Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The Provincial Sport Organizations Council (OSN)

Role of Ontario Sport Network in the funding ecosystem

Ontario Sport Network (OSN), formerly known as Sport4Ontario, is a provincial non-profit organization that provides leadership, advocacy and financial support to the sport and recreation sector across Ontario. In addition to programming and sector development work, OSN administers several grant and funding mechanisms that channel resources to clubs, leagues, community organizations and other sport stakeholders.

OSN serves as the Ontario Branch and provincial fund manager for the National Sport Trust Fund – Ontario (NSTF-Ontario). Through this role, it manages charitable donations directed to amateur sport projects in the province and oversees processes for organizations to establish fundraising projects, receive quarterly reports, and access raised funds via grant request and project report forms. The NSTF projects listing shows a wide range of supported capital, accessibility and development initiatives in rowing, curling, rugby, field hockey, para sport and many other disciplines.

Grant and relief programs administered by OSN

Beyond NSTF, OSN directly delivers application-based grant programs. The Emergency Relief Community Sport and Recreation Grant, funded by the Province of Ontario, provided a one-time relief fund targeting community-level sport and recreation organizations that experienced financial losses due to COVID‑19. OSN was appointed by the province to manage the program, set eligibility rules, convene a review panel, assess need and distribute approximately $7 million to more than 230 organizations across Ontario. Detailed eligibility criteria, FAQs and a long list of successful applicants are published on the site.

OSN also partners with corporate funders. Through the Nike Community Impact Fund, OSN works with Nike employees to award grants of roughly $5,000–$15,000 to eligible organizations in Toronto that use sport and physical activity to benefit children and youth and build inclusive communities. The grants page outlines funding priorities, eligibility requirements, application windows, online submission processes and basic reporting expectations for grantees.

Supported audiences and impact

Funding administered by OSN targets a broad spectrum of sport and recreation actors: not-for-profit sport clubs, community recreation organizations, youth-serving charities, leagues, teams and facilities, particularly those outside traditional provincial sport organization funding streams. The organization has also run targeted initiatives such as an Officials’ Bursary Program, distributing financial support to thousands of sport officials across multiple sports.

Through these various programs and its role as fiscal and grant manager, Ontario Sport Network contributes to sport recovery, capacity building and long-term sustainability of community sport infrastructure in Ontario.