Ontario Creates Magazine Fund — Diversity Enhancement Stream

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Q: Who is eligible for the Ontario Creates Magazine Fund — Diversity Enhancement Stream program?

To be eligible for the Ontario Creates Magazine Fund — Diversity Enhancement Stream program, you must: • Ontario-based business, majority owned by racially diverse, Francophone, or otherwise provincially-defined diverse owners • Incorporated in a Canadian jurisdiction or registered with a Master Business Licence • In operation for at least one year with a complete 12-month publishing cycle

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Ontario Creates Magazine Fund — Diversity Enhancement Stream?

You can contact Government of Ontario by email at programs2@ontariocreates.ca or by phone at 416-642-6652.

Last Update: August 15, 2025

ON, Canada

Money for Ontario magazine publishers and diversity enhancement

At a glance

Eligible Funding

From $5,000 to $15,000
Up to 75% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : April 17, 2025
Closing date : June 5, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

The Ontario Creates Magazine Fund — Diversity Enhancement Stream offers up to $15,000 in project support to racially diverse, Francophone, or otherwise provincially recognized diverse Ontario-based magazine publishers. This program supports business development and the implementation of new strategic initiatives aimed at achieving business growth and marketing objectives.

Financing terms and conditions

Funding covers up to 75% of the total eligible project costs.
For the main stream, maximum funding available is up to $80,000 per applicant, determined by eligible sales revenue.
For the Diversity Enhancement Stream, grants range from $5,000 to $15,000, covering up to 75% of total activity costs.
For the main stream, funding is distributed in instalments: 60% upon agreement execution, 25% on interim report, and 15% on final report delivery. For the Diversity Enhancement Stream, 80% is disbursed upon approval, with the remainder after completion of deliverables.

Activities funded

Marketing and business development initiatives to drive sales and increase publisher revenue.
Development or enhancement of online and mobile magazine formats, including website redesign or upgrades.
Creation and dissemination of online marketing campaigns or content optimization projects.
Launching new magazine titles or special editions from existing publishers.
Business development activities such as professional training, business planning, and attendance at industry conferences.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 11,250

Creation of a bilingual version of our magazine to reach Francophone audiences

$ 11,250

Launch of a digital archive for Quebecois literature magazine to celebrate local authors

$ 10,500

Enhancement of our environmental magazine by introducing an eco-friendly print edition

$ 11,250

Implementation of a magazine subscription box initiative to increase readership

$ 11,250

Redesign of our magazine’s website to enhance user experience and accessibility

$ 11,250

Development of a new digital marketing strategy for Ontario-based magazine

Eligibility

The applicant must be a business owned by individuals who self-identify as racially diverse, Francophone, or otherwise meet dimensions of the provincial definition of diversity.
The business must be Ontario-based, with its central place of business located in Ontario.
The business must be incorporated in a Canadian jurisdiction or be a registered business with a Master Business Licence.
The company must have been in operation for a minimum of one year, with a completed 12-month publishing cycle, and must generate more than 50% of its revenue from magazine publishing activities.
For print magazines: must have published at least two issues in the last 12 months and a minimum circulation of 1,500; for digital publications: must have regular substantive content over 12 months and minimum 5,000 unique monthly visitors or 1,500 members/subscribers.

Who is eligible?

Ontario-based, independent magazine publishers
Racially diverse-owned businesses (under provincial definition of diversity)
Francophone-owned magazine publishers
Companies generating more than 50% of revenue from magazine publishing activities

Who is not eligible

Publications produced primarily to promote the business interests of the publisher or associated organization, rather than magazine publishing as their principal activity.
Publications created by companies or individuals whose main business is not magazine publishing.
Publications that predominantly reproduce content from current or past issues or from other publications or online sources.
Publications inciting hatred or characterized by undue exploitation of sex, crime, horror, cruelty, or violence, or those deemed contrary to public policy by Ontario Creates.
Publication types including blogs, newsletters, journals, professional association periodicals, in-house publications, guides, comic books, newspapers, alternative newsweeklies, directories, financial reports, catalogues, schedules, calendars, timetables, classifieds, or listings.

Eligible expenses

Professional development courses and business planning consultants related to business development.
Brand development, advertising, and publicity costs for marketing and promotion.
Strategic business travel and conference attendance directly tied to project activities.
Direct mail campaigns, subscription renewal initiatives, promotional campaigns, and newsstand projects for circulation development.
Creation of media kits or promotional material for advertising sales.
Production costs for special issues, sections, or new magazines from existing publishers.
Website redesign or upgrades, including enhancement of online/mobile magazine formats.
Costs for online marketing campaigns, podcasts, videos, and webcasts.
Optimization of online content and exploration of alternate sales channels.
International business development activities, including travel, when relevant to the project.
Expenses for enhancing internal workflow or backend processes (e.g., CRM implementation).
Capital expenses directly related to the project (hardware, software), up to 15% of the total project budget.
Direct project-related long distance phone, paper, courier, and similar expenses incurred in Ontario (excluding marketing and business travel, which may be incurred outside Ontario).

Eligible geographic areas

Ontario

Selection criteria

Track record of the business and/or its founders (10%).
Feasibility of the budget and proposed activities (20%).
Innovation, quality and creativity presented in the proposal (15%).
Degree to which the proposed activities will contribute to the growth, capacity, and sustainability of the business (30%).
Potential for critical and commercial success as a result of the investment (25%).

How to apply

Register on the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal

Visit .
Click on “Register” to create a user account if you do not have one.
Register your company’s corporate information with the portal.

Access the Application

Log into the Ontario Creates Online Application Portal.
Ensure your company is registered; the Magazine Fund deadline should appear in your dashboard.
Click on “Start new application” to access the application form.

Prepare Your Application

Review the Magazine Fund Guidelines thoroughly before starting.
Complete the application form provided in the portal.
Prepare necessary documents, such as strategic initiative details and expected outcomes.
Use the Magazine Fund Budget Template to outline budget details.

Submit Your Application

Once all sections of the application are filled and reviewed, submit it via the Online Application Portal before the deadline.

Confirm Submission

After submission, confirm receipt of an automated confirmation email with your application number.
Keep the confirmation email for your records.

Additional information

Information sessions and office hours are available prior to the application deadline for applicant support.
Some elements of the application can be completed over multiple sessions, allowing for saving and editing information before submission.
Successful applicants receive funding in installments, based on deliverables and reporting requirements.
Applicants with accessibility needs can request accommodations, including French-language information sessions or support for disabilities.

Documents and links

Ontario Creates Magazine Fund — Diversity Enhancement Stream

Contacts

programs2@ontariocreates.ca

416-642-6652

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Ontario Creates Magazine Fund — Diversity Enhancement Stream Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Ontario Creates Magazine Fund — Diversity Enhancement Stream. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.