Closed
Source verified July 31, 2026
CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)
Operating support for Kingston arts organizations
Latest source updateLast Update: July 31, 2026Latest change: The CKAF Operating Grants page now shows the detailed 2026 guidelines, including eligibility and application requirements, rather than only referring applicants to the guidelines document.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 31, 2026
Latest change: The CKAF Operating Grants page now shows the detailed 2026 guidelines, including eligibility and application requirements, rather than only referring applicants to the guidelines document.
CKAF Operating Grant guidelines now visible
The CKAF Operating Grants content now includes the full 2026 Operating Grant Guidelines, with detailed eligibility rules such as the two-year non-profit arts organization requirement, Kingston location and delivery expectations, and the requirement for first-time applicants to book a consultation by Thursday, 23 April 2026. The updated guidelines also spell out the application package and review requirements, including the financial statement thresholds for applications of $30,000 or more and the rule that a CKAF request should not exceed 30% of the applicant’s prior-year revenue or expense totals.
Funding available
$ 10,000 - $ 65,000
Deadline
May 7, 2026
Opened March 26, 2026
Location
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Overview
CKAF Operating Grants support a wide range of non-profit arts organizations in Kingston with annual funding from $10,000 to $65,000. The program supports the recipient organization’s operations, programming, and services for the fiscal year ending in 2027.
Find open grants for your business
Explore open funding programs that match your business and project.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 65,000 $
- Minimum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Kingston
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- Artists / creatives
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Local
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Operations, programs and/or services of non-profit arts organizations in Kingston.
Documents Needed
- Application Form (signed)
- Budget Form
- Statistics Form
- Programming From (Previous Year Program List and Request Year Program List)
- Board of Directors and Staff Lists
- Year-End Financial Statements
- Supplementary Material (5 pieces)
Official resources
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Incorporated non-profit arts organizations
- Professional, semi-professional, and emerging arts organizations
- Arts organizations in Kingston
Who is not eligible
- Organizations that do not have arts mandates.
- Organizations that directly deliver curriculum-based education, such as a school, or are based on the pursuit of a postsecondary diploma or degree.
- Organizations based on fundraising or building awareness for a third party, such as a charitable cause or political movement, focused on religious practice, or the goal to change religious belief.
- Commercial, for-profit businesses.
- Organizations already receiving funding from the City of Kingston through other sources including grants or Service Level Agreements, and organizations seeking operational funding with mandates primarily focused on the delivery of arts festivals should apply through the new CKAF Festival grant stream.
Eligible expenses
- General operating costs for the organization’s operations, programs, and services
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- For significant capital purposes such as purchase or renovation of buildings and/or major equipment.
- Furthering a for-profit venture or to advantage a for-profit partner.
- Fundraising or recovering the costs of an organization’s financial deficits.
- Programs or services delivered by an organization aligned with any political party or religious group.
Eligible geographic areas
- Kingston
- Nearby areas, including First Nation or Indigenous communities, may be considered eligible at the discretion of the Kingston Arts Council in consultation with the City of Kingston, provided the majority of their activities occur within the City of Kingston.
Selection criteria
- Artistic Mandate
- Artistic Programming and Service Quality
- Impact and Benefit to Kingston Residents
- Financial Management and Viability
- Leadership, Administration, and Governance
How to apply
- Review the 2026 CKAF Operating Grant Guidelines.
- Book a consultation with KAC staff to assess eligibility for the program if you are a new applicant.
- Review the detailed application instructions and application checklist before submitting to ensure all required materials are included.
- Submit all application files by email to Grants@ArtsKingston.ca in one (1) email.
- If the attachments are too large, send them as a ZIP folder.
Processing and Agreement
- CKAF Operating Grant applications are assessed based on the criteria outlined below.
- In preparation for adjudication, jurors assign each of the assessment criteria below a score on a scale of 1 to 5.
- Applications are reviewed by a jury of artists and arts professionals.
- Results are expected on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
Additional information
- CKAF Operating Grants are usually expected to be renewable grants, based on the assessment and decision-making provisions outlined in the CKAF Framework.
- Applicants may use AI technologies to compose written materials for their applications, but the submission of supplementary materials generated by AI is prohibited.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- ADAPT (2021) - Adapt GrantsSupport for pandemic-related arts projects in Kingston
- CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)Supports arts festival production and operations
- CKAF Project Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)Supports Kingston arts projects and creative activities
- Resiliency Grants (2021)Funding for Kingston professional artists
Frequently Asked Questions about the CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) Program
What is the CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)?
CKAF Operating Grants support a wide range of non-profit arts organizations in Kingston with annual funding from $10,000 to $65,000. The program supports the recipient organization’s operations, programming, and services for the fiscal year ending in 2027.
How much funding can be received?
CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) Funds up to 30% of admissible expenses, capped at $65,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was May 7, 2026.
Who is eligible for the CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) program?
To be eligible for the CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) program, you must:
Incorporated non-profit arts organization
Based and active in Kingston
At least two years of arts programming
What expenses are eligible under CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)?
Operations, programs and/or services of non-profit arts organizations in Kingston.
Who can I contact for more information about the CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)?
You can contact Kingston Arts Council (KAC) by email at grants@artskingston.ca or by phone at 613-546-2787.
Where is the CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) available?
The CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) program is available the province of Ontario.