Community Funding - Project Funding

• Total funding available: $1 million for all projects combined.
• Eligible maximum funding: $75,000 per year per application.
• For contributions less than $25,000, un-audited financial statements may be accepted at the City's discretion if signed and approved by qualified officers.
• Successful applicants must provide proof of at least $2 million commercial general liability insurance coverage, with the City named as additional insured, before funds are released.
• Funds are disbursed in a single payment after the contribution agreement is signed.

• The applicant must be a non-profit organization operating within the social services sector.
• The project must increase the organization's capacity to deliver programs and services, or address unmet, complex, or emerging community needs.
• The project should align with the annual funding priority, such as increasing skills and abilities of individuals to achieve life and work goals, with focus on equity-deserving communities.
• The applicant must demonstrate how their initiative will contribute to the specified funding priority and address systemic barriers in employment and education.

Who is eligible?

• Non-profit organizations operating within the social services sector

Eligible expenses

• Personnel salaries and benefits directly related to the project.
• Consulting fees for capacity-building or pilot program initiatives.
• Materials and supplies necessary for program delivery.
• Technology and equipment required for project implementation.
• Training and development costs for staff and participants.
• Insurance fees related to the project, including commercial general liability insurance.

Eligible geographic areas

• City of Ottawa

• Extent to which the project addresses specific and intersectional needs of priority populations and represents the community served (19%).
• Alignment of the project summary with the purpose of the funding, quality of planned activities for capacity building and community impact, reasonableness of timelines, outreach to priority populations and neighbourhoods, strength of partnerships, and sustainability of the initiative after funding ends (28%).
• Reasonableness and feasibility of the project budget (16%).
• Clarity and realism of proposed community benefits, and whether outcomes and indicators are defined and measurable (37%).

• Applications are accepted for both one-year and three-year funding periods, with three-year funding restricted to organizations not receiving Sustainability Funding.
• Successful applicants will receive a single payment after signing the contribution agreement.
• Approved projects must submit an outcome report, including a financial statement, within four weeks after the project period.
• Applicants are required to carry a minimum of $2 million in commercial general liability insurance, naming the City of Ottawa as additional insured.