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Sector Grant

Building capacity and resilience across Ontario’s non-profit sector

Offered by
Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)
Official source: otf.ca

Record updated

Funding available
$ 50,000 - $ 900,000
Deadline
December 2, 2026
Location
Canada
Who can apply
A charitable organization or foundation registered with the Canada Revenue Agency for at least 2 years.
See full eligibility

Overview

Sector Grant provides Ontario non-profit organizations with $50,000 to $300,000 per year for one, two or three years to strengthen the capacity and resilience of Ontario’s non-profit sector by addressing shared needs and emerging opportunities. Supported projects may create reusable sector-wide tools, improve shared data systems, or develop resources that help non-profits access diverse funding.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding
$900,000
Minimum funding
$50,000
Financing goals
  • Develop strategic partnerships
  • Develop team skills
  • Increase social or community impact
  • Improve governance or administrative structure
  • Increase operational productivity
  • Strengthen organizational capacity
  • Access new markets
  • Digitize or modernize organizational tools
  • Ensure financial sustainability
  • Conduct research or evaluation activities

Eligible candidates

Location
  • Canada
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
All revenue ranges
Organisation size
All organization sizes
Audience
All groups
Legal structures
Non-profit

Start applying for this program

Take a practical assessment to gain a clear understanding of how well this program aligns with your specific needs and long-term goals.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 5

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • A charitable organization or foundation registered with the Canada Revenue Agency for at least 2 years.
  • An organization incorporated as a not-for-profit without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction for at least 2 years.

Who is not eligible

  • Individuals and for-profit organizations.
  • Organizations whose primary purpose is delivering local programs and services; private or corporate foundations and their affiliated agencies; and organizations primarily engaged in political activity.
  • Agencies of municipal, provincial, or federal governments; universities, colleges, schools, and hospitals and their affiliated agencies.
  • Organizations whose primary purpose is delivering health care or education, or owning or operating residences providing long-term housing and/or care, including long-term care homes, cooperative housing, and group care residences.
  • Organizations participating in a collaborative that are engaged in political activity supporting or opposing a political party, elected representative, or candidate for public office.

Eligible expenses

  • Direct Personnel Costs for salaries, mandatory employment-related costs, and employee benefits for staff positions funded specifically to carry out the project.
  • Direct Non-Personnel Costs: Purchased Service, Workshops/Meetings, Supplies and Materials, Non-fixed Equipment, and Travel.
  • Overhead and Administration Costs directly associated with the project, up to 15% of the Budget.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Costs for delivering direct programs and services, goods and services providing a direct personal benefit for use outside the funded project, and core operational funding for ongoing day-to-day costs not directly tied to the project.
  • Activities that duplicate or replace core government funding, government-mandated services, positions, or activities; flow-through funding reallocated to a third party; and activities completed or costs incurred before the start date specified in an OTF Grant Contract.
  • Delivering school or home-based curriculum, healthcare including dental care, or long-term housing.
  • Political activities intended to influence or support a political party, elected representative, or candidate for public office, or to bring about changes in law or government policy, including related research and development.
  • Taxes eligible for a rebate; project overhead above 15% of the total project budget; religious activities or participation requirements; gambling; alcohol or cannabis purchases or related licences or permits; and firearms or ammunition purchases or related licences or permits.

Eligible geographic areas

  • Ontario: funded project activities must take place in Ontario.

Activities funded

  • Create or adapt tools and approaches to strengthen the non-profit sector’s capacity to respond to changing community needs or opportunities.
  • Improve how data is collected, shared, and used to build capacity across the non-profit sector.
  • Build understanding of diverse and non-traditional funding and strengthen the non-profit sector’s capacity to access it.

How to apply

  • Create an OTF account to access the Granting Portal; applications are submitted online through the portal.
  • Complete the pre-application questionnaire before accessing the Sector Grant application. Only applicants that meet requirements can access it.
  • Submit Step 1 with Organization Information and high-level Project Information.
  • After OTF’s initial assessment, organizations whose projects meet the requirements are invited to complete Step 2.
  • Submit Step 2 with detailed project information.

Documents Needed

  • Audited financial statements prepared by an external licensed public accountant, covering the most recent fiscal year and comparative information for the prior fiscal year.
  • A satisfactory explanation of an accumulated surplus greater than 12 months of annual operating expenses, or an explanation and deficit reduction plan for an accumulated deficit greater than 10% of annual operating expenses, where applicable.
  • The organization’s by-laws.
  • A formal, signed collaborative agreement for collaborative applications.
  • At least one quote or estimate for an individual good or service costing more than $5,000 cumulatively over the grant term; purchases from one supplier are combined.

Selection criteria

  • Benefit and Relevance (35%): sector need or opportunity, relevance, lasting sector-wide benefit, stakeholder engagement, and alignment of the project budget, scope, plan, and success measures.
  • Project plan and feasibility (35%): clarity and feasibility of the plan, expected sector and community benefits, risk mitigation, metrics and evaluation, and suitability of any collaborative.
  • Project budget (30%): clarity, connection between costs and project tasks, whether costs are appropriate, reasonable, and valid, and whether required project funds are secured or have a reasonable funding plan.

Processing and Agreement

  • OTF notifies all applicants when a funding decision has been made; decisions are final and there is no appeal process.
  • Organizations whose Step 1 submissions meet the requirements are invited to submit Step 2; applications that do not meet the criteria are declined and do not proceed to Step 2.
  • If an application is approved, the organization must enter into a formal, legally binding agreement with the Ontario Trillium Foundation based on the application and containing the grant’s terms and conditions.

Official sources

Sector Grant

Program guide

Sector Grant Application Questions

Supporting document

Sector Grant Application Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Sector Grant Program

What is the Sector Grant?

Sector Grant provides Ontario non-profit organizations with $50,000 to $300,000 per year for one, two or three years to strengthen the capacity and resilience of Ontario’s non-profit sector by addressing shared needs and emerging opportunities. Supported projects may create reusable sector-wide tools, improve shared data systems, or develop resources that help non-profits access diverse funding.

How much funding can be received?

Sector Grant Funds up to $900,000 of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The application deadline for this grant program is December 2, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.

Who is eligible for the Sector Grant program?

To be eligible for the Sector Grant program, you must: The applicant must be a qualifying charitable organization or foundation, or a not-for-profit incorporated without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction, registered or incorporated for at least 2 years. The organization must have gross annual revenue of $500,000 or more in each of its last two fiscal years. The organization must have a demonstrated mandate, presence, and established reputation for supporting Ontario’s non-profit sector.

What expenses are eligible under Sector Grant?

Direct Personnel Costs for salaries, mandatory employment-related costs, and employee benefits for staff positions funded specifically to carry out the project. Direct Non-Personnel Costs: Purchased Service, Workshops/Meetings, Supplies and Materials, Non-fixed Equipment, and Travel. Overhead and Administration Costs directly associated with the project, up to 15% of the Budget.

Who can I contact for more information about the Sector Grant?

You can contact Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

Where is the Sector Grant available?

The Sector Grant program is available across Canada.