Open
Source verified May 15, 2026
Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants
Funding for Ottawa community projects
Offered by
Funding available
$ 15,000 - $ 25,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
Community Initiative Grants support projects in social services, arts and culture, education, environment, health, heritage, and animal welfare. The program funds initiatives that serve Ottawa residents, with requests available up to $25,000.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Implement environmental initiatives
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Minimum amount : 15,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Environment
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Local
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Social service initiatives
- Arts and culture projects
- Education projects
- Environmental initiatives
- Health, heritage, and animal welfare projects
- Capacity-building, research, planning, and collaboration initiatives
Documents Needed
- Latest financial statements
- Charitable registration number, if applicable
- Charitable partner information, if applying through a partnership
- Project budget
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Registered charities
- Other Qualified Donees
- Non-charitable organizations applying with a registered charity partner
- Faith-based organizations meeting the program conditions
Who is not eligible
- Organizations without charitable status or a Qualified Donee status, unless applying with a registered charity partner
- Applications for general operations
- Individuals
- Fundraising-focused activities
- Partisan political activities
Eligible expenses
- Staff salaries, wages, and benefits tied to the initiative
- Contract and professional fees
- Equipment and supplies
- Administrative costs linked to the project
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Core operations or general operating costs
- Fundraising events or campaigns
- Partisan political activities
- Sponsorships
- Deficit reduction
Eligible geographic areas
- Ottawa
Selection criteria
- Alignment with the program's priority areas.
- Potential for systemic and collaborative impact.
- Organizational capacity-building value.
- Strength of research, planning, and cross-sector collaboration.
- Potential to help emerging initiatives attract additional support.
How to apply
- Step 1: Review the guidelines
- Read the application guidelines carefully before starting.
- Review the online application instructions and relevant tutorial materials.
- Step 2: Create or access your account
- Create a new account in the application system if needed.
- Use your organization account to access the portal.
- Step 3: Complete the eligibility quiz
- Answer the brief eligibility quiz before opening the full application.
- If you do not pass, contact the grants team for guidance.
- Step 4: Fill out the application form
- Complete the online form and save your progress as you go.
- Provide the required organizational, project, and budget information.
- Step 5: Submit online
- Submit the completed application through the online system.
- Check your email for the submission confirmation.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are first checked for eligibility by OCF staff.
- Eligible applications are reviewed by the Community Initiative Grants Review Panel.
- Recommended applications are matched with funding.
- Applicants receive an email with the review result and next steps, if needed.
Additional information
- Applications are submitted through the online system.
- Applicants may apply in English or French.
- Only one application per organization is accepted at a time.
- Grant decisions are communicated by the end of June.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants Program
What is the Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants?
Community Initiative Grants support projects in social services, arts and culture, education, environment, health, heritage, and animal welfare. The program funds initiatives that serve Ottawa residents, with requests available up to $25,000.
How much funding can be received?
Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants Funds up to $25,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants program?
To be eligible for the Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants program, you must:
Must benefit Ottawa residents.
Must be a charity or Qualified Donee.
Must focus on a specific initiative.
What expenses are eligible under Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants?
Social service initiatives
Arts and culture projects
Education projects
Environmental initiatives
Health, heritage, and animal welfare projects
Capacity-building, research, planning, and collaboration initiatives
Who can I contact for more information about the Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants?
You can contact Community Foundation of Ottawa (OCF).
Where is the Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants available?
The Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Ottawa Community Foundation - Community Initiative Grants is a Grant and Funding