Open
Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants
Capacity-building support for Toronto nonprofits
Last Update: June 7, 2026
Funding available
$ 15,000
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Overview
Toronto’s Vital Signs Grants provide up to $15,000 for small nonprofits and charities to strengthen their capacity in Toronto. Eligible projects include program design, community engagement, strategic planning, volunteer development, DEI initiatives, and environmental sustainability.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
- Enhance an existing program
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Toronto
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- $ 500,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Social Services
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Civic and Advocacy Organizations
- Grant-making Foundations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Municipal
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Program design, evaluation, and innovation.
- Community engagement and outreach strategies.
- Strategic planning.
- Volunteer program development.
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to address systemic barriers.
- Environmental sustainability initiatives.
Documents Needed
- Most recent financial statements
- Most recent tax filings
- Management letter on internal controls
- Trustee agreement, if applicable
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Registered charities.
- Incorporated nonprofits.
- Nonprofits applying with a charitable trustee partner.
- National organizations with work serving Toronto.
Who is not eligible
- Nonprofit associations that only serve their members.
- Business nonprofits such as chambers of commerce and condominium associations.
- For-profit initiatives.
- Individuals.
Eligible expenses
- Project-related costs.
- General operating or administrative costs tied to the social cohesion focus.
- Honoraria and expenses for Indigenous knowledge keepers and community leaders, when directly related to the project.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Fundraising, sponsorships, endowments, and donation-focused activities.
- Profit-making projects or activities that provide private benefit.
- Preferential contracts or conflicts of interest.
- Activities that are entirely virtual or only occasionally face-to-face.
Eligible geographic areas
- Toronto
- Organizations serving Torontonians or the Toronto area
Selection criteria
- Strategic role in addressing inequity in Toronto.
- Ability to advance local or systemic change.
- Strong equity lens and lived-experience leadership.
- Capacity-building impact on the organization.
- Project viability and organizational oversight capacity.
How to apply
- Step 1: Review the Applicant Guide
- Read the full guide before starting.
- Check the application requirements and format options.
- Step 2: Prepare the application
- Gather required organizational and financial information.
- Choose the format that best fits your communication preference.
- Step 3: Complete and submit online
- Submit the application through the online portal.
- For oral or ASL applications, book a presentation time, complete the presentation, approve the transcription, and finish the remaining questions in the portal.
- For video applications, upload the video to a sharing platform, paste the link in the portal, and complete the remaining questions online.
Processing and Agreement
- Eligible applications are reviewed by a selection committee.
- Applications are assessed against the program’s objectives and selection criteria.
- Successful applicants are notified in May 2025.
- Grants are disbursed in July 2025.
- Mid-point and end-of-project reports are required.
Additional information
- Applicants may submit in written, video, oral, or ASL-interpreted format.
- Only one application per organization is accepted.
- Successful applicants are notified in May 2025.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants Program
What is the Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants?
Toronto’s Vital Signs Grants provide up to $15,000 for small nonprofits and charities to strengthen their capacity in Toronto. Eligible projects include program design, community engagement, strategic planning, volunteer development, DEI initiatives, and environmental sustainability.
How much funding can be received?
Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants Funds up to $15,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants program?
To be eligible for the Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants program, you must:
Annual revenue under $500,000.
Community-led charitable work in Toronto.
Basic governance and accountability in place.
What expenses are eligible under Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants?
Program design, evaluation, and innovation.
Community engagement and outreach strategies.
Strategic planning.
Volunteer program development.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to address systemic barriers.
Environmental sustainability initiatives.
Who can I contact for more information about the Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants?
You can contact Toronto Foundation (TF) by email at grants@torontofoundation.ca.
Where is the Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants available?
The Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Toronto Foundation - Vital Signs Grants is a Grant and Funding