Ontario Creates Book Fund

• Funding can cover up to 75% of the total project budget, depending on eligible sales revenue.
• Maximum grant amounts range from $30,000 to $150,000, based on the applicant’s annual eligible sales revenue.
• For the Diversity Enhancement Stream, funding ranges from $5,000 to $15,000, up to 75% of total activity costs.
• For the main Book Fund, payments are disbursed as follows: 60% upon agreement execution, 25% upon interim report, and 15% upon final report and deliverables.
• For Diversity Enhancement, 80% of grant is paid upon approval and the remaining 20% after submission of the final report and deliverables.

• The company must be an independent, Canadian-owned and controlled, Ontario-based book publisher, incorporated in a Canadian jurisdiction for at least two fiscal years.
• The applicant's central place of business must be in Ontario, with at least 50% of employees based in the Ontario office, and the company must file Ontario corporate taxes.
• The company must have published at least two books per year in the last two years or at least four books in total over the previous two years, with at least six Canadian-authored titles in print.
• More than 50% of the applicant’s total sales revenues must be from book sales, and the company must have annual net book sales revenue of at least $20,000 (average of the most recent two fiscal years).
• The company must demonstrate financial solvency, provide financial statements for the past two fiscal years, and be in good standing with Ontario Creates.

Who is eligible?

• Independent, Canadian-owned-and-controlled, Ontario-based book publishers
• Ontario-based businesses owned by self-identifying racially diverse, Francophone, or otherwise diversity-defined groups (for Diversity Enhancement Stream)

Who is not eligible

• Companies that are not independent, Ontario-based book publishers (e.g., companies whose primary activity is not book publishing).
• Businesses that do not derive more than 50% of their sales revenues from book sales.
• Companies primarily publishing vanity titles where revenues from such sales exceed 25% of total revenues.
• Corporations not in good standing with Ontario Creates (e.g., those in default of contractual obligations).
• Applicants whose publications are limited to non-eligible types such as calendars, agendas, comic books, instructional books, dissertations, government reports, and similar excluded formats.

Eligible expenses

• Costs for book or imprint launches.
• Production of marketing tools and materials.
• Advertising and co-op program expenses.
• Creation and distribution of specialized catalogues and mailings.
• Consumer contest expenses.
• Backlist promotion costs.
• Expenditures for attending and exhibiting at international fairs, trade shows, or conferences (excluding activities funded by the Global Market Development Fund - Book program).
• Costs related to author tours, including participation at festivals, readings, and events for direct audience engagement.
• Re-launch and re-branding expenses.
• Redesign or upgrade of website, including adding e-commerce capabilities.
• Production of author podcasts, videos, and webcasts.
• Digital rights management costs.
• Development of interactive games based on book content.
• Search optimization for titles or catalogue.
• Digitization of backlist for institutional and library sales.
• Creation of original digital content or bundled packaging for digital platforms.
• Exploration of alternative sales channels.
• Research and development of a digital transformation strategy or business plan.
• Project-specific capital expenses (hardware/software) for digital components, up to 15% of total project budget.
• Long distance phone, fax, paper, courier, and other direct project-related expenses.

Eligible geographic areas

• Ontario (companies must be Ontario-based, with their central place of business located in Ontario)

• Feasibility of the project (25%): well-defined scope, detailed budget, realistic schedule, alignment with industry standards, and consultation with equity-deserving communities.
• Expected results (30%): clearly stated, tangible, measurable, and realistic outcomes, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Opportunity (20%): potential to enhance company stability, growth, and profitability, including strategies to promote author/title profiles and engage with equity-deserving communities.
• Background and ability to complete the plan (25%): prior results, supporting rationale, company information, and demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Applicants are encouraged to attend information sessions or webinars prior to applying for guidance and clarification on program details.
• All project expenses, except for marketing and business travel, must be incurred in Ontario.
• The program may alter guidelines with public notice; all funding decisions are final and confidential.
• Information and supporting documentation submitted in the application remain strictly confidential, subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.