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Source verified July 6, 2026
Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund
Supports experimentation for performing arts organizations
Latest source updateLast Update: July 6, 2026Latest change: The Strategic Experimentation Fund page now points to a detailed 2026 Phase 1 application guide, while key eligibility, funding, deadline, and application instructions that were previously shown on the page are no longer visible there.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 6, 2026
Latest change: The Strategic Experimentation Fund page now points to a detailed 2026 Phase 1 application guide, while key eligibility, funding, deadline, and application instructions that were previously shown on the page are no longer visible there.
SEF guidelines and deadlines updated
The Strategic Experimentation Fund now shows a 2026 Phase 1 application guide with fuller details, including the request limit of up to $40,000, the application deadline of July 21, 2026 at 2:00 pm ET, and the grant notification date of October 8, 2026. The page content that previously displayed eligibility rules, Q&A dates, application instructions, the grants database link, and phase details is no longer visible on the main program page. The new guide also makes the funding structure explicit: budgets must include an unallocated amount of 15% of the total budget request, administration fees can be up to 10%, and eligible expenses include external human resources, direct experiment implementation, and data collection, analysis, and sense-making. The eligibility focus remains Toronto-based performing arts organizations, including theatre, dance, music, or opera organizations and related service, production, training, or festival organizations, with a minimum of three years of history,
Funding available
$ 40,000
Deadline
July 21, 2026
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Strategic Experimentation Fund Phase 1 supports Toronto performing arts organizations with up to $40,000 for experimentation. It helps organizations test responses to challenges through iterative experiments, data collection, and sense-making.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
- Enhance an existing program
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Toronto
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 2 employees minimum
Audience
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- Artists / creatives
- Nonprofits / charities
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Regional
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Phase 1 experimentation to determine a unique challenge, outline hunches, propose initial responses, and design iterative experiments.
- Data gathering and sense-making activities.
- Phase 2 amplification as a future option after Phase 1.
Documents Needed
- The organization’s current operating budget, condensed to no more than two pages and not from CADAC.
- The organization’s most recent financial statements.
- A completed project budget template.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Professional theatre organizations.
- Professional dance organizations.
- Professional music organizations.
- Professional opera organizations.
- Creation, production, professional training, and service organizations working between and among these disciplines.
Who is not eligible
- Organizations currently participating in SEF 2024.
Eligible expenses
- External human resources needed to support the design and implementation of the experiments.
- Direct implementation costs for the experiments.
- Data collection, analysis, and sense-making costs.
- Administration fee up to 10% of the total budget request.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Ongoing operating expenses unrelated to the proposed project.
- Debt repayment.
- Endowments.
- Capital projects.
Eligible geographic areas
- City of Toronto.
- Greater Toronto Area organizations with a significant presence in Toronto.
Selection criteria
- The strongest applications clearly articulate a current challenge.
- The strongest applications identify one or more proposed responses to the challenge.
- The strongest applications outline experiments that will help determine the potency of the responses.
- The strongest applications provide appropriate data and learning strategies to support sense-making of experiment outcomes.
How to apply
- Complete the project budget template found at https://metcalffoundation.com/downloads.
- Include the organization’s current operating budget, condensed to no more than two pages and not from CADAC.
- Include the organization’s most recent financial statements.
- Email one PDF file with all materials to grants@metcalffoundation.com by July 21, 2026, at 2:00pm ET.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications will be reviewed by Metcalf, assisted by an advisory panel from the performing arts community.
- Funding decisions will be made by the Metcalf board and decisions are final.
- Successful grantees will be notified in early October 2026.
- Successful grantees will receive an email confirmation of receipt after submission; if confirmation is not received within three business hours, applicants should contact Heather Dunford at grants@metcalffoundation.com.
Additional information
- Successful grantees will be required to discuss their intentions with Metcalf before using the unallocated amount.
- The unallocated amount must be 15% of the total budget request toward late-stage Phase 1 activities that are unknowable at the time of the original application.
- Applications will be reviewed by Metcalf, assisted by an advisory panel from the performing arts community.
- Funding decisions will be made by the Metcalf board and decisions are final.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund Program
What is the Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund?
The Strategic Experimentation Fund Phase 1 supports Toronto performing arts organizations with up to $40,000 for experimentation. It helps organizations test responses to challenges through iterative experiments, data collection, and sense-making.
How much funding can be received?
Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund Funds up to $40,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund program?
To be eligible for the Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund program, you must:
Professional performing arts organizations in Toronto.
Minimum two FTE staff and three years of history.
Valid CRA charitable registration required.
What expenses are eligible under Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund?
Phase 1 experimentation to determine a unique challenge, outline hunches, propose initial responses, and design iterative experiments.
Data gathering and sense-making activities.
Phase 2 amplification as a future option after Phase 1.
Who can I contact for more information about the Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund?
You can contact The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation by email at grants@metcalffoundation.com or by phone at none.
Where is the Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund available?
The Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Metcalf Foundation - Performing Arts Program: Strategic Experimentation Fund is a Grant and Funding