foundation uses a two-stage application process beginning with an Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted through an online portal. At this stage, organizations provide a concise overview of their mission, service geography, target populations, proposed activities, and budget, along with key financial documents. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a Full Application, which includes more detailed information on organizational history, governance, community engagement, program design, and evaluation plans.

PGF generally provides funding to qualified donees as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency, especially registered Canadian charities, and in some streams to incorporated non-profits or organizations working in formal partnership with a charity trustee. It does not fund individuals, scholarships, capital campaigns through open calls, endowments, fundraising events, emergency relief, government services, or intermediaries that primarily re-grant funds. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with typical review timelines of around ten weeks for both the EOI and full-proposal stages.

Beneficiaries and impact

The foundation’s grants reach a wide range of communities, including underrepresented youth across Canada, grassroots groups in the Greater Toronto Area, Indigenous-led organizations, climate-innovation initiatives, and Canadian charities delivering international development projects with a particular focus on women and girls. PGF tracks portfolio-level indicators such as lives improved, alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, equity in programming, and leadership with lived experience, using this information to understand and strengthen the long-term impact of its philanthropy.