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: May 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

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.

Region of Durham Community Social Investment Program: Sustainable Food Security Fund 

Applications now open

Through the Sustainable Food Security Fund, the CSIP aims to address food insecurity in Durham Region and support sustainable solutions. This funding stream is designed to support innovative projects that enhance the sustainability and resilience of our local food security sector. Recognizing the critical role of existing community food programs, funding will focus on initiatives that promote long-term, sustainable solutions to improve food security for residents.

Objectives:

• Contribute to sustainable food security solutions
• Promote dignity for users of food programs
• Increase efficiency within the food distribution systems
• Build capacity of existing food programs
• Increase access to fresh, nutritious food

Example Projects May Include:

1. Community Gardens: Establishing community gardens where residents can grow their own fruits and vegetables, increasing access to fresh produce, promoting healthy eating, and fostering community engagement.
2. Urban Agriculture: Implementing urban agriculture projects such as rooftop gardens, vertical farming, and hydroponics to maximize the use of urban spaces for food production and increase food security.
3. Nutrition Education Programs: Offering educational programs on nutrition, cooking, and sustainable food practices to empower residents with knowledge about healthy eating, reduce food waste, and promote sustainable food practices.
4. Food Recovery and Redistribution: Establishing systems to recover surplus food from restaurants, grocery stores, and farms, and redistribute it to those in need to reduce food waste and provide nutritious food to food-insecure populations.
5. Mobile Markets: Establishing mobile markets that bring fresh, affordable produce directly to underserved neighborhoods to increase access to healthy food options for residents and promote healthy eating.
6. Market Model Food Banks: Transforming traditional food banks into market-style food banks where users can choose their own food, enhancing the dignity and autonomy of food bank users, reducing food waste, and improving the overall efficiency of food distribution. 

Deadline: Funding stream will remain open until all funds have been exhausted; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Learn More