Funding Resources
Community organizations work hard to respond to the needs of the community and funding initiatives to help to support this work are available from many sources, including the federal and provincial governments, business and other funding organizations. This page will post funding opportunities that may be of interest to local organizations and other resources that can help in the application process.
Questions? A series of frequently asked questions and answers is at the bottom of the page.
Find Tips for Writing Grant Applications and helpful Data Sources for Grant Applications.
Funding Opportunities Update e-Newsletter
The Funding Opportunities Update is a bi-monthly e-newsletter that provides information about upcoming grants, funders and funding deadlines. You can find links to the most current issues below.
The updates are not exhaustive lists of funding opportunities and should not preclude you investigating funding opportunities on your own. If you find a grant that you think should be added to the list, please let us know by emailing funding@durham.ca.
Current Issue
Funding Opportunities Update: July 2025: This update includes upcoming funding opportunities with deadlines for applications.
Sign up to receive the Funding Opportunities Update by emailing funding@durham.ca.
Local Funders and Community Organizations
211 Durham
Learn more at durham.211central.ca or call/chat/text/email 2-1-1.
Current Funding Opportunities
The current funding opportunities listed below opened after the most current Funding Opportunities Update was released and so were not included in the e-newsletter.
Government of Canada: New Horizons for Seniors Program - community-based projects
The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) community-based stream is a federal grant. It supports projects that are designed by seniors and for seniors in their communities. This program funds projects that empower seniors in their communities through increased social inclusion.
Eligible organizations can apply for up to $25,000 for projects that are led by seniors and are volunteer based.
Program objectives
Projects submitted for this grant (up to $25,000) must meet at least 1 of the following program objectives:
- promoting volunteering among seniors and other generations
- engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others
- expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse
- supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors
- providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors
- Funding Priorities
- Supporting healthy aging
- Preventing senior abuse
- Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion
- Supporting financial security
Application deadline: September 17, 2025.
Ontario Power Generation: Province-wide and Regional Empowerment Grant Programs
As Ontario’s largest clean power generator and innovator, our operations span all across the province - from Cornwall to Kenora. We believe we have a responsibility to help lift up the communities where we operate to help create a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow.
Through our Power for Change Project, we are helping power strong communities by supporting local organizations that are making a real difference. If you’re a community organization in one of our host communities and are in need of support, we want to hear from you! Apply for a Province-wide or Regional Empowerment Grant and be a partner for change. Together, we will help electrify life and strengthen our communities for generations to come.
It is important to us that you feel supported throughout the application process. If you have any technical questions, please don't hesitate to click the 'Help' link at the bottom of every page. If you have any questions regarding your funding request or our community investment priorities at OPG, please reach out to us at please reach out to us here.
The Regional Empowerment Grant Program offers:
- One-time or multi-year donations and sponsorships that support grassroot initiatives in one of our host communities
- Grants generally range from $2k up to $25k
- Grants are open year-round and applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis
The Province-wide Empowerment Grant Program offers:
- One-time or multi-year donations and sponsorships that provide province-wide benefit in Ontario
- They must, however, support the areas and people where we operate
- Grants generally range from $10k to $100k+
- Grants are open year-round, and applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis
Applications close: November 15, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can an organization apply to more than one of the funding opportunities listed? |
| Yes. You can apply to different opportunities, but typically organizations cannot receive funding for the same activities from different sources. Some applications may include a request for consent to share application/proposal details with other funders to ensure coordinated funding. |
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What if we can't find data to support our funding application? |
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Data will strengthen a grant application. Although specific local population level data on the impacts of COVID-19 may be scarce at this time, we have linked some data sources below that provide information at the Durham community level and may help to support your application for funding. Community Social Investment Program (CSIP) Resources
Other Data Resources
211 Ontario Information Services: A live dashboard showing regional needs of residents inquiring about human and social services Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Data and research page, including reports and the Housing Market Information Portal (interactive map) Community Development Council of Durham 2021 Point in Time (PiT) Report: Report measuring the scope and nature of homelessness in Durham. Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Data Dashboard: Find data about the Community Safety and Well-Being priority risk areas:
Durham Child and Youth Planning Network: Data portal with interactive charts for key indicators in child and youth health and well-being Durham Community Foundation - Durham's Vital Data Dashboard: Durham’s Vital Data Dashboard is an interactive platform where users can explore the indicators and data used as part of Durham’s Vital Signs and Durham Community Foundation's 2023 report, Together we Thrive. Durham Workforce Authority Research and Reports: Current labour market information videos and skills and labour market research reports Durham Workforce Authority Census Tool: Interactive map data showing labour and population data Health Neighbourhoods Interactive Map: Interactive map data showing social determinants of health and population data Health Neighbourhoods Reports and Neighbourhood Profiles: A more in-depth look at various Health Neighbourhoods Region of Durham Open Data: Data bank portal with spatial data files to download. Includes community services, housing, planning, business, environment, and recreation spatial files and may be previewed with an online webmap. Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) Knowledge Centre: Find information specific to rural Ontario Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) Resource Centre: Find data specific to rural Ontario communities. Statistics Canada Census Data: All population-related data across CanadaDurham's Vital Signs Report 2023: The Vital Signs report captures how people are living, as well as how they could be living. It includes data around how Durham is doing over eight different domains: Community, Civic Engagement and Belonging, Housing, Health, Income and Work, the Environment, Children and Youth, and Safety.
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