Future Focus Funding Program – Investigation Phase (Canada)

The Future Focus Funding – Investigation Phase supports arts-focused organisations in the Treaty 7 region of Canada to explore major organisational challenges, strengthen internal capacity, and prepare for future transformation. Eligible organisations can receive grants of up to $5,000 to support research, consultations, planning, expert engagement, and development of strategies for long-term organisational improvement.

Overview of Future Focus Funding – Investigation Phase

The Future Focus Funding – Investigation Phase helps arts organisations examine important organisational challenges and identify opportunities for meaningful change.

The programme is designed for organisations that want to better understand issues affecting their sustainability, effectiveness, leadership, operations, or future direction.

Funding supports the early stages of organisational transformation by providing resources for:

• Planning and consultation activities
• Information gathering and research
• Organisational assessment
• Expert advice and initial insights
• Development of exploration processes
• Identifying key challenges requiring deeper investigation

The Investigation Phase helps organisations prepare for future phases of the Future Focus Program, including possible implementation activities.

Purpose of the Investigation Phase

The main purpose of this funding phase is to help organisations answer important strategic questions and prepare for future change.

Supported activities may include:

• Exploring significant organisational challenges
• Understanding internal strengths and weaknesses
• Identifying opportunities for growth and improvement
• Building organisational capacity
• Consulting with stakeholders and community members
• Engaging specialists for early guidance
• Developing a roadmap for future transformation

The programme does not focus on immediate solutions but supports organisations in gaining clarity before taking action.

Funding Amount and Support Available

Eligible organisations can apply for:

• Up to $5,000 in grant funding

The funding is intended to provide organisations with:

• Time to investigate challenges
• Resources for consultation and planning
• Support for research and information gathering
• Capacity-building opportunities

Organisations may apply for more than one Investigation or Exploration Phase before requesting support through the Implementation Phase.

Why This Funding Matters

Arts organisations often face challenges related to sustainability, leadership, funding, audience engagement, governance, and changing community needs.

The Future Focus Investigation Phase helps organisations:

• Strengthen internal systems
• Improve decision-making
• Develop long-term strategies
• Build resilience and adaptability
• Prepare for future organisational change

By supporting early exploration, the programme helps arts organisations create stronger foundations for future success.

Who Is Eligible?

The programme is open to arts-focused organisations and groups that use arts activities as a significant part of their mission.

Eligible applicants include:

• Registered charities
• Registered non-profit organisations
• Grassroots organisations
• Ad-hoc groups
• Organisations with comparable alternative structures

Provincial arts service organisations operating outside the Treaty 7 region may also be eligible if their work directly benefits arts organisations within the Treaty 7 region.

Geographic Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Operate within the Treaty 7 region
• Include communities such as Red Deer
• Demonstrate connection to arts activities within the eligible region

Organisations outside the region may only qualify when their work directly supports arts organisations located within Treaty 7.

Organisation Requirements

Eligible applicants must:

• Have completed at least two years of operating activity
• Demonstrate an arts-focused mission or significant arts engagement
• Show a need to explore organisational challenges
• Use funding for investigation and capacity-building purposes

Who Is Not Eligible?

Applicants cannot apply if they:

• Have an active Future Focus project
• Have outstanding Future Focus reporting requirements
• Have another active funding agreement with:
  • Rozsa Foundation
  • Calgary Arts Development
  • Calgary Foundation

The exclusion applies when the existing agreement is for the same project.

How the Investigation Phase Works

The programme supports organisations through an exploration process.

Step 1: Identify an Organisational Challenge

Organisations should define an important question or challenge, such as:

• How can the organisation improve sustainability?
• What changes are needed for future growth?
• How can internal capacity be strengthened?
• What new approaches could improve impact?

Step 2: Conduct Research and Consultation

Organisations may use funding for:

• Stakeholder discussions
• Community consultation
• Internal reviews
• Information gathering
• Expert advice

Step 3: Develop Future Direction

The investigation should help organisations:

• Understand their challenges
• Identify possible solutions
• Prepare for future transformation activities

Step 4: Prepare for Future Funding Phases

After completing investigation activities, organisations may explore further support through later Future Focus phases, including implementation-based activities.

Examples of Supported Activities

Funding may support:

• Strategic planning sessions
• Organisational consultations
• Research activities
• Expert meetings
• Capacity-building discussions
• Development of exploration frameworks
• Stakeholder engagement processes

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying for general operational funding
• Presenting a project without a clear organisational challenge
• Requesting funding for activities unrelated to transformation
• Applying without meeting the two-year operating requirement
• Failing to explain how the investigation will benefit the organisation

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

• Clearly defining the organisational challenge
• Explaining why exploration is needed now
• Showing how the process will improve organisational capacity
• Describing who will participate in consultations
• Explaining how findings may guide future action

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Future Focus Funding – Investigation Phase?

It is a grant programme that helps arts organisations explore significant challenges, build capacity, and prepare for future organisational transformation.

How much funding can organisations receive?

Eligible organisations can receive up to $5,000 for investigation and exploration activities.

Who can apply for this funding?

Arts-focused organisations, registered charities, non-profits, grassroots groups, and eligible community-based organisations can apply if they meet programme requirements.

What types of activities does the funding support?

The funding supports planning, consultations, research, information gathering, expert engagement, and organisational exploration processes.

Can an organisation apply more than once?

Yes. Organisations may apply for more than one Investigation or Exploration Phase before seeking support under the Implementation Phase.

Can organisations outside Treaty 7 apply?

Only certain provincial arts service organisations outside Treaty 7 may qualify if they directly benefit arts organisations within the Treaty 7 region.

What organisations are not eligible?

Organisations with active Future Focus projects, outstanding reporting requirements, or overlapping funding agreements for the same project with specified foundations are not eligible.

Conclusion

The Future Focus Funding – Investigation Phase provides valuable support for arts organisations seeking to understand challenges, strengthen their internal capacity, and prepare for meaningful long-term change. Through targeted funding for research, consultation, and planning, the programme helps arts organisations in the Treaty 7 region build stronger and more sustainable futures.