The COVID-19 Pandemic is an unprecedented time in Durham Region and as a result, many residents are experiencing unprecedented need. Community organizations are working hard to respond to the needs of the community and funding initiatives to help to support this work are in place to help. 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.
Durham Region COVID-19 Funders Table: Funders in the Region of Durham are working together to meet the needs of our community through the dedicated work of local organizations and service providers. The Durham Region Funders Table is a Community of Practice that aims to meet community needs together. This includes ensuring that funding allocations for charitable and not-for-profit sectors are coordinated and informed by local data, such as geography, equity and need. Convened by the Region of Durham, the Funders Table includes United Way Durham Region, Durham Community Foundations, the Region of Durham and local municipalities. Members share information, data and funding allocations in an effort to ensure the funds made available in our community reach as many residents as possible. For more information please contact Audrey Andrews at audrey.andrews@durham.ca.
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 Issues
Funding Opportunities Update: October 2021: 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 Urban Institute and Economic Development Council of Ontario: My Main Street
Applications for My Main Street are now open! My Main Street is a $23.25-million investment to help drive business and restore vibrancy to local communities across southern Ontario in the aftermath of COVID-19. My Main Street has two program streams:
Local Business Accelerator
The My Main Street Local Business Accelerator will support the revitalization of 65 main street communities through dedicated Main Street Ambassadors, including customized market research, data analysis and non-repayable contributions for local businesses. Applications for the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator will be accepted on a continuous basis and will be reviewed within two weeks.
Deadline: Applications for the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator will be accepted on a continuous basis and will be reviewed within two weeks.
Community Activator
The My Main Street Community Activator will support up to 140 placemaking projects aimed at strengthening the connection between people and places through activities, events, community improvements and policy development. Support will be provided in the form of reimbursements against incurred costs. The Community Activator is currently taking applications for Year One (2021) projects which are eligible for reimbursements against costs incurred between June 8 and December 31, 2021. The deadline to apply is November 1.
If you have any questions, please reach out to:
- Local Business Accelerator: ambassadors@mymainstreet.ca
- Community Activator: placemaking@mymainstreet.ca
Deadline: November 1, 2021
Learn More
City of Pickering: 2022 Community Grants
Each year the City of Pickering accepts grant applications from local non-profit community organizations. For new applicants, the maximum grant amount that an eligible organization can receive is $3,000.
Who is Eligible?
- Local not-for-profit Community Groups and Organizations that serve, in whole or in part, the residents of the City of Pickering. At least 80% of the organization members should reside in Pickering.
- Regionally based organizations, if their services directly benefit Pickering residents.
- Religious organizations, if their event is open to the public and located on public or commercial property.
Deadline: October 29, 2021
Learn More
Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund
The Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund (IPRF) is an Indigenous-led effort to respond to urgent community needs while taking a long-term view on building community resilience.
With the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, communities across Canada and around the world are facing an unprecedented moment; one that is challenging our collective ability to deliver services that communities depend on. For Indigenous communities and Indigenous-led organizations working to respond to COVID-19 in the context of pre-existing economic and health disparities, the impacts are even more pronounced.
Any Indigenous-led organization or Indigenous-serving organization working to foster resilience in Inuit, Metis and First Nations communities anywhere in Canada can apply for resiliency funds ranging from $5,000 to $30,000.
Open Deadline
Learn More
Ontario Trillium Fund: Youth Opportunities Fund Grants
The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) provides grants and capacity-building supports to grassroots groups and collaboratives to improve the wellbeing of youth and families. YOF is still accepting expression of interests and organization registrations for their grants!
Youth Innovations Test and Scale Grant
- Grant Application deadline: December 8, 2021, 5 PM ET
Family Innovations Test and Scale Grant
- Grant Application deadline: December 8, 2021, 5 PM ET
To help plan your application, connect with the YOF team at 1 800 263-2887 or email yof@otf.ca for support.
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 twice per year.
Deadline: End of October for the Mayor's Fundraiser and End of March for the Mayor's Golf Tournament
Learn More
211 Durham 
Learn more at durham.211central.ca or call/chat/text/email 2-1-1.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How can we find out if our community organization is eligible for COVID-19 support funding and where can we get more details about completing applications? |
| Many not-for-profits, charities and qualified donees are eligible for support funding. You can reach out to the Funder directly; their websites have FAQ sections and application guides about eligibility and completing the paperwork. If you still have questions, their staff can provide guidance on the application process and help ensure that every eligible organization can apply. |
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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.
Statistics Canada Census Data All population-related data across Canada
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 data showing social determinants of health and population data Interactive Map:
Reports and Neighbourhood Profiles:
Durham Child and Youth Planning Network Data portal with interactive charts for key indicators in child and youth health and well-being
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)
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.
Community Development Council of Durham Reports detailing the results of the 2017 and 2018 Durham homelessness count.
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Can funding be accessed to support our organization making the necessary changes to things like technology, PPE, equipment, employee and volunteer safety and training, and service delivery for vulnerable populations required post COVID-19? |
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Yes. Some of the funding opportunities posted above are open to applications for products, training and equipment needed to safely provide services to residents during and after the pandemic. |
| Where can I find information about safely re-opening my business or organization through the phased reopening of the Province? |
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This Community Reopening Toolkit has been compiled by Durham Region Health Department, subject to direction from the Province, and offers sector-specific information about safe service delivery in our new COVID-19 reality. This toolkit can help you identify needs you may have in your organization that could be supported with an application for funding. In addition, the Province of Ontario's new downloadable toolkit offers tips on how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as more people get back on the job during the phased reopening of the province. Additional information about phased reopening is available at Ontario.ca/reopen. The Province has also launched the Workplace PPE Supplier Directory which provides businesses with information on personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers. |
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