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National Funding Opportunities
Grants Enhance Youth Financial Literacy in Canada
Actuarial Foundation of Canada
The Actuarial Foundation of Canada envisions a public well-educated in financial and risk-related matters and an increased interest in mathematics and financial matters by youth. The Foundation offers grant funding opportunities to organizations that aim to advance youth education in financial literacy through the delivery of innovative programming, mentorship, and learning tools and resources. Initial inquiries may be submitted at any time; the annual deadline for invited applications is March 31. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn more about the application process.
Funding Expands Access to Mental Health Services
Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund
The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund is a Canadian corporate initiative dedicated to mental health. The Fund supports projects that improve access to mental healthcare, supports, and services for people in Canada. Priority is given to initiatives that are evidence-based or evidence-informed and that leverage, expand, or replicate proven programs and services already being offered by other mental health agencies. Canadian registered charities are eligible for consideration. Applications will be accepted until March 16, 2020. Visit the Bell Let’s Talk website to review the funding guidelines and apply online.
Support for Children’s Sports and Physical Activity Programs
Jumpstart Charities
The mission of Jumpstart Charities is to enrich the lives of kids in need through sports and physical activity. Funding is currently available through three programs: The Para Sport Jumpstart Fund supports qualified donees implementing organized integrated or adaptive sport and physical activity programs for children and youth with disabilities. Applications for this program must be submitted by March 15, 2020. Community Development Grants fund qualified donees implementing programs that remove barriers to participation for kids from families in financial need. The upcoming deadline to apply for this program is May 1, 2020. Individual Child Grants help cover the costs associated with a child's sport or physical activity for low-income families. Families with children from four to 18 years of age that meet specific financial criteria are eligible to apply. Applications are currently being accepted for Individual Child Grants. Visit the Jumpstart Charities website to review the guidelines for each program.
Funds to Bring Salad Bars Into Canadian Schools
Farm to Cafeteria Canada: Farm to School Canada Grants
Farm to Cafeteria Canada (F2CC) is a pan-Canadian organization that aims to bring local, healthy, and sustainable foods into all public institutions. F2CC’s Farm to School Canada Grants, offered in partnership with the Whole Kids Foundation, are designed to bring more of the local harvest into schools where it is featured in a salad bar meal service. Grants ranging up to $10,000 will be awarded to an estimated 30 schools across Canada, from kindergarten to grade 12. Proposed programs must include a food literacy plan as well as a salad bar meal service plan. The grant application window closes on March 27, 2020. Visit the F2CC website to learn more about Farm to School salad bars and to review the 2020 Grant Guidelines.
Regional Funding Opportunities
Legal Initiatives in the Northwest Territories Supported
Northwest Territories Law Foundation
The Northwest Territories Law Foundation supports law-related initiatives in the Northwest Territories. Funding is provided in the following areas: conducting research into and recommending reform of law and the administration of justice; establishing, maintaining, and operating law libraries; contributing to legal education and knowledge and providing programs and facilities for that purpose; and providing assistance to legal aid programs and programs of a similar nature. The grant application deadline is March 31 of each year. Visit the Foundation’s website to download the grant application guidelines and form.
Grants Promote Safety Education, Job Training, and Smart Energy in British Columbia
BC Hydro Community Giving
BC Hydro's Community Giving program is committed to building a more energy conscious, safer, and more prosperous British Columbia. The company offers grants in the following areas: 1) safety education, including electricity and water safety and emergency preparedness; 2) building the workforce of tomorrow, including youth programming in the areas of trades, science, technology, engineering, and math; and 3) developing smart energy ideas, including energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and minimizing environmental impacts. Two types of grants are available: Broad Impact Grants of up to $10,000 support organizations that wish to expand an existing program's reach or to develop a new program across multiple communities in British Columbia. Grassroots Grants of up to $2,000 fund local community-based programs. Registered charities and nonprofit organizations based in British Columbia are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted online by March 31, 2020. Visit the BC Hydro website to review the eligibility criteria.
Funding Enhances the Quality of Life in Company Communities
Giant Tiger Charitable Giving
Giant Tiger seeks to positively impact and make a difference in company communities in Canada. The company’s charitable giving program provides support in the following priority areas: food banks, family physical and mental health, and youth empowerment. In addition, sponsorships are provided for programs and events in the areas of children and youth, hospitals and healthcare, education, and family centric initiatives. Registered charities are eligible to apply. The deadline to submit a charitable giving application is March 30, 2020; sponsorship applications are accepted throughout the year. Visit the Giant Tiger website to download the charitable giving and sponsorship request forms.
Funds Benefit Veterans and Communities in the Yukon and British Columbia
Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command: Legion Foundation
The Royal Canadian Legion's mission is to serve veterans and their families, to promote remembrance, and to serve Canada and its communities. The BC/Yukon Command's Legion Foundation supports programs to help veterans and strengthen communities in British Columbia and the Yukon. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to the following: research and treatment of trauma and PTSD; the acquisition of medical and other necessary equipment for seniors' care; youth, academic, athletic, and social programs; veterans’ programs like service dogs and initiatives to stop homelessness; and housing support for veterans and seniors. Registered charities and nonprofit groups are eligible to apply. The deadlines to apply are March 30 and September 30 of each year. Visit the BC/Yukon Command's website to download the application form.
Government Funding Opportunities
Support for Research Into the Risks of Plastic Pollution
Environment and Climate Change Canada
The Increasing Knowledge on Plastic Pollution (IKPP) Initiative aims to address knowledge gaps related to the potential human health effects and ecotoxicology of plastics in Canada. Scientific research funded by this initiative must contribute to improving the information base for assessing the risks of plastic pollution. Grants range up to $200,000 per project. Applications must be submitted by March 20, 2020.
Program Funds Wetlands Conservation in Quebec
Government of Quebec
The Program for the Restoration and Creation of Wetlands and Bodies of Water (Programme de restauration et de création de milieux humides et hydriques) aims to restore wetlands and bodies of water in Quebec or create new ones to compensate for the inevitable losses of such environments. A total of $30 million in funding will support pre-feasibility studies as well as wetland restoration and creation projects. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2020. (Information on the Program is only available in French on the Government of Quebec’s website.)
Tracks to Success
Feature articles focused on a particular grantmaker or philanthropic trend.
Philanthropic Predictions for 2020
By Cynthia M. Adams, CEO, GrantStation
Last year when I wrote Grantmaking Predictions for 2019 I drew on the knowledge and input from our staff researchers. It was a heavily read blog post and fun to write. This year I thought I'd focus on the broader theme of philanthropic predictions, and draw on the insights of a number of leaders in the nonprofit sector, including Amy Holmes, Director, Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors; Gayle Samuelson Carpentier, Chief Business Development Officer, TechSoup; Mike Chamberlain, CEO of Grant Professionals Association; and Marcus Walton, CEO, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, as well as several consultants in the field including Jean Block, Jean Block Consulting, and Jarrett R. Ransom, The Rayvan Group.
It is an interesting mix of thoughts, hopes, and ideas. I hope you both enjoy reading this post and take away something useful for your philanthropic efforts in 2020.
PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional.
Why Earned Income Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be
Creating a social enterprise is one strategy utilized by nonprofits to create a reliable source of income. But is it worth it? The article "Why Earned Income Isn't All It's Cracked Up to Be" explores some of the drawbacks of earned income for nonprofit organizations and discusses how to determine whether an organization is well positioned to implement earned income strategies.
Upcoming Online Education Trainings
Live Webinars
Unless otherwise noted, all Online Education Trainings are webinars,
are 90 minutes in duration, and are scheduled to begin at 2 PM Eastern Time.
Logic Models: More Than Just Extra Work!
Logic models are not a passing fad. If you need to create a logic model for your program, but don't know where to start, this webinar is for you! Using the Measuring Program Outcomes: A Practical Approach from the United Way of America, Alice Ruhnke will demonstrate why logic models are critical for program planning and evaluation. During this webinar, you will learn how to create and use a logic model to help you improve services and your impact on your community. Executive directors, program managers, and grantwriters from a broad range of human service organizations will benefit from this 90-minute presentation. The webinar will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2020.
LIVE Workshop: Budgeting in QuickBooks (NEW)
Desktop Version and Online Version
Do you spend hours every month getting budget reports ready for your board meeting? Do you spend hours reentering and then manipulating data in Excel to get that one "challenging" board member the report they want? Do you struggle with getting a Budget to Actual report out of QuickBooks that has prior year/prior period amounts or annual budgets (if budgeting monthly) in the format that you need? If the answer to any of these questions is YES, then this webinar is for you! We are very excited to have Gregg Bossen, a CPA specializing in nonprofits and president of QuickBooks Made Easy for Nonprofits, deliver one of his most popular webinars exclusively for us! In this webinar, we will first explore how to enter budgets and generate budget reports for your organization right in QuickBooks! No more fooling with Excel. Get your board report in minutes—not hours! We will show you how to enter budgets by month, quarter, and year; enter separate budgets for specific programs or projects; enter additional budgets for your restricted grants; and generate multiple budget reports for each of your budgets. Don't miss this opportunity! You will be VERY glad you came! The DESKTOP webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2020. The ONLINE webinar will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2020.
Organization Evaluation (NEW)
Nonprofits need to focus on more than mission-specific activities to build a strong organization that can continue to serve over time. This webinar, presented by Mindy Muller, provides the opportunity for leaders to consider how to measure the health of their organizations and plan for long-term sustainability. Participants will complete the Community Development Professional's Organization Evaluation Tool to get an assessment of the health of their nonprofit in the six areas of Legalities, Board Governance, Image Management, Resource Development, Strategic Planning, and Program Impact. This webinar then covers those six components and offers participants the opportunity to identify next steps to strengthen the health of their organization. Participants will leave this webinar with an understanding of their organization’s key strengths and areas of weakness and be ready to take strategic actions to strengthen the organization. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
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Information contained in the GrantStation Canadian Insider may not be
posted, reprinted, redistributed, or sold without permission.
Editor: Diana Holder
Contributing Writer: Ashlyn Simmons