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 2023: This update includes upcoming funding opportunities with deadlines for applications.

Funding Opportunities Update: Ongoing Opportunities and Funding Portals: This update includes information about funding opportunities that accept applications on an ongoing basis and about funding portals - ways to access many different funding programs at once, either through a list of constantly changing current programs or through a streamlined application process.

Sign up to receive the Funding Opportunities Update by emailing funding@durham.ca. 

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.

Canadian Women's Foundation: Rebuilding Lives Grants 2024-2028

The Canadian Women’s Foundation is now accepting Letters of Intent for Rebuilding Lives grants. 

Organizations can apply for grants in one of the two following areas: 

1. Rebuilding Lives: Programs and services that support women, Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary people, who have experienced gender-based violence, and their children.  

2. Collaborative Projects: Sectoral capacity-building, policy and research, advocacy, and collective action initiatives that support systemic change efforts on a regional or national scale. 

We will grant up to a maximum of $45,000 per year, for four (4) years, for a maximum of $180,000 per project. 

Note that this call for proposals involves a two-stage process. Interested organizations are invited to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) using the online form. A select number of organizations will be invited to submit a full proposal, including detailed workplan, budget, and partner letters. All applicants will be notified as to whether they will pass to the second stage by email in mid-August. 

Register for our webinars: 

• Rebuilding Lives Grants: What You Need to Know Monday, June 5th at 2pm ET
• Rebâtir des vies : Séance d’information (en français) Le lundi 5 juin à 11h00 HE

Deadline: June 20, 2023

Learn More

Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat: Indigenous Community Corrections Initiative 2023

The Government of Canada launched the Federal Framework to Reduce Recidivism (FFRR) on June 22, 2022, which resulted from Private Members Bill C-228. As part of the FFRR, the Indigenous Community Corrections Initiative (ICCI), will act as an early intervention under its implementation plan.

The ICCI supports alternatives to custody and reintegration projects responsive to the unique circumstances of Indigenous people in Canada by providing culturally relevant services that may include counselling, treatment, life skills coaching, family reunification, and addressing the effects of residential schools and involvement with child welfare systems. 

Who can apply

• Indigenous not-for-profit organizations (on and off-reserve, First Nation, non-status Indian, Métis, Inuit and urban);
• Municipal and other local governments working in collaboration with Indigenous organizations and/or communities;
• Indigenous governments including:
  • A "council of the band" within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Indian Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.I-5; and
  • A government of a First Nation, Métis, or Inuit community established or acknowledged by an act of Parliament or a legislature.
• Canadian universities and colleges.

Deadline: June 12, 2023.

Learn More

Ontario Trillium Foundation: Capital Grant

Apply for a Capital grant to help your non-profit organization address a community need by improving the infrastructure Ontarians need to thrive. Whether it’s purchasing equipment, building a new space, or completing renovations, retrofits or repairs, Capital grants support projects that will have a positive impact in your community.

We support projects that:

• Improve access to community spaces, facilities, programs, activities and services, and facilitate community members’ full participation in the life of the community
• Improve and build community spaces
• Make programs and services better and more efficient
• Make better use of technology

Organizations can request funding for multiple capital improvements within one facility, e.g., touchless entry and widening of doorways at local community centre, or they can request funding for the same capital improvements at multiple facilities, e.g., HVAC retrofits at 3 municipal arenas.

Deadline: June 14, 2023.

Learn More

Ontario Trillium Foundation: Systems Innovations Grant

Systems such as education, justice, child welfare, language and culture, health and employment play a critical role in the social and economic wellbeing of youth. When there are gaps in these systems, community-led organizations, charities and institutions take part in reducing barriers for youth by working collaboratively with those impacted to create meaningful change.

This grant supports collaboratives as they:   

• Examine and understand how youth access and experience the services within a system 
• Engage a group of partners within the system to work together toward a shared strategic vision 
• Explore potential models and best practices 
• Invest in capacity building to shift outdated behaviours   
• Design and/or implement strategies for system change 

We support two types of system change projects:   

• Groundwork: Laying the groundwork needed to strengthen a system of services or opportunities for young people benefitting from the work 
• Implementation: Implementing strategies to strengthen a system of services or opportunities for young people benefitting from the work

Deadline: June 20, 2023.

Learn More

Telus Future Friendly Foundation: Innovation Grant

Through our Innovation Grants, funding is available to registered charities that offer programming that promotes the well-being of youth and provides them with opportunities to succeed, both today and in the future. In particular, we are interested in supporting initiatives that advance some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); specifically, good health and well-being, quality education and climate action. Programs must focus on reaching youth experiencing obstacles to reaching their full potential and incorporate the innovative use of technology.

In 2023, our Innovation Grants will focus on two areas of interest:

1. Youth mental health
2. Environmental education or climate action programs for youth

Innovation Grants are available for up to $100,000 for a single-year grant or $200,000 for grants that span two years (with the second year of funding subject to organizations making sufficient progress on their identified milestones). However, not all big ideas require big budgets. We are looking for the best ideas, regardless of budget size.

Letters of Intent may be submitted beginning April 12, 2023 when our application portal goes live on this page. If your project meets our criteria, you can expect to hear from us within 20 days of submitting your Letter of Intent and you will receive a unique link to complete a detailed application.

Letter of Intent Deadline: June 23, 2023

Learn More

Town of Whitby Mayor's Community Development Fund

Community Grants

The Town of Whitby is providing funds through the Mayor’s Community Development Fund (MCDF), which provides financial assistance to local community groups, events and initiatives that help contribute to Whitby as a vibrant and caring community. The criteria has been expanded to focus on local organizations working to help the Whitby community during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Applications are accepted on a monthly basis for community grants of up to $5,000. 

Lead Cause Grants

Applications for Lead Cause Grants of up to $25,000 are accepted once per year, with a deadline of March 31.

Deadline: End of October for the Mayor's Fundraiser and end of March for the Mayor's Golf Tournament

Learn More

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Frequently Asked Questions