OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream

• Most recent completed financial statements (per OTF requirements)
• Surplus explanation (if net assets exceed 12 months operating expenses)
• Deficit reduction plan (if accumulated deficit exceeds 10% of annual expenses)
• Current operating budget (if a deficit reduction plan is required)
• Current board of directors list (names, terms, positions, arm’s length)

• Be a charitable organization/public foundation registered with CRA, or an incorporated not-for-profit without share capital in Canada, or a First Nation/Mtis/Inuit or other Indigenous community.
• Have a significant presence in the arts and culture, heritage, tourism, sport, and recreation sectors.
• Operate facilities and/or provide experiences or programs in Ontario that are open to the public.
• Meet OTF financial statement requirements (minimum one fiscal year of financial statements; First Nations exempt).
• Have a minimum of three active board members with at least 50% at arm’s length (all except First Nations).

Who is eligible?

• Ontario-based arts organizations
• Culture organizations
• Heritage organizations
• Tourism organizations
• Sport and recreation organizations (with significant presence; sport/recreation must operate a physical-activity facility and/or deliver physical-activity experiences/programs)

Who is not eligible

• Municipalities or municipal agencies
• Conservation authorities
• Unincorporated branches or chapters of a registered charity or incorporated not-for-profit
• For-profit organizations
• Universities/colleges, hospitals, schools, or agencies of these organizations; provincial/federal government agencies; organizations outside Ontario

Eligible expenses

• Eligible operating expenses incurred in Ontario (as outlined in OTF’s Financial Workbook)

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• HST or other refundable expenses (e.g., security deposits)
• Legal, audit, insurance, or interest fees
• Mortgage payments
• Translation services and in-kind contributions
• Pre-existing budget deficits and long-term debt financing

Eligible geographic areas

• Ontario (expenses must be incurred in Ontario)

• Significance of the organization in the eligible sectors and its community (20%).
• Support for diverse, under-represented, and/or vulnerable populations (10%).
• Impact of COVID-19 on the organization (35%).
• Strategy supports organizational viability; financial workbook is reasonable and aligned with outcomes (35%).

• Step 1: Confirm organizational eligibility
  • Confirm the organization type (CRA-registered charity/public foundation, incorporated not-for-profit, or Indigenous community).
  • Confirm a significant presence in arts/culture/heritage/tourism/sport/recreation and public-facing operations in Ontario.
  • Ensure board requirements are met (minimum three active board members; 50% arm’s length), where applicable.
• Step 2: Prepare organization information and required attachments
  • Identify the Signatory Contact (with signing authority) and the Organization Contact.
  • Prepare and upload the required financial statements (per OTF Financial Statement Requirements) and any required surplus/deficit documentation.
  • Prepare the current board list with term dates, roles, and arm’s length information.
• Step 3: Build the grant request and budget
  • Confirm requested expenses will be incurred in Ontario.
  • Select the requested grant term (6 months or 12 months).
  • Complete the Financial Workbook and ensure costs reflect eligible operating needs aligned with selected outcomes.
• Step 4: Complete declarations and submit
  • Confirm authorization to submit the application.
  • Agree to comply with OTF policies (including Anti-Discrimination and Open Data policies) and confirm the request does not duplicate support from other recovery programs.
  • Submit the application through OTF’s application process with all required information and attachments.

• Applications are assessed as part of OTF’s grant application review process, including an assessment of financial health based on submitted financial statements.
• Grants are awarded in full or declined (partial funding is not provided).
• If approved, the organization must enter into a formal, legally binding OTF Grant Contract signed by the organization’s authorized Signatory Contact.
• The approved grant term starts once the signed OTF Grant Contract has been signed and submitted back to OTF.

• Only one application per organization per granting stream deadline is permitted.
• Applicants must comply with OTF’s Anti-Discrimination Policy and acknowledge OTF’s Open Data Policy (application data may be shared and/or become public).
• Applicants must avoid conflicts of interest when obtaining goods and/or services.
• Approved organizations must publicly recognize the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Trillium Foundation (Recognition Policy).