Halton Region Community Investment Fund in Canada

Deadline: 1-Nov-22

The Halton Region is seeking applications for its Community Investment Fund (HRCIF) to support non-profit human service programs that enhance the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents.

The Fund provides single year and multi-year grants to programs and initiatives through two categories of funding. Applications for HRCIF funding must focus on supporting residents who are vulnerable to negative health and social outcomes.

The HRCIF enhances the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents through funding to non-profit human service programs and initiatives. The HRCIF supports a holistic response to human service needs and is part of Halton’s approach to Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) planning. Proposals that demonstrate collaborative approaches to address community needs are encouraged.

Funding Information

The HRCIF provides $3.75 million in annual funding to new and continuing grants. Approximately $2.1 million is available for new HRCIF grants in 2023 for applications received in the Initial Intake and the Continuing Intake.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for funding, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Incorporated as a non-profit organization (with or without charitable status) OR unincorporated community organizations may apply under the sponsorship of a registered charitable organization that meets all eligibility criteria.
Registered as a charity under the Income Tax Act.
Governed by a volunteer board of directors that is democratically elected, active, with a minimum of three members not related by blood or marriage.
Financial Statements signed by at least one director of the organization must be provided for the most recent fiscal year end and include comparative information for the prior fiscal year:
- Organizations with annual revenues of over $500,000 in the most recent fiscal year are required to submit financial statements that have been audited by a licensed public accountant.
- Organizations with annual revenues between $100,000 – $500,000 in the most recent fiscal year are required to submit financial statements that have been subjected to a review engagement by a licensed public accountant provided that an extraordinary resolution according to the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act has been passed by its members to have a review engagement instead of an audit.
- Organizations with revenues of less than $100,000 may submit internally prepared financial statements that include a statement of revenues and expenses and a balance sheet for the most recent fiscal year provided that an extraordinary resolution according to the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act has been passed by its members to not appoint an auditor and to not have an audit or review engagement.
If these are not available, alternative financial documents may be considered at the sole discretion of Halton Region.
The program/initiative for which funds are requested must:
- Have a clear human service objective (i.e., social services, community health).
- Impact the health, safety or well-being of populations that are vulnerable (or at risk of becoming vulnerable) to negative health or social outcomes. This includes programs/initiatives that work upstream to prevent vulnerability.
Provide services to Halton residents. Applicants that are not located in Halton will be considered only if the request is focused solely on providing services to Halton residents.
Follow all public health guidance pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic for the delivery of programs and initiatives.
Minimum insurance coverage requirements:
- The following are minimum insurance requirements for the HRCIF:
- Possess Commercial General Liability Policy with coverage of a minimum of $2 million per occurrence. If the Commercial General Liability Policy coverage is subject to a $2 million aggregate limit, the applicant must provide one of the following:
  - A Commercial General Liability Policy with coverage of a minimum $2 million per occurrence and $4 million in the aggregate; or
  - Confirmation from its Commercial General Liability insurers that the aggregate limit of $2 million as of the date of issuance of the Certificate of Insurance to the Region is fully intact and has not been reduced by any paid or reserved claims. HaltonRegion will accept a Certificate of Insurance containing this statement, dated and signed by an authorized representative of the insurers.
- Possess non-owned automobile insurance (minimum of $2 million per occurrence).
- If applicable possess owned automobile insurance (minimum of $2 million per occurrence).
- Organizations approved for funding must add The Regional Municipality of Halton as an additional insured under the organization’s Commercial General Liability policy.
- Additional insurance requirements may be required at the sole discretion of the Region. A funding agreement will not be issued until all insurance requirements are met.
- Operate in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
- Be compliant with all applicable rules, regulations and laws of the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, including those which apply to the regulation of non-profit corporations and registered charities.
Note to unincorporated community programs applying under the sponsorship of a registered charity:
- The sponsoring charity assumes responsibility for the grant, including fund administration and reporting requirements. Please provide information about the sponsoring organization in Section 1 of the ‘Application for 2023 Funding: Category One’. The sponsoring organization is the authorizer in Section 5 of the application.
- Sponsors must be a registered charity and meet all eligibility criteria in the Funding Guidelines. Please include an attachment with a brief description of the unincorporated community organization.
- The sponsoring/sponsored organizations should have similar mandates
- Organizations acting in the capacity of a sponsor may submit a separate ‘Application for 2023 Funding: Category One’.
- Sponsored and sponsoring organizations are strongly encouraged to contact a member of the Human Services Planning and Investment team to discuss the proposal.