Deadline: 02-Sep-2025
The City of Woodstock Community Grants Program provides financial assistance to local non-profit, charitable, or volunteer organizations to deliver programs, services, or special projects that benefit the community and enhance the overall well-being of residents.
The purpose of the Community Grants program is to provide financial assistance to local non-profit, charitable, or volunteer organizations to deliver programs, services, or special projects that benefit the community and enhance the overall well-being of the City’s residents. Applications should generally relate to charitable, recreational, cultural, the arts, and environmental projects.
The program’s fundamental goal is to ensure fairness, consistency, and accountability in allocating grant funds. The maximum annual amount available is set at 15 percent of the hosting fee received by the City of Woodstock from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation in the previous year.
Eligible applicants must be established local non-profit, charitable, or volunteer organizations that have been in existence for at least one year. They must provide programming or services that are open to the public, demonstrate fiscal responsibility, and have a diversified revenue base. Applications must show that the program or service cannot be provided without municipal assistance and that other sources of financial support have been explored. Grants may be used to support operating costs, youth recreational activities under registered non-profits or sports associations, or specific community projects led by service clubs or foundations.
Funding will not be provided to individuals, commercial businesses, for-profit organizations, political organizations, publicly funded institutions, or adult recreational sports groups. Applications related to capital expenses, organizations with outstanding reporting obligations, or programs under the jurisdiction of other levels of government will also not be considered.
Applications are reviewed by City staff for eligibility and then assessed by the Community Grants Advisory Committee, which provides recommendations to City Council. The Council makes the final funding decisions based on demonstrated need, financial sustainability, purpose of funding, per capita community benefit, and past grant management.
The program has two application deadlines each year: March 1 for the spring intake and September 1 for the fall intake. Applications must include the organization’s purpose, goals, and financial request, along with financial statements, a proposed budget, and a list of executives.
Special grants may be awarded on a one-time basis to projects that do not fully meet eligibility criteria but provide unique community benefits. All grant recipients are required to submit a report within six months of receiving funds to outline how the grant was used and its impact.
For more information, visit City of Woodstock.
