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OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream
Supports operating viability for Ontario community-serving organizations
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 10,000 - $ 250,000
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
Provides up to $250,000 to help eligible organizations continue operating facilities and delivering public experiences or programs in Ontario. Funding supports operating viability and adaptations such as meeting public health requirements and new ways of working due to COVID-19 impacts.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Increase social or community impact
- Improve governance or administrative structure
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Minimum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Newcomers to Canada
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Transform operations to meet public health requirements.
- Maintain short- and medium-term viability to operate facilities and/or deliver experiences or programs.
- Ensure long-term sustainability to operate facilities and/or deliver experiences or programs.
- Adapt to new ways of working and meet changing program/service delivery needs.
- Enhance visitor and participant experiences.
Documents Needed
- 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)
Eligibility
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)
Processing and Agreement
- 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.
Additional information
- 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).
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating 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.
What is the OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream?
Provides up to $250,000 to help eligible organizations continue operating facilities and delivering public experiences or programs in Ontario. Funding supports operating viability and adaptations such as meeting public health requirements and new ways of working due to COVID-19 impacts.
How much funding can be received?
OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream Funds up to 80% of admissible expenses, capped at $250,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream program?
To be eligible for the OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream program, you must:
Ontario public-facing facilities/programs
Significant presence in eligible sectors
Eligible non-profit/charity or Indigenous community
What expenses are eligible under OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream?
Transform operations to meet public health requirements.
Maintain short- and medium-term viability to operate facilities and/or deliver experiences or programs.
Ensure long-term sustainability to operate facilities and/or deliver experiences or programs.
Adapt to new ways of working and meet changing program/service delivery needs.
Enhance visitor and participant experiences.
Who can I contact for more information about the OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream?
You can contact Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) by email at support@otf.ca or by phone at 1-800-263-2887.
Where is the OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream available?
The OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream a grant, loan, or tax credit?
OTF — Community Building Fund - Operating Stream is a Grant and Funding