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National Funding Opportunities
Awards and Competitions Promote Climate Change Action in Canadian K-12 Schools
Kimberley Foundation: FOCUS! Change Climate Change
The Kimberley Foundation’s FOCUS! Change Climate Change program offers several contests and awards for students, teachers, and schools in Canada. The FOCUS! Teachers Excellence in Environmental Education and Communication (Teachers Leadership Award) recognizes excellence in environmental education, communication, and inspiration by Canadian K-12 teachers. Nominations are due February 15, 2020. The FOCUS! Schools Take Action to Change Climate Change Award recognizes two school-wide initiatives that demonstrate excellence in environmental and climate change leadership. All schools in Canada offering education to students in any combination of grades K-12 are eligible. The application deadline is March 15, 2020. The FOCUS! Student Climate Changemakers competition recognizes students in grades 7-12 for changemaking activities in the domains of environmental action, inspiring change, and social technology development. One prize will be given for the best changemaking project in each of the three domains. The entry deadline is April 14, 2020. In addition, Canadian students in grades 7-12 are eligible to enter the FOCUS! Climate Change Video Contest, also with an application deadline of April 14, 2020. Each award and competition includes a cash prize for recipients and their schools. Visit the FOCUS! Change Climate Change website for more information on each award and prize.
Support for Housing and Adult Education Initiatives Across Canada
Catherine Donnelly Foundation
The Catherine Donnelly Foundation supports initiatives that advance the interests of the most marginalized in society and that further ecological justice. Letters of inquiry are currently being accepted for the following funding streams: 1) Housing, including projects that address homelessness and lack of affordable housing through research, policy development, communication initiatives, capacity building, and advocacy; and 2) Adult Education, with a focus on organizations that use adult education processes that promote justice and equity for New Canadians, especially refugees and migrant workers, Indigenous peoples, and other marginalized or excluded populations. Registered Canadian charities are eligible to apply. The deadline to submit a letter of inquiry is February 17, 2020. Visit the Foundation’s website to download the application guidelines.
Grants to Conserve Canada’s Environment and Wildlife
Consecon Foundation
The Consecon Foundation works nationally and locally to protect natural environments and wildlife for future generations in Canada. The Foundation’s National Grants program supports initiatives in four broad categories: Conservation, Public Policy Research, Scientific Research, and Public Education. Local Grants support conservation efforts in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Canadian charities, including universities, are eligible to apply. Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time. Visit the Foundation’s website to learn more about the funding categories and to complete the online letter of inquiry form.
Competition Encourages Physical Activity in Canada
ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge
The ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge is an annual event that aims to get neighborhoods across Canada moving together. The Challenge is open to all organizations, schools, sport groups, and workplaces to participate and track their minutes as a team. At the conclusion, one community will earn the top prize of $150,000 and title of being Canada’s most active. Additional prizes will the awarded to the finalists. Those hosting an event or program that helps their community get active during the Challenge may be eligible to receive a micro-grant to support their efforts. Grant applications will be open from January 27 to February 28, 2020. The Challenge takes place from June 1 to 21, 2020. Visit the ParticipACTION website to learn more about the Challenge.
Regional Funding Opportunities
Capital Funding Benefits Western Canadian Communities
Co-op Community Spaces
The Co-op Community Spaces program has been developed to improve community health and well-being by building places for people to come together and build social connections. In 2020, Co-op will contribute up to $1 million to help protect, beautify, and improve community spaces in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba that bring Western Canadians together. Funding categories consist of Recreation, including creating spaces dedicated to increasing physical activity and exposure to arts and culture; Environmental Conservation, with an emphasis on creating opportunities for exploring, learning, and restoring; and Urban Agriculture, which includes increasing food security, food education, and access to locally grown food through support of community gardening initiatives. Online applications will be accepted from February 1 to March 2, 2020. Visit the Co-op Community Spaces website to review the funding guidelines and download a sample application.
Ride Credits Available to Nonprofits in Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto
Lyft Community Grants
The Lyft Community Grants program awards ride credits to nonprofit organizations working in selected communities in Canada and the U.S. that are making a difference in their communities. In Canada, eligible communities include Vancouver, British Columbia, and Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario. The program supports a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including organizations that address the following issues: arts and culture, civic advocacy, education, employment services and job readiness, environment and sustainability, food access and security, healthcare, and social and legal services. Each quarter, the program will select up to three nonprofit organizations in all participating locations to receive on average $1,000, but up to $20,000, in Lyft ride credits. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through June 2020. The online application form is available on the Lyft Community Grants website.
Funds Target Selected Saskatchewan Communities
Northern Lights Community Development Corporation
The mandate of the Northern Lights Community Development Corporation (NLCDC) is to distribute 25 percent of the net profits generated from the Northern Lights Casino to First Nation and non-First Nation charitable organizations and groups within the catchment area of the Prince Albert Grand Council in Saskatchewan. Funding is provided in areas including, but not limited to, economic and social development, justice initiatives, educational development, recreation facilities, senior and youth programs, cultural development, health initiatives, and community infrastructure. Eligible applicants include band enterprises or charitable organizations that serve communities in the catchment area: Prince Albert Grand Council, Peter Chapman Band, Chakastaypasin Band, Agency Chiefs Tribal Council, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, City of Prince Albert, R.M. of Buckland, and R.M. of Prince Albert. The annual application deadlines are February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15. Visit the NLCDC’s website to review the funding criteria and download the application form.
Grants Enhance the Lives of At-Risk Children and Youth in Greater Winnipeg
Graham C. Lount Family Foundation
The Graham C. Lount Family Foundation is dedicated to promoting the healthy development and personal growth opportunities of vulnerable children and youth living in the Winnipeg, Manitoba area. The Foundation provides grants of up to $20,000 for projects that support its mission. Recent funding has focused on the areas of arts and culture, education, employment preparation and experience, recreation and sports, and social services. Priority is given to programs that involve affected children and youth in the planning, development, governance, and outcome evaluation of the program, based upon the conviction that successful change is enhanced through their active participation. Registered charities and qualified donees are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by April 1, 2020. Visit the Foundation’s website to download the application form and submit the completed application.
Government Funding Opportunities
Program Bolsters Canadian Tourism
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
The Canadian Experiences Fund supports communities across Canada as they create, improve, or enhance tourism products, facilities, and experiences. Investments focus on the following categories: expanding winter and shoulder-season tourism, growing tourism in remote and rural communities, increasing Indigenous tourism, boosting culinary and farm-to-table experiences, and promoting inclusiveness, especially for the LGBTQ2 community. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, businesses, industry associations, and local and Indigenous governments. The application window will remain open until funding runs out.
Funding Available for Sports and Recreation Initiatives in Nunavut
Government of Nunavut
Nunavut’s Department of Community and Government Services – Sport and Recreation Division is currently accepting applications that support the planning and delivery of sports, physical activity, and recreation initiatives. Eligible applicants include municipalities within Nunavut and Nunavut nonprofit organizations in good standing with legal registries. The deadline to apply is February 14, 2020.
PathFinder: Featured Resource
A library of quality resources designed to help you develop your career path as a grants professional.
2020 International Fundraising Congress
Are you a changemaker looking to increase your impact this year? If so, then the Resource Alliance's 2020 International Fundraising Congress (IFC) may be just for you. This conference, held from October 13 to 16, 2020, in the Netherlands, brings together the best ideas, newest concepts, and most innovative solutions from the social impact sector and beyond. This year's theme is "Accelerating Change," and topics covered include fundraising, ethics, social enterprise, corporate partnerships, leadership and strategy, digital marketing, financial innovation, 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.
The Power of 3—Grantwriting with Alice Ruhnke
Does it feel like everyone else is winning grant awards? These three webinars were designed to systematically help your nonprofit organization develop its capacity to write successful grants. The first webinar, Are You Grant Ready? will help you identify your readiness to be competitive in the grant application process and provide suggestions to increase areas that need additional development. The second webinar, Grantwriting 101, will teach you how to use a comprehensive Program Planning Framework to develop and write strong, impactful, and coherent applications. The third webinar, Logic Models: More Than Just Extra Work! will help you develop logic models to measure the change your programs have on participants. These webinars can be taken together to methodically build your organization’s capacity to write successful grants or as stand-alone learning opportunities. Executive directors, program managers, and grantwriters from a broad range of human service organizations will benefit from these 90-minute presentations. The deadline to register for all three is Thursday, January 23, 2020.
Exploring Public Funding (NEW)
Community nonprofits often struggle to compete with larger organizations for public dollars. This webinar, presented by Mindy Muller, is an opportunity to arm nonprofits with the information needed to make an informed decision about whether or not to pursue these funding options. The webinar will review the structure of public funding from the federal level to the state and local levels, as well as the process of considering the pros and cons of pursuing public funding. Participants will learn more about tapping into public funds, the request for proposal process, and how to prepare, qualify, and apply for public funds. Federal requirements to consider before pursuing public dollars, like OMB Circulars, the Davis-Bacon Act, and environmental reviews, will also be covered. Finally, participants will learn tips on competing for public funds with excellence. Attendees will learn about public funding streams, including federal, state, and local funding; develop strategies to make intentional decisions about pursuit of public funding; acquire an awareness of additional mandates required when using federal funds; and learn about the common request for proposal funding structure. This session is excellent for nonprofits looking to explore public funding as well as experienced proposal writers looking for a refresher. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.
The Power of 3—Data Visualization with Ann K. Emery
Has your data made it to important meetings only to be tossed aside and soon forgotten about? Your nonprofit’s data warrants an attentive audience to ensure that the people your data reflects are receiving the assistance they deserve. During the upcoming Power of 3 series, Ann K. Emery will describe how to transform technical findings into simple, sophisticated visuals. In Great Graphs, you’ll move beyond overused charts and learn how to format a new chart so that your message stands out. In Powerful Presentations, you’ll reduce Death by PowerPoint and engage your audiences during staff meetings, board meetings, and conference presentations. In Dashboard Design, you’ll build a one-page dashboard that gets right to the point so that leaders can understand the numbers and then take action. Join us for all three workshops in the Power of 3 series or as stand-alone learning opportunities. The deadline to register for all three is Thursday, February 13, 2020.
GrantStation Announcements
The latest updates from GrantStation.
Member Spotlight
Collaboration Is Key
By David Preis and Kristin Olson
Part of our engagement with Members is to uncover their wisdom and insights about grantseeking through interviews. Kristin Olson of Grants Galore has been a Member since 2017. We discuss Kristin's tips for successful grantwriting and the benefits of collaboration.
Funding Alerts
GrantStation shares database profiles of Local, National, Canadian, and International grantmakers with upcoming deadlines each week. Check out the current Funding Alerts for more grant opportunities!
Information contained in the GrantStation Canadian Insider may not be
posted, reprinted, redistributed, or sold without permission.
Editor: Diana Holder
Contributing Writer: Ashlyn Simmons