Deadline: 30-Nov-23
The City of Cambridge through its Community Grants Program will provide support to not-for-profit organizations to deliver programs or services that benefit the quality of life of Cambridge residents.
Community grants are available on an annual basis to non-profit organizations and/or volunteer community groups that provide programs and services to the residents of the City of Cambridge.
Purpose
- to improve the wellbeing of Cambridge residents through the direction of City grant funding to eligible organizations that can demonstrate their positive contribution to the achievement of the community wellbeing goals.
- to provide municipal funds or other forms of financial assistance, in limited amounts, to community groups and/or organizations that align with the City’s strategic direction.
- to consider each grant on its own merit and to deal with it in a transparent, equitable and objective manner.
- to ensure that a proper system of accountability is developed and maintained by the community groups and /or organizations receiving funding from the City.
Categories of Organizations to be Considered
Organizations seeking grants will be grouped in the following categories so that similar organizations can be compared more easily:
- Social Services
- Recreation and sport
- Arts, culture and events
- Civic & Leisure Interests
- Not-for-profit organizations that further the interests and prosperity of the City of Cambridge
Funding Information
- Equal to or greater than $25,000.
Forms of Assistance
The City will provide financial assistance to groups through a variety of funding categories as follows:
- Operating Funds: Operating funds assist with the cost of general operations and program delivery for the coming fiscal year. Partial financial assistance towards operations may be provided if it can be demonstrated that municipal financial assistance is required for this purpose. Applicants are encouraged to provide a plan for how they intend to become less reliant on municipal financial assistance in future years to become self-sustaining.
- Start-up Funds: Funds may be provided to emerging groups or to existing groups who are launching new programs or services. Applicants are encouraged to provide a plan for how they intend to become less reliant on municipal financial assistance in future years to become self-sustaining.
- Training and Development Funds: One-time funds may be provided to support skills training, training clinics or certification programs, for coaches and trainers to develop minimum certification requirements, up to a maximum of $200 per person.
- Special Project Funds: Partial financial assistance may be provided to support a specific event or activity which occurs on a non-recurring basis and is taking place within a defined period (usually during the calendar year in which the grant is awarded). The event or activity must have a clearly defined objective and a distinct budget. Funds are to support new or pilot initiatives outside the normal range of activity.
- Capital Funds: Capital funds will provide partial financial assistance toward the purchase of minor capital items (e.g. equipment purchases) which are external to normal operating functions, and not likely to occur on an annual basis.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for consideration to the Community Grants Program, organizations must meet all of the following criteria.
- Only volunteer groups and/or non-profit organizations are eligible to be considered.
- The organization shall have a location and/or presence in Cambridge.
- The majority of participants in the program/service must be residents of the City of Cambridge.
- The organization must extend its services to the general public in Cambridge, as described in the Ontario Human Rights Code.
- Applicant organizations must have an active Board of Directors that is independent from senior staff of the organization.
- Applications should only be considered from the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee of an organization and not from a “part group” of the organization.
- The organization must carry valid General Liability Coverage in the amount of $2 million with the City named as an additional insured
- Organizations are required to keep accurate volunteer and participant records.
- The organization must carry out volunteer screening and other risk management measures to help ensure volunteer and public safety.
- Organizations must be in compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations and bylaws for the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the City of Cambridge.
Ineligible
- The Community Grants Program will not provide funding to:
- Individuals;
- For-profit organizations;
- Other levels of government;
- Political organizations;
- An organization that acts as a funding body, or makes grants to another organization;
- Universities, colleges, schools and their associated/auxiliary groups or agencies;
- Organizations whose activities could be deemed discriminatory as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code;
- Organizations that are not in good financial standing with the City of Cambridge;
For more information, visit City of Cambridge.