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COVID-19 Funding Opportunities
Current COVID-19 funding opportunities are available on our website.
National Funding Opportunities
Program Fosters Social and Economic Justice in Canada and the U.S.
Unitarian Universalist Funding Program: Fund for a Just Society
The Fund for a Just Society, a program of the Unitarian Universalist Association, supports organizations addressing issues of social and economic justice in Canada and the United States. Grants are made to non-Unitarian Universalist groups in Canada and the U.S. that use community organizing to bring about systemic change leading to a more just society; mobilize those who have been disenfranchised and excluded from resources, power, and the right to self-determination; and have an active focused campaign to create systemic change. Priority is given to specific campaigns to create change in the economic, social, and political structures that affect people’s lives. The deadlines to apply are March 15 and September 30, 2021. Learn more about the funding guidelines and application process by visiting the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program website.
Grants Enable Organizations to Access Coaching
Innoweave
Innoweave helps organizations in Canada create big impact for today's big challenges. Innoweave provides funding to help organizations access coaching for implementing a new approach. Support is provided through the following coaching streams: Impact and Strategic Clarity, Social Enterprise, Scaling Impact, Developmental Evaluation, Explore and Experiment, Collective Impact, Social Finance Investment Readiness, Impact Measurement, Constructive Engagement, and Data Utilization. It is expected that organizations will have discussed a potential scope of work with their prospective coach before applying. Application deadlines and requirements vary by coaching stream. Visit the Innoweave website to learn more about the eligibility and requirements for each stream.
Health and Science Initiatives Supported
Pfizer Canada Corporate Giving Program
The Pfizer Canada Corporate Giving Program provides support to nonprofit organizations across the country. Pfizer Canada supports health and science education programs, disease awareness initiatives, the scientific and academic community, and projects that could have a potential impact on reducing healthcare costs. Supported programs should be a possible model for other provinces or countries and have a significant impact on a large number of Canadians. Grants and product donations are provided. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. Visit the Pfizer Canada website to read the funding guidelines and apply online.
Funds for Efforts to Empower Women in Canada and Abroad
Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada
The Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada (WICC) is a national ecumenical council focused on bringing hope to women touched by injustice. WICC offers the following grant programs to empower grassroots projects: World Day of Prayer grants support projects in Canada and throughout the world that empower women and children. Grants support programs working with women in the following areas: violence against women, economic justice, health, education, racism, and peace. Eligible applicants include Canadian registered charities supporting local or international initiatives with and on behalf of women. (Applications from outside Canada must have a Canadian partner organization.) The Awakening Grant program supports projects to help Indigenous Canadian women in the following areas: addressing gender-based violence, economic justice, health, cultural education, child welfare, advocacy, anti-racism, and peace. Canadian registered charities with projects benefiting Indigenous women and children in Canada are eligible to apply. The application deadline for both programs is March 31, 2021. Application guidelines are available on the WICC website.
Regional Funding Opportunities
Support for School Gardens and Energy Education in Alberta
Inside Education
The mission of Inside Education is to help teachers and students in Alberta better understand the science, technology, and issues related to the environment and natural resources. Funding is provided through two programs: The Nutrients for Life program awards grants to develop school gardens ($300) and learning gardens ($3,000) in Alberta classrooms and school yards. Support is provided for initiatives that engage students in project-based learning about nutrition, health, and food security; build environmental awareness and stewardship skills; foster collaboration, teamwork, and leadership in the community; and enable students to gain outdoor experiences while engaging in physical activity. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2021. The A+ For Energy program provides K-12 teachers with funding of up to $5,000 to implement creative approaches to energy education. Projects should enhance student understanding of Alberta’s energy landscape including energy efficiency, conservation, and the future. Applications for this program must be submitted by May 14, 2021. Visit the Inside Education website to review the guidelines for both programs.
Grants Promote Health, Wellness, and COVID-19 Response in Selected Provinces
Medavie Health Foundation
The Medavie Health Foundation, funded by Medavie Blue Cross and Medavie Health Services, aims to support and promote innovative and evidence-based solutions to address some of Canada's most pressing physical and mental healthcare challenges. Support is provided in Alberta, Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Core causes consist of adolescent mental health, post-traumatic stress, healthy living, and COVID-19 response. Expressions of interest may be submitted at any time. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn more about the core causes and complete the online eligibility quiz.
Funding Targets At-Risk Youth in Southern Ontario
Charles H. Ivey Foundation
The Charles H. Ivey Foundation provides support in Southern Ontario, including the area south of Ottawa, North Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste. Marie. From 2021 through 2026, the Foundation will make grants to registered charities in Southern Ontario providing support to youth who are experiencing difficulties due to personal challenges or family economic circumstances. The Foundation will consider innovative projects to assist youth at risk, aged 13 to 25, in the areas of education, healthcare, social services, arts and culture, and the environment. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 over one to three years are provided. The 2021 deadlines to submit a Grant Proposal Letter are March 1 and September 15. Visit the Foundation’s website to read the Granting Guidelines.
Matching Grants for Projects Utilizing Recycled Tires in British Columbia
Tire Stewardship BC
Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) is responsible for British Columbia's tire recycling program. TSBC's Community Grant Program provides financial support to communities to use and benefit from a wide range of recycled tire products in their projects. Grants support the purchase, freight, and installation of recycled tire products. Projects include but are not limited to, pour in place or rubber tile surfacing for playgrounds, water parks or fitness areas, walkways, running tracks, or playing fields. Supported projects should use BC recycled rubber and be fully public and wheelchair accessible. Grants of up to $30,000 are provided on a matching funds basis. Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2021. Visit the TSBC website to download the Community Grant Program application and fact sheet.
Government Funding Opportunities
Funding Available to Strengthen Food Security in Canada’s Territories
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
The Northern Food Innovation Challenge seeks to support innovative, community-led projects for local and Indigenous food production systems to help improve food security in Canada's territories. Support is provided for projects that use innovative solutions that work in a northern or remote climate, can be deployed in the territories, and address one or more of the following areas: food production and harvesting, food processing, and food distribution and transportation. Projects related to innovative training and capacity building in these areas will also be considered. Priority will be given to projects that address food security in Indigenous communities or other vulnerable populations. The Challenge deadline is March 31, 2021.
Grants Enhance Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care
Employment and Social Development Canada
The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Quality Improvement Projects funding opportunity supports Indigenous communities, governments, and organizations that are exploring ways to improve Indigenous early learning and child care. Indigenous communities, Indigenous governments, and Indigenous organizations are eligible to apply for grants of up to $750,000. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2021.
PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional
Align, Don't Hustle: Syncing Your Fundraising Career With Your Personal Values
Are you a professional fundraiser looking to work for an organization that reflects your core values? If so, you may want to attend Bloomerang's free upcoming webinar "Align, Don't Hustle: Syncing Your Fundraising Career With Your Personal Values." Held on Thursday, February 25, 2021, this webinar will show you how to identify the ideal organization with values that align with your fundamental beliefs and lifestyle. It will explain how to identify your "why" and how it motivates you in your career and personal life, how to employ strategies to create the culture that is right for you, how to create a plan that aligns your values with your career, and more.
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.
Inside the Grantmaker's Black Box (NEW)
You know that feeling on deadline day, when you finally push the SUBMIT button and say goodbye to your lovingly-crafted, mission-critical grant proposal as it disappears … vanishing entirely for weeks, sometimes months, sometimes even forever … as you wait to find out whether it’s going to be funded or not. That space between "submit" on one side … and "notification" on the other … is what we call the Grantmaker’s Black Box. That’s where all the work goes on for the grantmaking team—the program officer, reviewers, decision-makers. That’s where everything happens to decide which proposals are awarded … and which aren’t. In this eye-opening session, you’ll join veteran grants officer Maryn Boess for a unique journey into the heart of the Grantmaker's Black Box as we venture into one grantmaker's funding process. Together we’ll take a high-level flyover of her own organization’s recent grantmaking round on the way to awarding a total of $600,000. Maryn gives you a rare insider’s view of the real world of the final grant decision-making process—something fewer than 2% of all grant professionals ever get to see. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.
Sustainability Planning: Where Matching Grants and Capacity Building Meet (NEW)
Giving by foundations increased 2.5%, to an estimated $75.69 billion in 2019, reaching its highest ever dollar amount (www.givingusa.org). How can you benefit from this trend? Grants should only be one part of your funding plans, but they can be well worth the time commitment required if cultivated correctly. Often grants, especially matching grants, can help leverage your hard work to increase sustainability, making them an ideal funding stream for long-term growth. While much of the process is the same, matching grants do require a bit more preparation than a traditional grant proposal. In this webinar, Amanda Pearce of Funding for Good, Inc. will identify the benefits of matching grants and discuss how to incorporate them into your fundraising plans. While talking to foundation staff can be daunting, it is a vital piece of successful proposal writing. How do you empower foundation donors to donate more AND become advocates for your cause? This webinar will cover how to communicate with donors that their immediate support could lay the foundation for long-term sustainability and success for your organization. The webinar will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2021.
LIVE Workshop: Budgeting in QuickBooks (DESKTOP 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! The webinar will be held on Tuesday March 9, 2021.
GrantStation Announcements
The latest updates from GrantStation
Free Webinar Hosted by TechSoup and GrantStation
Grant Writing in 2021: What's Different and What's the Same?
2020 was quite a year! There was not much "business as usual" and we all had to adapt to new ways of doing things. Nonprofit organizations were significantly impacted by the epidemic and not only suffered from a lack of funds, but also saw an increase in people needing services. How do we move forward in our grant writing strategies in 2021? During this webinar, find out about trends in giving, what has changed, and what remains the same so you can weather the storm and continue providing important, mission-driven services.
Register here to join the webinar on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT.
Funding Alerts
More funding opportunities are featured on the GrantStation homepage. Click here to see the grantmakers spotlighted this week!
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posted, reprinted, redistributed, or sold without permission.
Editor: Diana Holder
Contributing Writer: Ashlyn Simmons