Annual Community Grant Program in Canada

Deadline: 31-Jan-23

The City of Port Colborne’s community grant program is now accepting the first-round of applications from non-profit organizations.

Priority Areas

• The Corporation recognizes the importance of building a hopeful, caring and strong community with an abundance of diverse activities and services. Priority areas shall be used in the review process to focus resources to areas that will result in the greatest benefit for building a strong community by supporting a variety of sectors.
• Priorities shall be reviewed and updated from time to time through community consultation.
• In keeping with community building philosophies which support cross-sector collaboration, the following priority areas shall be used for determining allocation of funds to applicants that:
  • Provide relief to poverty;
  • Promote health and well-being;
  • Build a strong and diverse community;
  • Foster community pride and sense of belonging;
  • Prevent community problems;
  • Preserve the unique characteristics of the community;
  • Embrace and protect the natural environment;
  • Support community and personal safety;
  • Strengthen families and children;
  • Make better use of existing community resources or facilities; and
  • Promote self-sufficiency and develop strong leaders.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible to receive a grant, the applicant shall meet the following requirements:
  • The organization shall be incorporated as a non-profit corporation with charitable objectives, or a non-profit entity within the City of Port Colborne or be registered as a charitable corporation under the Canada Income Tax Act.
  • The organization shall have been in existence for at least one (1) year.
  • The organization shall have its operations located in the Niagara Region.

Allocation Criteria

• Applicants must meet the Allocation Criteria. However, meeting the criteria does not in itself guarantee application approval. It is anticipated that all budget requests that meet the eligibility requirements and allocation criteria may not be approved due to limited funds.
• Applications shall be assessed on the ability to meet the following criteria:
  • Strength of the Applicant
    • The Applicant has a clearly stated purpose/mission and the organizational capacity for carrying out their stated programs, activities and services.
    • The Applicant has an effective governance structure in place.
    • The Applicant practices sound financial management, and complies with legal and regulatory licensing requirements.
  • Need for Dollars
    • The Applicant demonstrates a real need for dollars with realistic financial projections and are able to articulate why its financial reports are not consistent with funding the request(s) with its own dollars.
    • The Applicant demonstrates that the programs/activities provide an identified benefit for the community.
  • Community Support
    • The Applicant is partnering, collaborating and generally working together with others in the community.
    • Volunteers play a significant role in the organization.
  • Impact and Sustainability
    • The Applicant demonstrates that initiatives are sustainable and will result in a lasting positive impact on the community.
    • The Applicant is willing and able to respond to changes in the community.
  • Capacity and Flexibility
    • The Applicant is flexible and actively promotes access to all programs/ activities.
    • The Applicant focuses on the capacity of individuals and the community in carrying out their programs/activities.

Exclusions

• The following entities are not eligible for funding:
  • Individuals
  • For-profit organizations
  • Organizations whose purpose is related to political activity as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency
  • Private Foundations
  • Organizations that discriminate, or that seek to limit the legal rights and activities of people
• The following initiatives are not eligible for funding:
  • Financing of deficits
  • Payment of City fees, taxes or other City costs
  • Purchase of alcohol or cannabis
  • Political and/or advocacy activities, such as furthering the aims of a political party; promoting a political doctrine; or persuading the public to adopt a particular political view
  • Religious activities, including capital renovations or repairs for facilities used for the specific purpose of religious observance
  • Contributions to annual fund drives or capital campaigns
  • Dollar-for-dollar replacement of government funding
  • Programs or services outside Ontario
  • Activities completed or costs incurred before the approval of the request
  • Flow-through funding (i.e., funds that will be reallocated to a third party organization)
  • Discriminatory Activities, as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code.

For more information, visit https://www.portcolborne.ca/en/news/annual-community-grant-program-accepting-applications.aspx