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Special Funding Opportunities
Current funding opportunities for COVID-19 and Ukraine are available to the public on our website.
National Funding Opportunities
Indigenous Arts, Culture, and Educational Activities Supported
Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund: Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund
The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada. Through Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund, support is provided through two grant streams to Indigenous people as well as Indigenous-led initiatives and organizations in Canada for Indigenous cultural, artistic, and educational activities. Capacity Building Grants of up to $175,000 per year support grassroots Indigenous charities, programs, communities, and initiatives with the potential for significant impact. This grant stream funds small, Indigenous-led organizations through multi-year relationships which increase their capacity, networks, programs, and profile. Expressions of interest must be received by April 15, 2023. Reconciliation Action Grants of $1,500 to $15,000 support reconciliation activities, events, and initiatives that contribute to cultural revitalization; elevate Indigenous culture, languages, and traditions; and increase understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Other grassroots initiatives that move reconciliation forward may also be supported. Indigenous educators, cultural creators, community leaders, artists, elders, youth, and others are encouraged to apply. Applications must be received by June 15, October 15, and December 15, 2023. Visit the Fund's website to download the application guidelines for each stream.
Program Supports Local Charities in Canada and the U.S.
Tim Hortons: Smile Cookie
Tim Hortons restaurants raise funds for local charities across Canada and in U.S. locations through the Smile Cookie program. The Canadian Smile Cookie program provides support to charities, hospitals, and community programs in communities across Canada. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to children and youth, health and hospitals, and social services. There is no deadline to apply. Visit the Tim Hortons website to download the instructions for submitting Smile Cookie applications.
North American Reporting Projects Funded
Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources
The mission of the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources (IJNR) is to promote public dialogue about natural resource issues through programs that inform, empower, and inspire better journalism. IJNR provides Reporting Grants to journalists working on projects based in or otherwise directly related to North America. These grants are intended to help defray the costs of reporting projects that focus on natural resources, the environment, energy, development, climate change, agriculture, environmental justice, and public health. Journalists of color and other underrepresented or minority journalists are strongly encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is April 14, 2023. Visit the IJNR website to access the complete grant guidelines.
Multi-Year Grant Bolsters a Canadian Arts Program
Paul Barber Foundation
Paul Barber Foundation (PBF) looks to improve the lives of Canadians through the support of transformational, life-changing programs being provided by registered Canadian charities. Through the 2023 arts-based programming grant opportunity, PBF will award a grant to one registered charity for a new or established arts program that impacts the lives of underrepresented or marginalized Canadians through the arts. Projects should meet one or more of the following objectives: 1) provide equal access to arts programs for marginalized, underserved, or underrepresented groups; 2) use arts to improve the lives of women and girls; and 3) use arts to improve the lives of youth. Special consideration will be given to programs that also address the areas of promoting mental health, education and career-building, and inclusivity and diversity. The grant will be $15,000 to $30,000 per year for up to four years, for a total available of up to $120,000. Applications must be submitted by April 15, 2023. Visit the PBF website to apply online.
Regional Funding Opportunities
Grants Enhance Youth Health and Education in Company Communities
Healthy Horizons Foundation
The Healthy Horizons Foundation empowers youth in northern Indigenous communities to build strong and healthy lifestyles. Funding is provided to support Indigenous-led, community-based programs focused on physical health and well-being, culture and education, and food security (sovereignty and nutrition). Examples of initiatives supported include community and family resource centers, exercise facilities and programs, sports activities, disease prevention education, nutritional literacy, and land-based and educational training programs. Registered charities and qualified donees are eligible to apply. The next application deadlines are April 15 and September 15, 2023. Visit the Healthy Horizons Foundation website page to read more information and download the application form.
Funding Benefits Canadian Charities in Quebec
Fondation J. Armand Bombardier (J. Armand Bombardier Foundation)
The Fondation J. Armand Bombardier (J. Armand Bombardier Foundation) supports organizations and projects that make an innovative and sustainable contribution to the development of individuals and communities. Through its main grant program, the Foundation accepts applications from registered charities across Canada, with the majority of support focused on Quebec. The Foundation is interested in supporting the development of innovative practices, creation and sharing of knowledge, community mobilization, and organizational or personal capacity building. Sectors of intervention include arts and culture, education, health, and community support. Intent forms may be submitted at any time. Visit the Foundation's website to learn more about the sectors of intervention.
Giving Program Targets British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and National Initiatives
Paper Excellence Corporate Giving Program
Paper Excellence supports community events and projects in the company's operating locations in Canada. Support is provided in British Columbia and Saskatchewan, as well as for national initiatives. Focus areas for community development include arts and culture, at-risk children and youth, environmental stewardship, education, health and wellness, Indigenous reconciliation, safety, sports, and local emergency response (i.e. floods, fires, and pandemics). Grants and sponsorships are provided. Registered charities and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Visit the Paper Excellence website to apply online.
Donations and Sponsorships Improve the Quality of Life in New Brunswick
UNI Donations and Sponsorships Program
The UNI Donations and Sponsorships Program supports projects and charities in various social and community fields in New Brunswick. Donations are provided for local activities or social or humanitarian causes in New Brunswick. Priority funding areas include education and youth, mutual aid and solidarity, healthcare, economic development and entrepreneurship, and environmental protection. Sponsorships are also provided in the areas of arts and culture, economic development, education and youth, mutual aid and solidarity, and environmental protection. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Donation and sponsorship guidelines, as well as the online application, may be accessed on the UNI website.
Government Funding Opportunities
Efforts Fostering Intercultural Understanding in Manitoba Funded
Government of Manitoba
The Ethnocultural Community Support grant helps community organizations preserve, enhance, promote, and share Manitoba's rich and diverse cultural history and encourage the development of partnerships between cultural communities to foster intercultural understanding, harmony, and equality. Initiatives must support the values of multiculturalism, interfaith inclusion, anti-racism, and youth engagement. Eligible applicants include incorporated nonprofit, community-based, and ethnocultural organizations with membership that is open to the public. The application deadlines are April 30 and October 31 of each year.
Investments Promote Economic Development in the Prairies
Prairies Economic Development Canada
Through the Community Economic Development and Diversification program, Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) makes targeted investments that aim to generate sustainable, inclusive economic growth and help communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to fully participate in and benefit from economic opportunities. Support is provided for economic development initiatives that help communities across the Prairies grow and diversify. Expressions of interest are accepted on a rolling basis.
PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional
Digital for Good: A Global Study on Emerging Ways of Giving
The digital realm has permeated all aspects of modern life, including charitable giving. Indiana University's new report Digital for Good: A Global Study on Emerging Ways of Giving explores the emerging vehicles of philanthropy, such as crowdfunding, online giving, mobile giving, workplace giving, donor-advised funds, and social impact initiatives. Eight countries with significantly diverse cultures participated in this global study: Brazil, China, India, Kenya, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Findings are shared in a series of reports, including eight country reports and one global report.
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.
(FREE) Tour of the GrantStation Website
Whether you're part of an established nonprofit constantly searching for new funding to expand your programs, or you're a one-person development office, which means you need to do it all, GrantStation can work for you because it is designed to help nonprofit organizations of all sizes get funded. During this live demo and Q&A session, Jeremy Smith, Director of Communications Technology, and Kerry Glauser, Senior Research Specialist, will show you how you can use GrantStation to complete your grant research quickly and get high-quality results. You'll see how you can find and vet funding opportunities in a quick, streamlined fashion, so you and your staff can focus on what's most important—serving your community. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Healthy Partnerships for Greater Grants Success
Did you know that leveraging the power of partnership is the single most powerful way to accelerate and amplify your grants success? In other words, you can get more grants, faster. But that doesn't mean creating and sustaining healthy, authentic partnerships is trouble-free. Imagine these scenarios: Your community collaboration seems to have stalled out. Your team is losing steam and you can't figure out why it's happening, much less what to do about it. Maybe you all were sailing along beautifully and suddenly an issue you thought your team had sorted out a long time ago is rearing its ugly head and jamming the works. again. Or perhaps you're dealing with conflicts. We're not talking open argument here, but some really strong differences of opinion have surfaced and you're all spinning around in circles and never really getting anything resolved. Sound familiar? Good news—you're not alone. All these "problems" aren't really problems at all, but symptoms of very common and predictable partnership challenges. Best of all? Every one of these situations is fixable and even preventable. In this lively session, Maryn Boess, Founder of GrantsMagic U, explores three powerful, simple tools for understanding what's going on when your collaboration seems to be going wrong—and how to get it back on track. The webinar will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023.
Your Money Story: How to Talk About and Ask for Money
The most important fundraising question isn't how much money you need. A better question is what more money makes possible. During this session, master storyteller and fundraising culture change expert Lori L. Jacobwith will show you how to talk about money as a fundraising strategy. You'll discover how to share "mission moment" stories that include your money story. Plan to move past fear or hesitancy to talk about money by learning the best way to engage people's heads and hearts. You'll walk away ready to powerfully include your money story in any and all fundraising communication. This session is perfect for executive directors, fundraising and communication staff, and board members who want to cut through the noise and tell stories that raise more money. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
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Editor: Diana Holder
Contributing Writer: Ashlyn Simmons