Closed
Source verified July 23, 2026
Communities focus area
Community-led systems change for social inclusion
Latest source updateLast Update: July 8, 2026Latest change: The Communities pages now show updated funding examples and a revised applicants page that removes the Montreal stream and renames Capacity Strengthening to Sector Building.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 8, 2026
Latest change: The Communities pages now show updated funding examples and a revised applicants page that removes the Montreal stream and renames Capacity Strengthening to Sector Building.
Communities funding priorities updated
The Communities focus area now shows updated funding examples, with 2025 contributions of $7.5M across 59 organizations instead of $7.71M across 53 organizations in 2024. Several featured project examples and award amounts were also refreshed, including new awards such as $264,000, $234,999, $449,999, $450,000, $580,000, and $390,000 with 2026-2029 or 2026-2030 terms. On the For applicants page, the Montreal funding stream and its separate criteria were removed, and Capacity Strengthening was renamed Sector Building. The page also now states that funded activities must align with funding priorities and take place in Canada, with additional guidance for non-profit organizations and fiduciary arrangements, and it adds that McConnell is almost never the sole funder and is uncommon as the majority funder on a project.
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Closed
Location
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Overview
McConnell Foundation’s Communities stream supports community-led organizations advancing social and economic inclusion through systems change. It funds collaborative action, policy change, and regeneration, with a stated emphasis on clear, specific initiatives that challenge the status quo and support racialized and intersectional communities.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Increase social or community impact
- Improve governance or administrative structure
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Montréal
- Quebec
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Civic and Advocacy Organizations
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- Women & girls
- Nonprofits / charities
- Community leaders
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
- Mixed revenue (<50% earned)
- Mixed revenue (50%+ earned)
- Fee-for-service model
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Collaborative action to address barriers to social and economic inclusion.
- Policy change that advances social justice and economic inclusion.
- Regeneration work that remediates historical harm.
Documents Needed
- Short-form application
- Detailed application
- Project budget
- Supporting documents, if applicable
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian registered charities
- Non-profit organizations
- Municipalities
- Other eligible non-profit entities in Canada
Who is not eligible
- For-profit organizations, except in rare and specific situations.
- Organizations or projects based outside Canada.
- Private schools.
- Projects involving partisan political activities.
- Projects for strictly religious purposes or activities, purely academic or basic research, or international development.
Eligible expenses
- No expense details were clearly specified for eligible funding uses.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- General fundraising campaigns, including staff salaries dedicated to fundraising activities.
- Requests to reduce deficits or cover capital or operating shortfalls.
- University, college, or hospital endowments.
- Primarily ongoing operating costs or frontline service delivery.
- Conferences, workshops or seminars unless directly related to the focus areas and supporting equity-denied or underrepresented groups; training, scholarships or subsidies; partisan political activities; strictly religious purposes or activities; purely academic or basic research; international development; and projects aimed at nature-based solutions.
Selection criteria
- Nothing without us.
- Challenge the status quo.
- Allocate resources to underfunded groups.
- Clear and specific initiative.
- Additionality through a portfolio approach.
How to apply
- Submit proposals through the Application and Reporting Portal.
- For focus areas funding, begin with a Stage 1 short proposal.
- If invited, submit a Stage 2 detailed application.
- Do not send proposals by email or mail.
Processing and Agreement
- Staff review Stage 2 applications and reach out for a phone call to kick off due diligence.
- The assigned staff member serves as the point of contact during due diligence.
- Staff provide updates and timeframes relevant to the proposal as the review moves forward.
- The due diligence period for Stage 2 applications usually takes three to five months.
- The complete review process, from application to approval, can last four to six months.
Additional information
- There are no application deadlines; applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
- Deadlines are used only when the Foundation requests proposals for specific projects and are posted on the website and portal.
- Sector Building initiatives are currently proactive in nature and not accepting applications.
- Applicants can book 15-minute Virtual Office Hours if they are unsure which focus area is most appropriate.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Communities focus area Program
What is the Communities focus area?
McConnell Foundation’s Communities stream supports community-led organizations advancing social and economic inclusion through systems change. It funds collaborative action, policy change, and regeneration, with a stated emphasis on clear, specific initiatives that challenge the status quo and support racialized and intersectional communities.
Who is eligible for the Communities focus area program?
To be eligible for the Communities focus area program, you must:
The project must align with the Communities focus area.
The initiative should be community-led.
The work must address barriers to social and economic inclusion.
What expenses are eligible under Communities focus area?
Collaborative action to address barriers to social and economic inclusion.
Policy change that advances social justice and economic inclusion.
Regeneration work that remediates historical harm.
Who can I contact for more information about the Communities focus area?
You can contact The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation (MCF) or by phone at 514 288-2133.
Where is the Communities focus area available?
The Communities focus area program is available Montréal, Quebec.
Is the Communities focus area a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Communities focus area is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Communities focus area?
Communities focus area is funded by The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation (MCF)