GrantStation Canadian Insider - November 2023

Application deadline: December 12, 2023
Grant amount: $500,000 to $1,000,000
Description: The Canadian Medical Association, MD Financial Management, and Scotiabank are offering $10 million in grants through the Health Care Unburdened Grant program. Funding is provided for initiatives that are primarily focused on reducing administrative burden in healthcare. Ideas should help with one or more of the following: streamlining or reducing required documentation or administrative work; improving efficiencies to processes and practices; and reimagining resourcing and teaming to reduce the administrative burden. Initiatives should involve a team-based approach that includes a physician (registered in Canada) or medical learner (registered at a Canadian medical school), as well as other stakeholders as part of the team. Registered nonprofit organizations based in Canada are eligible to apply. For-profit entities can be listed as a team member but must not be the primary beneficiary of the grant funding.

Application deadline: None
Description: The Breakfast Club of Canada envisions a country where all children can access the nourishment they need to succeed. The Club provides funding to schools, school boards and districts, community organizations, and Band Councils in Canada seeking support for breakfast programs offered to school-aged children and youth during the school year. Support is provided to establish a new breakfast program or strengthen an existing one. Schools are provided with the necessary funds, kitchen equipment, training, tools, and food donations. In order to be eligible, breakfast programs must be offered every day, be universally available, encourage healthy eating habits, create a safe physical and social environment, engage the whole school community, and be environmentally conscious.

Application deadline: None
Description: The Ken and Debbie Rubin Public Interest Advocacy Fund provides small grants to novel action projects within Canada that might not otherwise be funded. Applications will be considered in, but are not limited to, the following areas: social justice projects, consumer and environmental health and safety issues, freedom of information and privacy rights, food safety and sustainable food production, civil liberties issues, public interest investigations, public interest research training, and innovative community projects. The Fund seeks cutting-edge, innovative, manageable, and change-oriented public awareness projects. Registered charities and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Applicants can be groups or individuals, but they must have access to a charitable tax number.

Application deadline: January 15, 2024
Description: Co-operators Community Funds support organizations throughout Canada whose programming and services are focused on empowering underserved youth (aged 16 – 34) and individuals with mental health challenges to progress along their path toward employability.

Application deadline: January 12, 2024
Geographic scope: Manitoba
Description: Trails Manitoba promotes the development and use of recreational trails throughout Manitoba. Matching grants are provided through two programs: The Trails Grant for Manitoba is intended for trail associations, municipalities, or other nonprofit groups that have the means to provide continued stewardship of trails. Specific objectives of this grant include providing new recreational trail opportunities, improving the quality of existing recreational trail networks or the users’ experiences, and maintenance of the recreational trail network. The Trails Grant for Winnipeg supports trail associations, the City of Winnipeg, or other nonprofit groups that have the means to provide continued stewardship of trails. Support is provided to increase the length of the trail network, improve the quality of the existing greenway network, and improve the users’ experiences. Grants require a 2:1 match. 

Application deadline: December 20, 2023, for the Small Grant Accessibility Program, and February 15, 2024, for the Community Cultural Engagement and Planning Grant
Geographic scope: Saskatchewan
Grant amount: Up to $2,000 for the Small Grant Accessibility Program, and up to $20,000 for the Community Cultural Engagement and Planning Grant
Description: SaskCulture, funded by Sask Lotteries, seeks to unite the cultural community and work to advance the cultural vibrancy of the province of Saskatchewan. Funding is currently available through the following programs: The Small Grant Accessibility Program provides support to grassroots, unique, and innovative cultural initiatives that respond to emergent needs or changes in the cultural sector, and create access and a pathway for first-time and underserved applicants. Priority is given to grassroots initiatives that have an ethnocultural focus; take place in the province’s northern, rural, or otherwise underserved communities; respond to technological needs, opportunities, or changes; or are focused on Truth and Reconciliation or anti-racism professional development for organizations. The Community Cultural Engagement and Planning Grant provides support to plan for the cultural life of a community. Funding is provided for research, community engagement, cultural planning, community investment and development, and collaboration and partnerships between various cultural organizations and community sectors that promote cultural vitality and economic sustainability. Eligible applicants include municipalities, First Nations, Tribal Councils, Métis Locals, or Métis Regions in Saskatchewan as well as cultural registered nonprofit organizations working in partnership with at least one urban or rural municipality or First Nation or Tribal Council, Métis Local, or Métis Region in Saskatchewan.

Application deadline: March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1, annually
Geographic scope: New Brunswick
Description: The New Brunswick Children’s Foundation serves children in New Brunswick who are challenged by health, social, or economic issues by investing in community organizations and projects. Grants are provided to assist children in New Brunswick who are 18 years and under and come from low-income families or are children with special needs. The Foundation supports a number of charities across the province, including but not limited to, youth groups, arts organizations, summer camps, out-of-school programs, and lunch programs. Funding is provided for the provision of new services or the extension of existing ones, the construction of new facilities or expansion of existing facilities, pilot projects, and one-time, specific undertakings. Registered charities are eligible to apply. 

Application deadline: None
Geographic scope: Communities served by the company in Ontario and Quebec
Description: Cogeco is dedicated to promoting the sustainable well-being of the communities served by Cogeco Communications in Quebec and Ontario. The company’s areas of interest include social inclusion, diversity, and equality; environmental conservation and climate action; education and entrepreneurship; and digital equity and inclusion. Support is provided through donations and sponsorships.

Application deadline: December 13, 2023
Geographic scope: Canada
Grant amount: $500,000 to $3,000,000 for up to two years
Description: The Enabling Accessibility Fund aims to make communities and workplaces across Canada more accessible for persons with disabilities. Funding supports projects that create more opportunities for persons with disabilities to take part in community activities, programs, and services, and access employment. Nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and governments are eligible to apply. 

Application deadline: January 24, 2024
Geographic scope: Canada
Grant amount: A total of $7.6 million will be awarded. 
Description: The Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund provides funding for projects that will improve Canada’s search and rescue (SAR) system. Priorities for the current call for proposals include strengthening the governance of SAR, sustaining the SAR volunteer community, enhancing SAR cooperation with Indigenous partners, supporting search and rescue in remote areas, adapting to changes in technology that impact search and rescue, improving search and rescue prevention efforts, supporting decisions through improved data sharing and technology, and international search and rescue. Eligible applicants include nonprofit and for-profit organizations, volunteer associations, academic institutions, Indigenous governments and organizations, and provincial, territorial, and local governments.

The year-end giving season is almost upon us. Are you looking for strategies to maximize donations to your organization? If so, you can find some helpful tips in the article “How to Upgrade Nonprofit Donors Using Suggested Donations.” This article discusses how offering suggested giving amounts can help donors choose a giving amount that works for them while oftentimes resulting in higher donations. It explains what suggested donations are, how to choose suggested donation amounts, and how to upgrade giving using suggested donations. 

Webinar date: November 29, 2023, 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Description: Many talented consultants know how to effectively provide niche services such as grantwriting, strategic planning, or marketing but struggle when it comes to running their actual consulting business. A business plan provides a blueprint for successfully running your consulting business. It is a safeguard against burnout that can help you serve the nonprofit sector, stay solvent, and meet your individual financial goals. During this interactive webinar, Stephanie Sample will demystify the process of business planning. You’ll see how setting goals can help you achieve them.

Webinar date: November 30, 2023, 2:00 to 3:30 PM Eastern Time
Description: An A+ proposal budget provides an honest, complete, and clear picture of the total value of everything it takes to do your work successfully. It also stands as an invaluable management and evaluation tool when it comes to running your grant-funded program. So how can you craft this type of budget? That’s the question you’ll explore with Maryn Boess in this down-to-earth, myth-busting session.

Webinar date: December 4, 2023, 2:00 to 2:45 PM Eastern Time
Description: According to the results of GrantStation’s 2023 State of Grantseeking Report, the lack of time continues to be one the greatest challenges to grantseeking. This session will cover the steps you can take today to create more time in the future. By embracing practical, time-saving techniques, you can reduce redundant activities and maximize the number of proposals you are able to submit.

Does your organization struggle with the grant application process? Do you spend too much time writing proposals that do not get funded? Do you want to take your grantwriting to the next level? If so, then GrantStation's new online course, Turbocharge Your Grantwriting Skills, is right for you!

GrantStation's President Alice Ruhnke will introduce the proposal writing framework that will help save you time, write better proposals, and get funded more frequently.